# 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.

- Edition: Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Page: https://www.collegesref.com/careers/cleaning-washing-and-metal-pickling-equipment-operators-and-tenders
- SOC code: 51-9192.00
- Career family: Production
- Median annual pay: $43,530 (10th percentile $33,790, 90th percentile $58,570)
- Projected growth: As fast as average, +3.4%
- Openings a year: 1,700
- Typical entry education: High school diploma
- Bright outlook: no
- Data years: BLS 2025 wages · 2025–35 projections

## Interest profile (code RCI)

| Interest area | Score (0–100) |
| --- | ---: |
| Realistic (R) | 100 |
| Investigative (I) | 11 |
| Artistic (A) | 0 |
| Social (S) | 0 |
| Enterprising (E) | 0 |
| Conventional (C) | 57 |

## What you'd do

- Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials (importance 85/100)
- Documenting/Recording Information (importance 84/100)
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates (importance 81/100)
- Getting Information (importance 81/100)
- Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings (importance 81/100)
- Handling and Moving Objects (importance 78/100)
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems (importance 78/100)
- Controlling Machines and Processes (importance 76/100)
- Performing General Physical Activities (importance 76/100)
- Processing Information (importance 75/100)

## Skills

Operation and Control, Operations Monitoring, Active Listening, Critical Thinking, Monitoring, Speaking, Time Management, Coordination, Reading Comprehension, Social Perceptiveness

## Knowledge

Production and Processing, English Language, Public Safety and Security, Psychology, Education and Training, Chemistry, Mechanical, Administration and Management, Customer and Personal Service, Mathematics

## Also called

Acid Dipper, Agitator, Agricultural Produce Washer, Air Table Operator, Ampoule Washing Machine Operator, Anodizer, Bag Bleacher, Barrel Cleaner, Benzene Washer, Benzene Washer Operator

## Related careers

- [Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/separating-filtering-clarifying-precipitating-and-still-machine-setters-operators-and): $51,610 median pay
- [Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/mixing-and-blending-machine-setters-operators-and-tenders): $48,990 median pay
- [Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/furnace-kiln-oven-drier-and-kettle-operators-and-tenders): $48,040 median pay
- [Textile Bleaching and Dyeing Machine Operators and Tenders](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/textile-bleaching-and-dyeing-machine-operators-and-tenders): $38,180 median pay
- [Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/laundry-and-dry-cleaning-workers): $34,890 median pay
- [Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/cleaners-of-vehicles-and-equipment): $35,830 median pay

## Sources

- [O*NET Database](https://www.onetcenter.org/database.html), version 31.0 (CC BY 4.0)
- [BLS Employment Projections](https://www.bls.gov/emp/tables.htm), version 2025-35, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics](https://www.bls.gov/oes/tables.htm), version 2025, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk](https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cipcode/resources.aspx?y=56), version 2020, data year 2020 (Public domain (U.S. government work))

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. CollegesRef has modified all or some of this information.