Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders

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.

Also called: Blender, Brewer, Cellar Worker, Digester Cook, Machine Tender, Paper Machine Tender, Pasteurizer, Plant Operator, Pulper Operator, Winemaker, Absorber Operator, Absorption Operator, Acetone Recovery Worker, Acetylene Plant Operator, Acid Purifier, Almond Blancher Operator, Batch Still Operator, Beer Brewer, Brine Tank Separator Operator, Byproducts Pump Operator, Carbonation Equipment Operator, Carbonation Equipment Tender, Centrifugal Drier Operator, Centrifugal Machine Tender, Centrifugal Operator, Centrifugal Station Operator, Centrifuge Operator, Centrifuge Separator Operator, Centrifuge Separator Tender, Char Filter Operator, Char Filter Tank Tender, Clarifier Operator, Cocoa Butter Filter Operator, Cocoa Press Operator, Continuous Absorption Process Operator, Continuous Still Operator, Crude Oil Treater, Crystallizer Operator, Dairy Processing Equipment Operator, De-Ionizer Operator, Dehydrogenation Operator, Deodorizer Operator, Deoiling Machine Operator, Desulfurizer Operator, Dewaterer Operator, Diffuser Operator, Distillation Operator, Evaporator Operator, Fermentation Operator, Fermenting Cellar Dropper, Filter Machine Operator, Filter Operator, Filter Plant Operator, Filter Press Operator, Filter Press Tender, Filter Tank Operator, Filter Tank Tender, Filter Tank Tender Helper, Filter Tender, Filterer, Filtering Machine Operator, Filtering Machine Tender, Flash-Drier Operator, Flotation Operator, Flotation Tank Operator, Flotation Tender, Homogenizer Operator, Hydrogenation Still Operator, Irish Moss Operator, Jelly Filter Tender, Lard Refiner, Lime Kiln Operator, Linter Operator, Linter Tender, Liquor Bridge Operator, Liquor Rectifier, Lye Machine Operator, Lye Peel Operator, Malt House Operator, Maltster, Mash Filter Operator, Mash Processing Operator, Masher, Mercury Purifier, Milk Pasteurizer, Molasses Coloring Operator, Molasses Preparer, Molybdenum Steamer Operator, Monomer Purification Operator, Naphthalene Operator, Nitroglycerin Separator Operator, Oil Recovery Operator, Oil Recovery Unit Operator, Oil Refinery Process Technician (Oil Refinery Process Tech), Oil Separator, Oliver Filter Operator, Paraffin Plant Operator, Paraffin Plant Sweater Operator, Pasteurizing Machine Operator, Plasma Processing Centrifuge Operator, Plasma Processing Technician (Plasma Processing Tech), Polyethylene Catalyst Filtration Operator, Pulp Mill Operator, Pulp Operator, Pulp Press Tender, Pulper Tender, Purification Operator, Purifier, Pyridine Operator, Pyridine Recovery Operator, Riffler Tender, Rum Processing Operator, Saturator, Saturator Operator, Separating Machine Operator, Separator, Separator Operator, Separator Tender, Silica Filter Operator, Slime Plant Operator, Soda Dialyzer, Soft-Sugar Operator, Solvent Process Extractor Operator, Stemmer, Stemming Machine Operator, Still Operator, Still Operator Helper, Still Tender, Tallow Refiner, Top Precipitator Operator, Turpentine Distiller, Vacuum Conditioner Operator, Vacuum Filter Operator, Vacuum Pan Operator, Vacuum Pan Tender, Vallez Filter Operator, Water Filterer, Winery Worker, Yeast Distiller, Yeast Fermentation Attendant

This is a career information profile, not an advertised job opening.

What the worker does

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.

Skills, machines and equipment

Operations Monitoring
Critical Thinking
Monitoring
Operation and Control
Quality Control Analysis
Reading Comprehension
Active Listening
Judgment and Decision Making
Time Management
Writing
Speaking
Active Learning

Education and training

Most frequently reported education in the O*NET survey: High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) (83.44% of responses). This is survey context, not a universal hiring requirement. Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.

O*NET Job Zone 2: Ranges from a few days to one year of on-the-job training. Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training. This is broad occupational preparation context; confirm the requirements for a specific employer or apprenticeship.

Apprenticeships

Ask an employer or registered apprenticeship sponsor about current programs, eligibility, training and pay. A career profile does not confirm that a program is available.

Salary reference

44,410–63,930 USD per year · United States · 2025. Source: BLS OEWS via O*NET · 25th–75th percentiles · SOC 51-9012.

Occupational-group wage references are not guaranteed pay for this specialty or an employer's offer.

Career advancement

Develop reliable production, safety, quality, and equipment skills; explore additional processes, senior specialist, or team-lead responsibilities relevant to your workplace.
Ask employers which demonstrated skills, education, or credentials are needed for the next role. Related careers are exploration options, not automatic promotions.

How Do I Get This Job?

Review the skills and responsibilities above.
Most frequently reported education in the O*NET survey: High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) (83.44% of responses). This is survey context, not a universal hiring requirement. Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
O*NET Job Zone 2: Ranges from a few days to one year of on-the-job training. Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training. This is broad occupational preparation context; confirm the requirements for a specific employer or apprenticeship.
Compare real openings and confirm requirements directly with the employer.

View available jobs — availability is not guaranteed; sample listings are not real openings.

Related career information

Sources and limitations

O*NET® 31.0 Database, U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, under CC BY 4.0. ShopFloor adapted occupational grouping, selected manufacturing-relevant occupations, and retained seven legacy guide titles. Specialties and alternative titles are grouped under O*NET occupations; these occupations can also occur outside manufacturing. Source: https://www.onetcenter.org/database.html. No wage, vacancy, certification, or video data is implied. ShopFloor advancement suggestions are general editorial guidance, not O*NET findings or guaranteed career progression. BLS wage ranges, when available, are national 25th–75th percentiles for the source occupational grouping, across industries; they are not local, apprentice, entry-level, or specialty-specific offers.

Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders