Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
Also called: Absorber Operator, Absorption Operator, Acetone Recovery Worker, Acetylene Plant Operator, Acid Purifier, Almond Blancher Operator, Batch Still Operator, Beer Brewer
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.
What Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders do
Typical tasks
- 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.
- Clean or sterilize tanks, screens, inflow pipes, production areas, or equipment, using hoses, brushes, scrapers, or chemical solutions.
- Examine samples to verify qualities such as clarity, cleanliness, consistency, dryness, or texture.
- Measure or weigh materials to be refined, mixed, transferred, stored, or otherwise processed.
- Dump, pour, or load specified amounts of refined or unrefined materials into equipment or containers for further processing or storage.
Typical path into the job (BLS)
Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders salary
The median annual wage for Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders is $51,610 (BLS OEWS May 2025; BLS Employment Projections 2025–35, national). The lowest 10 percent earn less than $36,200 and the highest 10 percent earn more than $79,750. The mean annual wage is $56,030.
The mean hourly wage of $26.00 is 3.6× the federal minimum wage of $7.25. State minimums are higher in most large states. Minimum wage by state →
How does your pay compare with people your age?
Your numbers are not sent or stored. The comparison uses this occupation's BLS wage percentiles, adjusted for age with BLS median weekly earnings by age group (Q3 2026).
Pay by percentile
Annual wage percentiles from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS). Percentiles are a good proxy for pay by experience.
Projected pay for Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders (3, 5 and 10 years)est.
Today $51,610 → in 3 years $55,500 → in 5 years $58,300 → in 10 years $65,800 (10-year range $56,600–$76,400). The model assumes pay growth of +2.5% per year.
What drives the annual growth rate
Projected pay = current pay × (1 + annual growth)^years. The annual growth rate starts from a base wage-growth rate and adds or subtracts labor demand (BLS projected employment growth), wage momentum and AI replacement risk for each occupation. Projections are not guarantees. How it is calculated →
Outlook score for Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
Each component is a percentile rank among all occupations in the same country (0–100). Weights: labor demand 25, wage momentum / openings 15, pay level 15, AI resistance 25, aging workforce 10 (Japan only), entry barrier 10.
Will AI replace Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders? AI replacement risk
How AI is changing this job
A written analysis for this occupation is being prepared.
AI replacement risk compares the parts of a job that are easy to hand to AI or software (processing information, documentation, repetitive computer work) with the parts that are hard to automate (physical work, working closely with people, judgment in unpredictable settings), using O*NET work activities, work context, skills and knowledge. The result is a relative position among all occupations in the country, scaled to 0–100%. Methodology →
Labor demand for Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
Employment projections are from the BLS Employment Projections program (2025–35). Annual openings include both new jobs and replacement of workers who leave the occupation.
Skills, education and requirements for Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
Key skills
O*NET skill level ratings (0–7).
Key knowledge areas
What the work involves
Important abilities
Training before entry
Related work experience
Job Zone 2 — some preparation needed (O*NET)
Difficulty of entry: ★☆☆☆☆ Easy to enter (from education, training, experience and Job Zone)
How to become Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
A step-by-step guide for this occupation is being prepared. The education, training and experience data above show the typical path.
Career path and how to earn more as Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
Career-path guidance is being prepared. Pay by percentile is shown in the Pay section.