# 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.

- Edition: Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Page: https://www.collegesref.com/careers/separating-filtering-clarifying-precipitating-and-still-machine-setters-operators-and
- SOC code: 51-9012.00
- Career family: Production
- Median annual pay: $51,610 (10th percentile $36,200, 90th percentile $79,750)
- Projected growth: Decline, -5.7%
- Openings a year: 5,200
- 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) | 88 |
| Investigative (I) | 22 |
| Artistic (A) | 0 |
| Social (S) | 2 |
| Enterprising (E) | 2 |
| Conventional (C) | 58 |

## What you'd do

- Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings (importance 74/100)
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events (importance 74/100)
- Getting Information (importance 73/100)
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates (importance 73/100)
- Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials (importance 72/100)
- Controlling Machines and Processes (importance 66/100)
- Handling and Moving Objects (importance 65/100)
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems (importance 65/100)
- Performing General Physical Activities (importance 63/100)
- Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards (importance 61/100)

## Skills

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

## Knowledge

Production and Processing, English Language, Food Production, Education and Training, Mechanical, Mathematics, Chemistry, Computers and Electronics, Public Safety and Security, Physics

## Also called

Absorber Operator, Absorption Operator, Acetone Recovery Worker, Acetylene Plant Operator, Acid Purifier, Almond Blancher Operator, Batch Still Operator, Beer Brewer, Blender, Brewer

## Majors that lead here (NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk, 4-digit CIP)

- [Food Science and Technology](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/0110) (CIP 0110, 168 colleges)

## Colleges with strong outcomes (College Scorecard, 2025)

| College | Program | Earnings 1 yr | Earnings 4 yrs | Median debt |
| --- | --- | ---: | ---: | ---: |
| [University of Wisconsin-Madison Main Campus](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-wisconsin-madison-main-campus-3084) | Food Science and Technology | $57,824 | $85,445 | not reported |
| [Cornell University-New York](https://www.collegesref.com/college/cornell-university-new-york-710) | Food Science and Technology | $66,519 | $84,147 | not reported |
| [Rutgers University-New Brunswick Main Campus](https://www.collegesref.com/college/rutgers-university-new-brunswick-main-campus-2279) | Food Science and Technology | $58,376 | $80,979 | $18,673 |
| [Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/virginia-polytechnic-institute-and-state-university-3134) | Food Science and Technology | $48,488 | $80,161 | not reported |
| [Kansas State University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/kansas-state-university-1364) | Food Science and Technology | $68,015 | $78,367 | $23,250 |
| [University of Massachusetts-Amherst UMASS Main Campus](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-massachusetts-amherst-umass-main-campus-2950) | Food Science and Technology | not reported | $77,771 | not reported |
| [California State Polytechnic University-Pomona](https://www.collegesref.com/college/california-state-polytechnic-university-pomona-362) | Food Science and Technology | $54,580 | $75,601 | not reported |
| [California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo SLO](https://www.collegesref.com/college/california-polytechnic-state-university-san-luis-obispo-slo-360) | Food Science and Technology | $54,906 | $75,466 | $12,833 |

## Related careers

- [Cleaning, Washing, and Metal Pickling Equipment Operators and Tenders](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/cleaning-washing-and-metal-pickling-equipment-operators-and-tenders): $43,530 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
- [Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/chemical-equipment-operators-and-tenders): $58,040 median pay
- [Chemical Plant and System Operators](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/chemical-plant-and-system-operators): $78,120 median pay
- [Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/extruding-forming-pressing-and-compacting-machine-setters-operators-and-tenders): $45,760 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.