PathMosaic
Career card

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

Also called: Blender, Cellar Worker, Machine Tender, Pasteurizer

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.

Share on LinkedIn Download images

LinkedIn posts a link with a summary picture. Images: two pictures to save or post. PDF: the whole card. More

Median pay BLS, 2025$51,610
Openings a year BLS, 2025–355,200
Typical education to start BLSHigh school diploma or equivalent
AI exposure BLS, Aug 2026 Moderate
Projected job growth BLS, 2025–35 -5.7%

What the data says: AI could halve the time on 3 of its 20 tasks, and jobs are projected to shrink 5.7% by 2035. How to think about this →

About this projection

BLS builds AI into its projections where the research supports it: “BLS generally applies adjustments based on this research conservatively, where there is convincing evidence for a change.”

It also notes a limit: “BLS projection methods are not designed to capture extremely rapid technological change.”

On its AI exposure groups, BLS says exposure “does not imply job loss.”

Recent conditions

  • In 2024, 3.4% of people in this work were unemployed, against 3.8% across all occupations Census ACS 2024, all workers in the Census group “Chemical processing machine setters, operators, and tenders”
  • From Sep 2025 to Aug 2026, 8.4 hires for every 10 job openings in nondurable goods manufacturing, which employs about 79% of people in this work, against 7.3 across all industries BLS JOLTS One box per opening, filled for each hire; hires beyond the openings are added in a lighter shade. Higher can mean openings get filled, or that people leave often; lower, that jobs go unfilled, or hiring is slow.

How to read these

Pay compared with all occupations BLS median wages Pays more than 37% of 825 occupations
lowest-paidhighest-paid

Median pay by state BLS OEWS May 2025, state estimates

$36k$109knot published

Median pay in every state
StateMedianMiddle half earnJobs
Alabama$46,970$40,260 to $55,430140
Alaska$48,000$46,670 to $62,470100
Arizona$57,820$46,900 to $61,870970
Arkansas$41,720$36,330 to $48,330500
California$52,910$44,970 to $71,51014,210
Colorado$49,590$43,020 to $64,0901,970
Connecticut$50,370$45,980 to $61,180310
Delaware$47,520$42,350 to $57,750110
Florida$49,610$38,950 to $75,5601,150
Georgia$55,500$43,960 to $80,1401,210
Hawaii$51,070$43,070 to $62,360160
Idaho$52,160$48,270 to $60,370780
Illinois$48,440$35,930 to $60,200780
Indiana$53,990$47,870 to $57,9101,510
Iowa$52,220$46,330 to $60,8801,090
Kansas$48,790$43,650 to $65,550450
Kentucky$58,770$49,720 to $61,0201,500
Louisiana$58,640$45,580 to $72,170770
Maine$57,190$49,610 to $60,390430
Maryland$55,580$47,440 to $69,880580
Massachusetts$48,970$46,080 to $60,530510
Michigan$49,480$39,840 to $56,8602,230
Minnesota$57,190$49,270 to $61,5801,810
Mississippi$43,890$36,360 to $55,920100
Missouri$49,290$38,660 to $59,7301,590
Montana$47,920$41,660 to $57,820340
Nebraska$47,080$40,770 to $58,6001,050
Nevada$62,960$47,590 to $82,210270
New Hampshire$60,340$51,300 to $64,080590
New Jersey$58,140$47,240 to $78,840930
New Mexico$41,370$36,820 to $49,210370
New York$55,990$47,840 to $64,8803,490
North Carolina$49,140$43,640 to $61,2301,310
North Dakota$59,390$53,550 to $63,380270
Ohio$47,640$40,440 to $56,7901,470
Oklahoma$49,440$39,230 to $63,330260
Oregon$50,160$44,050 to $60,3801,340
Pennsylvania$48,390$38,650 to $58,2302,150
Puerto Rico$32,000$28,330 to $37,72090
Rhode Island$46,710$38,340 to $55,730140
South Carolina$49,320$38,900 to $58,770470
South Dakota$50,780$44,240 to $58,430270
Tennessee$50,470$37,890 to $56,8702,450
Texas$46,910$39,940 to $57,7701,460
Utah$46,600$40,080 to $57,670480
Vermont$53,570$47,520 to $61,130230
Virginia$59,480$47,940 to $78,4002,130
Washington$56,160$46,590 to $64,6301,560
West Virginia$35,870$26,880 to $47,890110
Wisconsin$60,100$46,600 to $76,7501,520
Wyoming$108,900$61,760 to $114,510410

Nationally: $51,610. Shades run from the lowest state median to the highest; a territory below that range takes the lightest. How to read this

How AI touches the work

What AI could speed up, task by task, and where people already use it.

