Occupation

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

Human Advantage 62%

Significant human skills needed

AI Automation Risk Moderate Risk
4 / 10

Some tasks in this role may be augmented by AI, but human oversight and interpersonal skills remain important.

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.

Also Known As: Absorber Operator, Absorption Operator, Acetone Recovery Worker, Acetylene Plant Operator, Acid Extractor, Acid Purifier, Almond Blancher Operator, Almond Huller +374 more

Video

Core Tasks

  1. Dump, pour, or load specified amounts of refined or unrefined materials into equipment or containers for further processing or storage.
  2. Operate machines to process materials in compliance with applicable safety, energy, or environmental regulations.
  3. Monitor material flow or instruments, such as temperature or pressure gauges, indicators, or meters, to ensure optimal processing conditions.
  4. Turn valves or move controls to admit, drain, separate, filter, clarify, mix, or transfer materials.
  5. Set up or adjust machine controls to regulate conditions such as material flow, temperature, or pressure.
  6. Examine samples to verify qualities such as clarity, cleanliness, consistency, dryness, or texture.
  7. Start agitators, shakers, conveyors, pumps, or centrifuge machines.
  8. Inspect machines or equipment for hazards, operating efficiency, malfunctions, wear, or leaks.
  9. Collect samples of materials or products for laboratory analysis.
  10. Communicate processing instructions to other workers.
  11. Turn valves to pump sterilizing solutions or rinse water through pipes or equipment or to spray vats with atomizers.
  12. Maintain logs of instrument readings, test results, or shift production for entry in computer databases.
  13. Remove clogs, defects, or impurities from machines, tanks, conveyors, screens, or other processing equipment.
  14. Clean or sterilize tanks, screens, inflow pipes, production areas, or equipment, using hoses, brushes, scrapers, or chemical solutions.

Supplemental Tasks (6)

  1. Measure or weigh materials to be refined, mixed, transferred, stored, or otherwise processed.
  2. Test samples to determine viscosity, acidity, specific gravity, or degree of concentration, using test equipment such as viscometers, pH meters, or hydrometers.
  3. Install, maintain, or repair hoses, pumps, filters, or screens to maintain processing equipment, using hand tools.
  4. Connect pipes between vats and processing equipment.
  5. Assemble fittings, valves, bowls, plates, disks, impeller shafts, or other parts to prepare equipment for operation.
  6. Remove full containers from discharge outlets and replace them with empty containers.

Education & Training

Job Zone 2 Job Zone Two: Some Preparation Needed
Education: These occupations usually require a high school diploma.
Experience: Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is usually needed. For example, a teller would benefit from experience working directly with the public.
On-the-Job Training: Employees in these occupations need anywhere from a few months to one year of working with experienced employees. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations.

Education Level Distribution

Percentage of workers in this occupation with each education level.

High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
91%
Less than a High School Diploma
5%
Post-Secondary Certificate - awarded for training completed after high school (for example, in agriculture or natural resources, computer services, personal or culinary services, engineering technologies, healthcare, construction trades, mechanic and repair technologies, or precision production)
2%
Some College Courses
1%
Bachelor's Degree
1%
Post-Baccalaureate Certificate - awarded for completion of an organized program of study; designed for people who have completed a Baccalaureate degree but do not meet the requirements of academic degrees carrying the title of Master.
0%

Technology & Tools

Hot Technologies

  • Microsoft Excel
  • Microsoft Office software
  • Microsoft Outlook
  • Microsoft PowerPoint
  • Microsoft Word
  • SAP software

Software (9)

  • Email software
  • Spreadsheet software
  • Word processing software

Tools & Equipment (22)

  • Adjustable wrenches
  • Claw hammers
  • Colorimeters
  • Desktop computers
  • Gauging rods
  • Graduated burets
  • Grease guns
  • Handheld refractometers
  • Hydrometers
  • Industrial platform scales
  • Locking pliers
  • Personal computers
  • Phillips head screwdrivers
  • Platform scales
  • Power drills
  • Ratchets
  • Remote reading electronic thermometers
  • Socket wrench sets
  • Straight screwdrivers
  • Viscosity meters
  • Wire brushes
  • pH indicators

Where This Career Leads

Career progression organized by specialty track and experience level.

Production & Automation Advanced Manufacturing

Zone 1
Sewing Machine Operators 80% match
Zone 2
Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders You are here
Zone 3
Chemical Technicians 79% match
Zone 4
Fuel Cell Engineers 78% match
Zone 5
Microsystems Engineers 76% match

Resume Builder

Select key tasks to generate action-oriented resume bullets for Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders positions.

Related Occupations

Compare skills gap with any of these related roles.

Cleaning, Washing, and Metal Pickling Equipment Operators and TendersClosely Related Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersClosely Related Chemical Equipment Operators and TendersClosely Related Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and TendersClosely Related Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersClosely Related Chemical Plant and System Operators Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders Food Batchmakers
Show all 20 related occupations
Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders Heat Treating Equipment Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders Cooling and Freezing Equipment Operators and Tenders Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders Machine Feeders and Offbearers Pump Operators, Except Wellhead Pumpers Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders Extruding and Forming Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Synthetic and Glass Fibers Textile Bleaching and Dyeing Machine Operators and Tenders Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers

Real Talk

Hear from real Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenderss about their work:

Reddit Day-in-the-life discussions Reddit Salary discussions YouTube Video day-in-the-life Glassdoor Reviews & salaries