What Do Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating And Still Machine Setters, Operators And Tenders Do

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Salary, Job Description, How To Become One, and Quiz

Separating Machine Operators

Separating Machine Operators 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.

Salary
$46850
Becoming One
Easy
Education
No degree required
Job Satisfaction
Job Growth
Low

Personality


What they do

Separating Machine Operators 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.

  • Dump, pour or load specified amounts of refined or unrefined materials into equipment or containers for further processing or storage.
  • Operate machines to process materials in compliance with applicable safety, energy, or environmental regulations.
  • Monitor material flow or instruments such as temperature or pressure gauges, indicators, or meters to ensure optimal processing conditions.
  • Turn valves or move controls to admit, drain, separate, filter, clarify, mix, or transfer materials.

Typical day

On a daily basis, Separating Machine Operators monitor material flow or instruments such as temperature or pressure gauges, indicators, or meters to ensure optimal processing conditions. They inspect machines or equipment for hazards, operating efficiency, malfunctions, wear, or leaks.

A typical day for a Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating and Still Machine Setter, Operator and Tender will also include:

  • Maintain logs of instrument readings, test results, or shift production for entry in computer databases.
  • Operate machines to process materials in compliance with applicable safety, energy, or environmental regulations.
  • Test samples to determine viscosity, acidity, specific gravity, or degree of concentration, using test equipment such as viscometers, pH meters, or hydrometers.
  • Communicate processing instructions to other workers.
  • Examine samples to verify qualities such as clarity, cleanliness, consistency, dryness, or texture.

Other responsibilities

Besides their typical day, Separating Machine Operators also connect pipes between vats and processing equipment. They may also remove full containers from discharge outlets and replace them with empty containers.

On a weekly to monthly basis, Separating Machine Operators remove clogs, defects, or impurities from machines, tanks, conveyors, screens, or other processing equipment. They might also clean or sterilize tanks, screens, inflow pipes, production areas, or equipment, using hoses, brushes, scrapers, or chemical solutions.

In addition, they assemble fittings, valves, bowls, plates, disks, impeller shafts, or other parts to prepare equipment for operation.

Although specific duties may vary, many of them install, maintain, or repair hoses, pumps, filters, or screens to maintain processing equipment, using hand tools.

To some Separating Machine Operators, it is also their responsibility to turn valves to pump sterilizing solutions or rinse water through pipes or equipment, or to spray vats with atomizers.

What is the job like

Job satisfaction

Very High

Is this job meaningful

High

77% said they were satisfied with their job and 61% said they found their job meaningful.


Pros

Suitable for people who like practical and hands-on work.

Suitable for people who want to work in a supportive work environment.

This career is perfect for people who love to work both indoors and outdoors.

It is easy to get into this career. Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for this career.

Cons

Not suitable for people who like to help and teach others.

Salary is below average.

Long working hours (More than 40 hours per week).

How much do they make

Average salary

$46850 per year

Average hourly wage

$23 per hour

Entry-level Separating Machine Operators with little to no experience can expect to make anywhere between $27,910 to $34,230 per year or $13 to $16 per hour.

Salary by experience Annual Hourly
Highest (Top 10%) $72,220 $35
Senior (Top 25%) $55,900 $27
Median $43,100 $21
Junior (Bottom 25%) $34,230 $16
No experience (Bottom 10%) $27,910 $13

This table shows the top 10 highest paying industries for Separating Machine Operators based on their average annual salary.

Salary by industry Annual Hourly
Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing $80740 $38.82
Scientific Research and Development Services $65830 $31.65
Nonmetallic Mineral Mining and Quarrying $65240 $31.37
Support Activities for Mining $65140 $31.32
Metal Ore Mining $58790 $28.26
Pulp, Paper, and Paperboard Mills $53240 $25.60
Nonmetallic Mineral Product Manufacturing $53060 $25.51
Pharmaceutical and Medicine Manufacturing $51990 $25.00
Chemical Manufacturing $50680 $24.37
Semiconductor and Other Electronic Component Manufacturing $49140 $23.63

View more salary by industries here.

Where can they work

Where can Separating Machine Operators work? Here is a table showing the top 10 largest employers of Separating Machine Operators including the average salary in that industry.

Employers Total Employed Annual Salary Hourly Wages
Dairy Product Manufacturing 5930 $43930 $21.12
Pharmaceutical and Medicine Manufacturing 3170 $51990 $25.00
Grain and Oilseed Milling 2970 $42120 $20.25
Chemical Manufacturing 2050 $50680 $24.37
Other Food Manufacturing 1630 $46420 $22.32
Restaurants and Other Eating Places 1370 $41980 $20.18
Pulp, Paper, and Paperboard Mills 990 $53240 $25.60
Chemical Manufacturing 880 $44060 $21.18
Merchant Wholesalers, Nondurable Goods 680 $43990 $21.15
Sugar and Confectionery Product Manufacturing 680 $41470 $19.94

What is the work day like

Working hours

Less than 40 hours
0%

40 hours
52%

More than 40 hours
48%

Working schedule

69%

18%

13%

Email

How often do you use email in this job?

Once a week
0%

Every day
21%

Telephone

How often do you have telephone conversations in this job?