AI could halve the time on 3 of its 20 tasks

0 · AI alone could halve the time 3 · AI + software built on it could 17 · Not much
AI ratingIts main tasks Share of Claude conversations
May 2026
Not much Inspect machines or equipment for hazards, operating efficiency, malfunctions, wear, or leaks. Not published
Not much Set up or adjust machine controls to regulate conditions such as material flow, temperature, or pressure. Not published
Not much Collect samples of materials or products for laboratory analysis. Not published
Not much Monitor material flow or instruments, such as temperature or pressure gauges, indicators, or meters, to ensure optimal processing conditions. Not published
AI + software Communicate processing instructions to other workers. Not published
AI + software Examine samples to verify qualities such as clarity, cleanliness, consistency, dryness, or texture. Not published
See all 20 tasks
Not much Operate machines to process materials in compliance with applicable safety, energy, or environmental regulations. Not published
Not much Turn valves or move controls to admit, drain, separate, filter, clarify, mix, or transfer materials. Not published
AI + software Maintain logs of instrument readings, test results, or shift production for entry in computer databases. Not published
Not much Test samples to determine viscosity, acidity, specific gravity, or degree of concentration, using test equipment such as viscometers, pH meters, or hydrometers. Not published
Not much Start agitators, shakers, conveyors, pumps, or centrifuge machines. Not published
Not much Clean or sterilize tanks, screens, inflow pipes, production areas, or equipment, using hoses, brushes, scrapers, or chemical solutions. Not published
Not much Turn valves to pump sterilizing solutions or rinse water through pipes or equipment or to spray vats with atomizers. Not published
Not much Dump, pour, or load specified amounts of refined or unrefined materials into equipment or containers for further processing or storage. Not published
Not much Install, maintain, or repair hoses, pumps, filters, or screens to maintain processing equipment, using hand tools. Not published
Not much Remove clogs, defects, or impurities from machines, tanks, conveyors, screens, or other processing equipment. Not published
Not much Measure or weigh materials to be refined, mixed, transferred, stored, or otherwise processed. Not published
Not much Connect pipes between vats and processing equipment. Not published
Not much Assemble fittings, valves, bowls, plates, disks, impeller shafts, or other parts to prepare equipment for operation. Not published
Not much Remove full containers from discharge outlets and replace them with empty containers. Not published

Ordered by how important O*NET's respondents rate each task (1 to 5) times the share who say it is part of their job. The ordering is ours. 0 of the 20 have a published share of Claude conversations; “not published” means too few conversations for Anthropic to publish a figure.

Where people already use AI

The tasks above say what AI could speed up. This shows what people are using it for. Its 20 tasks fall under 20 work activities that many occupations share, and Microsoft counted how often each one came up in 200,000 conversations with its Copilot assistant in 2024.

Tasks AI could speed up3 of 20 tasksEloundou et al. ratings (2023)
Its activities among the 50 people ask AI for help with most0 of 20 activities Microsoft Copilot (2024), ranked among all 332 activities. The cut-off of 50 is ours.
Work activity This occupation's tasks under it People asked AI for help
in 10,000 conversations		 AI did it for them
in 10,000 conversations
Adjust equipment to ensure adequate performance 20#57 4.31#101
Maintain tools or equipment 4.47#136 1.04#167
Test characteristics of materials or products 3.64#152 0.75#177
Operate pumping systems or equipment 0.16#307 0.02#297
Operate industrial processing or production equipment 0.13#309 0.02#301
Set up equipment 20#58 4.69#95
Communicate with others about operational plans or activities 9.39#92 28#39
Maintain safety or security 9.38#93 16#51
Show all 20 activities
Connect components or supply lines to equipment or tools 6.37#110 1.33#146
Measure physical characteristics of materials, products, or equipment 6.04#113 1.15#158
Position tools or equipment 3.37#157 0.78#176
Clean tools, equipment, facilities, or work areas 3.36#158 1.16#157
Maintain operational records 2.92#170 0.49#209
Assemble equipment or components 2.35#187 0.43#218
Repair tools or equipment 1.87#202 0.18#246
Monitor equipment operation 1.87#203 0.26#236
Inspect commercial, industrial, or production systems or equipment 0.84#245 0.32#232
Collect samples of products or materials 0.70#256 0.13#262
Assess compliance with environmental standards or regulations 0.26#291 0.20#242
Load products, materials, or equipment for transportation or further processing 0.15#308 0.01#322
Task: AI alone Task: AI + software Task: not much #: rank among all 332 activities Microsoft measured (#1 = most common; activities that never came up share last place, shown as “tied”)
Where the two sources differ: “Maintain operational records” holds 1 task rated AI + software, yet people asked AI for help with it in 2.92 of every 10,000 conversations, #170 of 332.
How to read this

Work activities come from O*NET, which links every task to the broader activities it involves. Microsoft's figures are for the activity across everyone who used Copilot, not for separating, filtering, clarifying, precipitating, and still machine setters, operators, and tenders specifically. Copilot is a general chat assistant; dedicated coding tools are not included, so programming help is under-counted here. Activities are listed by how many of this occupation's tasks fall under them.

