SOC 51-9023.00

    Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders

    Set up, operate, or tend machines to mix or blend materials, such as chemicals, tobacco, liquids, color pigments, or explosive ingredients.

    Median pay
    $48,990
    Growth
    -6.1%
    Decline
    Openings a year
    7,900
    Typical education
    High school diploma

    Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition

    Source: BLS 2025 wages · 2025–35 projections

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    Annual pay range

    Lowest 10% earn less than
    $36,790
    Median
    $48,990
    Highest 10% earn more than
    $70,200
    National wages for all workers in this occupation. BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025.

    94,920 people work in this occupation.

    What mixing and blending machine setters, operators, and tenders do

    Job Zone 2: Some preparation

    Set up, operate, or tend machines to mix or blend materials, such as chemicals, tobacco, liquids, color pigments, or explosive ingredients.

    Usually a high school diploma; some on-the-job training or experience.

    Interest profile

    Realistic (R) · strongest
    93 / 100
    Investigative (I)
    16 / 100
    Artistic (A)
    2 / 100
    Social (S)
    2 / 100
    Enterprising (E)
    3 / 100
    Conventional (C)
    54 / 100
    How strongly each interest area describes the work, from O*NET (scores rescaled to 0–100). The interest code lists the strongest areas in order.

    Interest code RCI. Compare it with yours

    What you'd do

    Getting Information
    85
    Controlling Machines and Processes
    83
    Performing General Physical Activities
    81
    Handling and Moving Objects
    79
    Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings
    79
    Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
    77
    Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment
    74
    Documenting/Recording Information
    72
    Training and Teaching Others
    69
    Repairing and Maintaining Mechanical Equipment
    66
    Work activities rated by importance for this occupation, O*NET (0–100).

    Skills and strengths

    Skills

    • Operation and Control
    • Operations Monitoring
    • Critical Thinking
    • Equipment Maintenance
    • Monitoring
    • Quality Control Analysis
    • Reading Comprehension
    • Repairing
    • Time Management
    • Troubleshooting

    Knowledge

    • Production and Processing
    • English Language
    • Mechanical
    • Public Safety and Security
    • Mathematics
    • Chemistry
    • Education and Training
    • Administration and Management
    • Law and Government
    • Personnel and Human Resources

    Abilities

    • Near Vision
    • Arm-Hand Steadiness
    • Manual Dexterity
    • Category Flexibility
    • Control Precision
    • Far Vision
    • Information Ordering
    • Multilimb Coordination
    • Oral Comprehension
    • Perceptual Speed

    Work styles

    • Attention to Detail
    • Cautiousness
    • Dependability
    • Integrity
    • Stress Tolerance
    • Perseverance
    • Self-Control
    • Achievement Orientation
    • Adaptability
    • Cooperation

    Also called

    Abrasive Mixer · Acetylene Cylinder Packing Mixer · Acid Adjuster · Acid Blower · Acid Mixer · Ammonia Worker · Asphalt Blender · Asphalt Mixer · Asphalt Mixing Machine Operator · Auger Mill Operator

    CareerOneStop

    Certifications, licenses and pay by state

    What mixing and blending machine setters, operators, and tenders may need beyond a degree, where a license is required, and what the work pays in each state.

    Certifications

    Core certifications employers recognise for this work.

    Search all certifications on CareerOneStop

    Data from CareerOneStop, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor (Employment and Training Administration, with the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development). Retrieved November 9, 2026.

    Your plan

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    Courses, majors, colleges, scholarships and a timeline for this career, built from your profile.

    Related careers

    Careers with similar work, interests or skills.

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    Sources and attribution

    Every figure on this page comes from these public datasets. Missing values are shown as not reported, never estimated.

    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.

    Data from CareerOneStop, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor (Employment and Training Administration, with the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development). Retrieved November 9, 2026.

    Page data updated November 5, 2026.