Cleaning, Washing, and Metal Pickling Equipment Operators and Tenders

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.

Also called: Anodizer, Clean in Places Operator (CIP Operator), Filler Operator, Parts Cleaner, Sanitation Technician, Sanitation Worker, Sanitizer, Tub Wash Operator, Tub Washer, Wash Crew Person, Acid Dipper, Agitator, Agricultural Produce Washer, Air Table Operator, Ampoule Washing Machine Operator, Bag Bleacher, Barrel Cleaner, Benzene Washer, Benzene Washer Operator, Benzol Operator, Benzol Still Operator, Blancher, Blanching Machine Operator, Bleach Boiler Filler, Bleach Machine Operator, Bleach Plant Operator, Bleacher, Bleacher Operator, Bleaching Machine Operator, Blow Pit Operator, Bottle Washer, Bottle Washing Machine Operator, Branner Machine Tender, Brass Pickler, Brown Stock Washer, Car Wash Technician (Car Wash Tech), CIP Technician (Clean in Places Technician), Cleaning Machine Operator, Core Machine Operator, Coring Machine Operator, Decker Operator, Definer, Deflash and Wash Operator, Degreaser, Degreaser Operator, Dehairer, Delimer, Dip Lube Operator, Drencher, Dried Fruit Washer, Drifter, Dry Charge Process Attendant, Dust Collector Attendant, Electrode Cleaning Machine Operator, Equipment Sanitizer, Filter Washer, Filter Washer and Presser, Flattening Press Operator, Fruit Washer, Glass Cleaner, Glass Cleaning Machine Tender, Ham Doctor, Ham Pumper, Immersion Metal Cleaner, Keg Washer, Machine Container Washer, Machine Silver Stripper, Machine Washer, Manufacturing Sanitizer, Marble Cleaner, Meat Pickler, Meat Scrubber, Metal Cleaner, Metal Neutralizer, Metal Pickling Equipment Operator, Metal Washing Machine Operator, Mold Polisher, Nitroglycerin Neutralizer, Oyster Washer, Paint Stripper, Pickle House Operator, Pickle Pumper, Pickler, Pickling Operator, Pickling Solution Maker, Pickling Tank Operator, Pigs Feet Cleaner, Power Washer, Power Washing Technician, Precipitate Washer, Pressroom Worker, Pressure Washer, Process Attendant, Production Sanitizer, Pulp Bleacher, Rotary Drum Tanner, Rubber Washer, Sanitation Tank Washer, Scalder, Scrub Wheel Operator, Scrubber Machine Tender, Scrubber Operator, Semiconductor Wafers Cleaning Machine Tender, Shellfish Processing Machine Tender, Soda Room Operator, Steamer, Tank Washer, Trommel Tender, Truck Washer, Tubber, Tumbling Machine Operator, Vegetable Washer, Vegetable Washing Machine Operator, Vein Pumper, Wafer Cleaner, Wash Mill Operator, Wash Operator, Wash Tank Tender, Washer, Washer Engineer, Washhouse Hand, Washhouse Worker, Washing Machine Operator, Washroom Operator, Wheat Cleaner, Wheat Washer, Wool Washer, Yeast Washer

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

What the worker does

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.

Skills, machines and equipment

Operation and Control
Operations Monitoring
Active Listening
Speaking
Critical Thinking
Monitoring
Time Management
Reading Comprehension
Social Perceptiveness
Coordination
Judgment and Decision Making
Complex Problem Solving

Education and training

Most frequently reported education in the O*NET survey: Some College Courses (3.89% 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

37,310–49,320 USD per year · United States · 2025. Source: BLS OEWS via O*NET · 25th–75th percentiles · SOC 51-9192.

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: Some College Courses (3.89% 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.

Cleaning, Washing, and Metal Pickling Equipment Operators and Tenders