The task ratings say whether AI could halve the time a task takes: on its own (“AI alone”), or with software built on it (“AI + software”). They were made by people in 2023 (Eloundou et al.). Claude's share is the task's share of all Claude.ai conversations in May 2026; Anthropic doesn't publish a task with too few conversations. None of these add up to the BLS exposure group, which combines five research measures.

More in the Guide: task ratings · task order · work activities · Copilot figures · Claude

High exposure doesn't mean fewer jobs

BLS projects most occupations in its two most exposed groups to grow: 141 of 206 rated Very high and 165 of 206 rated High. Each dot is one of the 831 occupations BLS rates.

AI exposure and projected job growth, 831 occupationsLow exposure: 134 of 213 occupations projected to grow. Moderate exposure: 151 of 206 occupations projected to grow. High exposure: 165 of 206 occupations projected to grow. Very high exposure: 141 of 206 occupations projected to grow.-20%-15%-10%-5%0%+5%+10%+15%+20%+25%Low134 of 213 growingModerate151 of 206 growingHigh165 of 206 growingVery high141 of 206 growing11 occupations outside −20% to +25% are drawn at the edge. Click a dot to see that occupation.Separating, filtering, clarifying, precipitating, and still machine setters, operators, and tenders: -5.7%Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersAI exposure and projected job growth, 831 occupationsLow exposure: 134 of 213 occupations projected to grow. Moderate exposure: 151 of 206 occupations projected to grow. High exposure: 165 of 206 occupations projected to grow. Very high exposure: 141 of 206 occupations projected to grow.-20%-15%-10%-5%0%+5%+10%+15%+20%+25%Low134 of 213Moderate151 of 206High165 of 206Very high141 of 20611 occupations outside −20% to +25% are drawn at the edge. Tap a dot.Separating, filtering, clarifying, precipitating, and still machine setters, operators, and tenders: -5.7%Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders

Career moves into and out of this occupation

From moves between occupations found in online resumes, 2002–2016. Career changes only: a first job after school isn't a move.

Where people moved next

of 8,744 moves out

  1. 1 Managers, All Other (2010 group) an older group BLS has since split; no exposure group today 7%
  2. 2 Chief Executives Very high +3.2% 7%
  3. 3 Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers Moderate +3.8% 4%
  4. 4 Production Workers, All Other (2010 group) an older group BLS has since split; no exposure group today 4%
  5. 5 Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand Low +1.8% 3%

Where people moved in from

of 7,650 moves in

  1. 1 Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand Low +1.8% 6%
  2. 2 Managers, All Other (2010 group) an older group BLS has since split; no exposure group today 5%
  3. 3 Production Workers, All Other (2010 group) an older group BLS has since split; no exposure group today 4%
  4. 4 Retail Salespersons Very high -0.3% 3%
  5. 5 Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers Moderate +3.8% 3%

Resumes over-represent younger, white-collar job-seekers and moves into management. Schubert, Stansbury and Taska (resume data).

Education and training for the occupation

Education people in it hold

Census survey (American Community Survey)

  • 7% less than high school
  • 26% high school
  • 22% some college
  • 13% associate's
  • 24% bachelor's
  • 5% master's
  • 1% professional degree

Census ACS 2024, all workers in the Census group “Chemical processing machine setters, operators, and tenders” · 733 people surveyed.

Median pay by highest degree full-time, year-round · Census ACS 2024, all workers in the Census group “Chemical processing machine setters, operators, and tenders”

Programs that prepare people for it (NCES)
3 programs: Brewing Science, Viticulture and Enology and Zymology/Fermentation Science.

Jobs that require a credential BLS Occupational Requirements Survey 2023

BLS publishes no credential figures for this occupation.

Look up certifications, training and licenses U.S. Department of Labor

  • Certification Finder ↗ certifications CareerOneStop lists for this occupation
  • Training Finder ↗ schools and programs, nationwide; narrow the place there
  • License Finder ↗ licenses by state
  • Apprenticeship Finder ↗ DOL lists 8 registered apprenticeships in this occupation. Apprenticeship.gov can't be linked to one occupation, so search for “Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders” there.

These open in a new tab and send only the occupation's public code. More in the Guide

See where your own career could go Start by uploading your resume Browse careers

BLS AI exposure categories (Aug 2026) · BLS Employment Projections 2025–35 · O*NET 31.0 · Task ratings: Eloundou et al., Science (2024) · Microsoft "Working with AI" v1.1 · Anthropic Economic Index (2026-06-26) · Schubert, Stansbury and Taska · NCES CIP–SOC · Census ACS 2024 · BLS JOLTS

See it online, and explore any career: https://www.pathmosaic.com/card/51-9012.00

How useful is this page?

1 Not useful5 Very useful

Anonymous. Please don't include your name or contact details.