Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
SOC 51-9012BLS OEWS May 2025
Set up, operate, or tend continuous flow or vat-type equipment; filter presses; shaker screens; centrifuges; condenser tubes; precipitating, fermenting, or evaporating tanks; scrubbing towers; or batch stills. These machines extract, sort, or separate liquids, gases, or solids from other materials to recover a refined product. Includes dairy processing equipment operators. Excludes “Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders” (51-9011).
National median · BLS
$51,610
▲ +4.26%YoY
H-1B sponsor median
—
Too few H-1B filings
Average salary · BLS
$56,030
Mean annual wage
U.S. employment
60,100
Jobs (BLS)
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Enter your pay and a location to see where you stand against BLS and H-1B pay, your estimated take-home pay, and your purchasing power.
Pay range for Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
Annual base pay at each percentile. BLS covers all U.S. workers in this occupation.
Percentile
All U.S. workers (BLS)
10th — entry pay
$36,200
25th
$44,410
Median (50th)
$51,610
75th
$63,930
90th — top pay
$79,750
Hourly ⇄ annual pay
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Monthly—
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Based on
hrs/week ×
weeks/year
= 2,080 hrs
Projections 2025–2035
Job outlook for Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
BLS projects employment of separating, filtering, clarifying, precipitating, and still machine setters, operators, and tenders to decline 5.7% from 2025 to 2035, while employment across all occupations grows 3.5%.
About 5,200 openings are projected each year, on average, from new jobs and from replacing workers who retire or move to other occupations.
Jobs 2025 → 2035
61,400 → 57,900
-3,500 jobs
Projected change
-5.7%
All occupations: +3.5%
Openings per year
5,200
Average, 2025–2035
Typical entry education
High school diploma or equivalent
No related experience required
On-the-job training
Moderate-term on-the-job training
Preparation needed (O*NET Job Zone 2)
Very Little to Some Preparation Needed. Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections 2025–2035
Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders salaries by state
BLS state medians, plus the same figure adjusted for local prices (BEA Regional Price Parities). Tap a state for its full range and H-1B pay.
State
Median
Jobs
Cost-adjusted
Profile
Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders salaries by metro area
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Metro area
Median
Jobs
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Profile
Skills & tools
Skills needed for Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
How important each skill and knowledge area is for this job, rated by O*NET on a 1–5 scale from surveys of workers and occupational analysts.
Top skills
Operations Monitoring3.8
Critical Thinking3.1
Monitoring3.1
Operation and Control3.1
Quality Control Analysis3.1
Active Listening3.0
Judgment and Decision Making3.0
Reading Comprehension3.0
Time Management3.0
Active Learning2.9
Top knowledge areas
Production and Processing4.2
English Language3.5
Food Production3.5
Education and Training3.5
Mechanical3.4
Mathematics3.3
Chemistry3.1
Computers and Electronics3.0
Software and technology used
Microsoft Office softwareMicrosoft ExcelMicrosoft OutlookMicrosoft PowerPointMicrosoft WordSAP softwareEmail software
Highlighted = in demand: frequently listed in employer job postings for this occupation (O*NET).
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.
About the job
What separating, filtering, clarifying, precipitating, and still machine setters, operators, and tenders do
Monitor material flow or instruments, such as temperature or pressure gauges, indicators, or meters, to ensure optimal processing conditions.
Inspect machines or equipment for hazards, operating efficiency, malfunctions, wear, or leaks.
Set up or adjust machine controls to regulate conditions such as material flow, temperature, or pressure.
Collect samples of materials or products for laboratory analysis.
Operate machines to process materials in compliance with applicable safety, energy, or environmental regulations.
Test samples to determine viscosity, acidity, specific gravity, or degree of concentration, using test equipment such as viscometers, pH meters, or hydrometers.
Maintain logs of instrument readings, test results, or shift production for entry in computer databases.
Communicate processing instructions to other workers.
Source: O*NET 31.0 (USDOL/ETA, CC BY 4.0). These are general job titles, not H-1B filings; for titles employers actually filed, see “Job titles” above.
Similar jobs and how they pay
Occupations O*NET lists as closely related to Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, with BLS national medians compared with this occupation's $51,610.
