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Winding machine operator

Also called bobbin winder, winder tender, winder operator

Winding machine operators tend machines that wrap strings, cords, yarns, ropes, threads onto reels, bobbins, or spools. They handle materials, prepare them for processing, and use winding machines for that purpose. They also perform routine maintenance of the machinery.

Will there be jobs?Limited prospects22 jobs to fill by 2035 for every 100 people doing this work today.Stationary plant and machine operatorsWhat does it pay?About averageFrom about €1,000 (Bulgaria) to €5,500 (Denmark) a month, depending on the country.Estimate · Stationary plant and machine operatorsWhat do I need to study?Upper secondary or vocational6 in 10 finished upper secondary or vocational training. 5 in 10 train through vocational routes.Stationary plant and machine operatorsWill AI change it?Very littleLevel 1 of 6. AI could help with only small parts of the tasks.Fibre preparing, spinning and winding machine operators · ILO

What you'd do

Fibre preparing, spinning and winding machine operators · ILO
  • Operating and monitoring machines for tearing woollen rags into fibre
  • Operating and monitoring machines for cleaning and turning woollen yarn waste into fluffed wool
  • Operating and monitoring machines which combine textile fibres into uniform blends
  • Operating and monitoring machines which clean and fluff textile fibres, transform them into sliver, comb them into sliver for first drawing, combine slivers into sliver lap or sliver laps into ribbon lap
  • Operating draw frame (machine) having number of drawing sets, each set combining several slivers into one of nearly same weight and thickness as any of original sliver
  • Operating and monitoring machines which spin thread and yarn from roving, wind two or more threads onto bobbin, twist two or more strands of yarn or thread into single strands of yarn to increase strength, smoothness and/or uniformity of yarn, or wind yarn or thread from one package to another
  • Operating and monitoring spinning frame that draws out and twists roving or sliver into yarn
  • Operating and monitoring machines for drawing slivers received from drawing machine into loosely twisted strands
  • Preparing sizing for use in stiffening and finishing cloth and yarn by mixing ingredients such as starch, tallow, resins, soaps with water and boiling mixture for specified time in steam
  • Treating textiles with chemicals to make them water resistant
  • Cleaning rollers and cylinders of carding machines to remove wool waste
  • Operating and resurfacing metal drawing rolls of various spinning, combing and lapping machines with new rubber or leather covers
Measure yarn countTend spinning machinesAdjust filament tensionSet the operation speed of manufacturing machinesWrap yarn around bobbins+ 5 more essential skills
What the work is like
  • Indoors
  • On your feet most of the day
  • Lots of contact with people, mostly with colleagues
  • Some freedom to decide
  • Usually 40 hours a week
  • Deadlines now and then
  • Some repetitive tasks
US data: based on the O*NET profile of the US job "Textile Winding, Twisting, and Drawing Out Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders"

Will there be jobs?

Limited prospects

Fewer jobs than in most work will need filling by 2035.

People working as stationary plant and machine operators in the EU
4.79m4.76m4.7m 201520232035

Solid: measured. Dashed: forecast.

Jobs to fill, 2026–2035
1,125,000 replacing leavers 71,000 jobs disappear
Jobs to fill per 100 people working now
Stationary plant and machine operators22
All jobs29
Right now
7 of 27 countries report a shortage of fibre preparing, spinning and winding machine operators, 3 a surplus.
Fibre preparing, spinning and winding machine operators · EURES

What does it pay?

About average

Pay depends a lot on the country: from about €1,000 a month (Bulgaria) to €5,500 (Denmark), before tax.

Pick a country at the top of the page to see typical pay there, for people under 30, and compared with all jobs.

Among plant and machine operators, and assemblers in the EU, women earn 21% less per hour than men. Plant and machine operators, and assemblers · Eurostat

What do I need to study?

Upper secondary or vocational

Upper secondary or vocational training in building and civil engineering is the usual route.

Highest qualification of stationary plant and machine operators (EU, 2025)
Degree 8%Vocational 53%General secondary 10%Basic schooling 29%
Fields that teach it
Building and civil engineering · Textiles (clothes, footwear and leather) · Mechanics and metal trades
Vocational route, EU
5 in 10 trainees in this field

Pick a country at the top of the page to see where to study and the official course finders.

Will AI change it?

Very little

AI could help with only small parts of the tasks.

How exposed is this job? ILO scale
Very low
Low
Some tasks
Moderate
Significant
High

Average task score 0.15 on a scale from 0 (AI can't do it) to 1 (AI could do it fully).

See the score for each of the 12 tasks
Operating and monitoring machines which combine textile fibres into uniform blends0.18
Operating and monitoring machines for cleaning and turning woollen yarn waste into fluffed wool0.17
Operating and monitoring spinning frame that draws out and twists roving or sliver into yarn0.17
Operating and monitoring machines which clean and fluff textile fibres, transform them into sliver, comb them into sliver for first drawing, combine slivers into sliver lap or sliver laps into ribbon lap0.17
Operating and monitoring machines for drawing slivers received from drawing machine into loosely twisted strands0.17
Operating and monitoring machines which spin thread and yarn from roving, wind two or more threads onto bobbin, twist two or more strands of yarn or thread into single strands of yarn to increase strength, smoothness and/or uniformity of yarn, or wind yarn or thread from one package to another0.16
Operating and resurfacing metal drawing rolls of various spinning, combing and lapping machines with new rubber or leather covers0.15
Operating and monitoring machines for tearing woollen rags into fibre0.15
Preparing sizing for use in stiffening and finishing cloth and yarn by mixing ingredients such as starch, tallow, resins, soaps with water and boiling mixture for specified time in steam0.15
Operating draw frame (machine) having number of drawing sets, each set combining several slivers into one of nearly same weight and thickness as any of original sliver0.15
Treating textiles with chemicals to make them water resistant0.14
Cleaning rollers and cylinders of carding machines to remove wool waste0.11

Based on what AI could technically do when assessed in 2025. It is not a forecast for a future year, and not a forecast of job losses. Scores for fibre preparing, spinning and winding machine operators. Source: ILO (2025), adapted (credits).