Once a week
30%

Every day
48%

Group discussions

How often do you have group discussions in this job?

Once a week
4%

Every day
86%

Public speaking

How often does this job require you to do public speaking?

Never
76%

Once a year
13%

Once a month
6%

Once a week
5%

Every day
0%

Level of competition

How much competitive pressure is in this job?

Not competitive at all
52%

Slightly competitive
13%

Moderately competitive
9%

Highly competitive
14%

Extremely competitive
12%

What is the work environment like

Office-style environment

Indoors in an environmentally controlled condition

Never
38%

Once a year or more
1%

Once a month or more
10%

Once a week or more
0%

Every day
52%

Warehouse-style environment

Indoors in a non-controlled environmental condition such as a warehouse

Never
20%

Once a year or more
0%

Once a month or more
0%

Once a week or more
1%

Every day
78%

Outdoors

Outdoors exposed to all weather conditions

Never
71%

Once a year or more
7%

Once a month or more
14%

Once a week or more
6%

Every day
3%

Outdoors – Under Cover

Outdoors but under cover (e.g. structure with roof but no walls)

Never
89%

Once a year or more
1%

Once a month or more
0%

Once a week or more
4%

Every day
6%

How to become one

Difficulty to become one

Easy
You may need some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience. Most careers in this difficulty category usually don’t require a degree. However, you will need a few months of on-the-job training with experienced employees. Similar careers include Customer Service Representatives, Security Guards, and Bank Tellers.

Required level of education

What level of education do you need to perform the job?

Less than a High School Diploma
5%

High School Diploma or equivalent
91%

Post-Secondary Certificate
2%

Some College Courses
1%

Associate’s Degree or similar
0%

Bachelor’s Degree
1%

Post-Baccalaureate Certificate
0%

Master’s Degree
0%

Post-Master’s Certificate
0%

First Professional Degree
0%

Doctoral Degree
0%

Post-Doctoral Training
0%

Relevant majors

Brewing Science

A program that focuses on the business, science, and technology of beer brewing operations. Includes instruction in biology, biochemistry, brewing, entrepreneurship, fermentation, malting, marketing, microbiology, quality control, and sanitation.

Viticulture and Enology

A program that focuses on the application of scientific and agribusiness principles to the production of grapes, the making of wine, and the wine business. Includes instruction in grapes and wines of the world; grape production; winemaking technology; plant biology; chemistry; food science, safety, and packaging; soil science; pest management; and marketing and business management.

Zymology/Fermentation Science

A program that focuses on the business, science, and technology of fermented food production. Includes instruction in biology, biochemistry, brewing, entrepreneurship, fermentation, marketing, microbiology, quality control, and sanitation.


Relevant work experience

How much related work experience do you need to get hired for the job?

None
37%

1 month
0%

1 to 3 months
2%

3 to 6 months
15%

6 months to 1 year
12%

1 to 2 years
17%

2 to 4 years
9%

4 to 6 years
7%

6 to 8 years
1%

8 to 10 years
0%

Over 10 years
0%

On The Job Training

How much on the job training do you need to perform the job?

None or short demonstration
0%

1 month
44%

1 to 3 months
18%

3 to 6 months
19%

6 months to 1 year
12%

1 to 2 years
6%

2 to 4 years
0%

4 to 10 years
0%

Over 10 years
0%

Should you become one

Best personality type for this career

The Builder

People with this personality type likes practical and hands-on work. They prefer working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery.

The Builder
100%

People with The Builder personality type likes practical and hands-on work. They prefer working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery.


The Thinker
62%

People with The Thinker personality likes to work with ideas that require an extensive amount of thinking. They prefer work that requires them to solve problems mentally.


The Artist
19%

People with The Artist personality likes to work with designs and patterns. They prefer activities that require self-expression and prefer work that can be done without following a clear set of rules.


The Helper
19%

People with The Helper personality type likes to work with people and in teams. They prefer work that allows them to build relationships with others.


The Leader
33%

People with The Leader personality likes to start and work on projects. They also like leading people and making many decisions.


The Organizer
71%

People with The Organizer personality type likes to follow set procedures and routines. They prefer working with data and details more than with ideas.


You can read more about these career personality types here.

People who are suitable for this job tend to like work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They like working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery.

They also like following set procedures and routines. They like working with data and details more than with ideas.

Take this quiz to see if this is the right career for you.

Work Values

Which values are the most important to a person’s satisfaction for this job?

Achievement
29%

You are someone who is results oriented. You prefer work that allows you to utilize your skills and abilities while at the same time giving you a sense of accomplishment.

Working Conditions
48%

You are someone who values job security, steady employment, and good working conditions. You also prefer work that keeps you busy all the time with something different to do every day.

Recognition
33%

You are someone who values job advancement and leadership roles. You prefer work that receives recognition for the work you do and jobs that are looked up to by others in the company and your community.

Relationships
38%

You are someone who likes to provide a service to others. You prefer a work environment where you can work with your co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment.

Support
67%

You are someone who values a company that stands behind their employees. You prefer a work environment where everyone is treated fairly and is being supported by the company.

Independence
48%

You are someone who likes to work on your own and make your own decisions. You prefer work that requires little supervision and are allowed to try out your own ideas.

FAQ


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