Cleaning, Washing, and Metal Pickling Equipment Operators and Tenders
SOC 51-9192BLS OEWS May 2025
Operate or tend machines to wash or clean products, such as barrels or kegs, glass items, tin plate, food, pulp, coal, plastic, or rubber, to remove impurities.
National median · BLS
$43,530
▲ +4.99%YoY
H-1B sponsor median
—
Too few H-1B filings
Average salary · BLS
$44,600
Mean annual wage
U.S. employment
14,760
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 Cleaning, Washing, and Metal Pickling Equipment 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
$33,790
25th
$37,310
Median (50th)
$43,530
75th
$49,320
90th — top pay
$58,570
Hourly ⇄ annual pay
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Monthly—
Every 2 weeks—
Weekly—
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Based on
hrs/week ×
weeks/year
= 2,080 hrs
Projections 2025–2035
Job outlook for Cleaning, Washing, and Metal Pickling Equipment Operators and Tenders
BLS projects employment of cleaning, washing, and metal pickling equipment operators and tenders to grow 3.4% from 2025 to 2035, about the same as the 3.5% average for all occupations.
About 1,700 openings are projected each year, on average, from new jobs and from replacing workers who retire or move to other occupations.
Jobs 2025 → 2035
16,200 → 16,800
+500 jobs
Projected change
+3.4%
All occupations: +3.5%
Openings per year
1,700
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
Self-employed
6.2% of workers (2025)
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
Cleaning, Washing, and Metal Pickling Equipment 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
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Cleaning, Washing, and Metal Pickling Equipment Operators and Tenders salaries by metro area
Search by city, ZIP code or metro name. Tap a metro for its full range.
Metro area
Median
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Profile
Skills & tools
Skills needed for Cleaning, Washing, and Metal Pickling Equipment 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
Operation and Control3.3
Operations Monitoring3.1
Active Listening2.9
Critical Thinking2.9
Monitoring2.9
Speaking2.9
Time Management2.9
Coordination2.8
Reading Comprehension2.8
Social Perceptiveness2.8
Top knowledge areas
Production and Processing3.9
English Language3.0
Public Safety and Security2.8
Psychology2.7
Education and Training2.5
Chemistry2.4
Mechanical2.4
Administration and Management2.2
Software and technology used
Microsoft ExcelMicrosoft Word
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 cleaning, washing, and metal pickling equipment operators and tenders do
Add specified amounts of chemicals to equipment at required times to maintain solution levels and concentrations.
Observe machine operations, gauges, or thermometers, and adjust controls to maintain specified conditions.
Set controls to regulate temperature and length of cycles, and start conveyors, pumps, agitators, and machines.
Drain, clean, and refill machines or tanks at designated intervals, using cleaning solutions or water.
Operate or tend machines to wash and remove impurities from items such as barrels or kegs, glass products, tin plate surfaces, dried fruit, pulp, animal stock, coal, manufactured articles, plastic, or rubber.
Record gauge readings, materials used, processing times, or test results in production logs.
Examine and inspect machines to detect malfunctions.
Measure, weigh, or mix cleaning solutions, using measuring tanks, calibrated rods or suction tubes.
Also called
Clean in Places Operator (CIP Operator)Sanitation TechnicianSanitation WorkerSanitizerAnodizerFiller OperatorParts CleanerTub Wash OperatorTub WasherWash Crew Person
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 Cleaning, Washing, and Metal Pickling Equipment Operators and Tenders, with BLS national medians compared with this occupation's $43,530.
