Salary, Job Description, How To Become One, and Quiz
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Mixing and Blending Machine Operators
Mixing and Blending Machine Operators set up, operate, or tend machines to mix or blend materials, such as chemicals, tobacco, liquids, color pigments, or explosive ingredients.
Table of contents
What they do
Mixing and Blending Machine Operators set up, operate, or tend machines to mix or blend materials, such as chemicals, tobacco, liquids, color pigments, or explosive ingredients.
- Weigh or measure materials, ingredients, or products to ensure conformance to requirements.
- Compound or process ingredients or dyes, according to formulas.
- Read work orders to determine production specifications or information.
- Observe production or monitor equipment to ensure safe and efficient operation.
Typical day
On a daily basis, Mixing and Blending Machine Operators unload mixtures into containers or onto conveyors for further processing. They record operational or production data on specified forms.
A typical day for a Mixing and Blending Machine Setter, Operator and Tender will also include:
- Compound or process ingredients or dyes, according to formulas.
- Operate or tend machines to mix or blend any of a wide variety of materials, such as spices, dough batter, tobacco, fruit juices, chemicals, livestock feed, food products, color pigments, or explosive ingredients.
- Dump or pour specified amounts of materials into machinery or equipment.
- Weigh or measure materials, ingredients, or products to ensure conformance to requirements.
- Observe production or monitor equipment to ensure safe and efficient operation.
Other responsibilities
Besides their typical day, Mixing and Blending Machine Operators also dislodge and clear jammed materials or other items from machinery or equipment, using hand tools. They may also clean and maintain equipment, using hand tools.
On a weekly to monthly basis, Mixing and Blending Machine Operators dump or pour specified amounts of materials into machinery or equipment. They might also test samples of materials or products to ensure compliance with specifications, using test equipment.
In addition, they tend accessory equipment, such as pumps or conveyors, to move materials or ingredients through production processes.
Although specific duties may vary, many of them add or mix chemicals or ingredients for processing, using hand tools or other devices.
To some Mixing and Blending Machine Operators, it is also their responsibility to collect samples of materials or products for laboratory testing.
What is the job like
Job satisfaction
Is this job meaningful
61% said they were satisfied with their job and 46% 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.
It is easy to get into this career. Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required to get started.
Normal working hours (40 hours per week).
Cons
Not suitable for people who like to help and teach others.
One of the lowest paying jobs.
Demand for this career is declining.
How much do they make
Average salary
Average hourly wage
Entry-level Mixing and Blending Machine Operators with little to no experience can expect to make anywhere between $26,720 to $31,550 per year or $13 to $15 per hour.
| Salary by experience | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Highest (Top 10%) | $60,000 | $29 |
| Senior (Top 25%) | $48,820 | $23 |
| Median | $38,690 | $19 |
| Junior (Bottom 25%) | $31,550 | $15 |
| No experience (Bottom 10%) | $26,720 | $13 |
This table shows the top 10 highest paying industries for Mixing and Blending Machine Operators based on their average annual salary.
| Salary by industry | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing | $59110 | $28.42 |
| Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services | $56760 | $27.29 |
| Pulp, Paper, and Paperboard Mills | $52330 | $25.16 |
| Iron and Steel Mills and Ferroalloy Manufacturing | $51920 | $24.96 |
| Scientific Research and Development Services | $48910 | $23.52 |
| Other Electrical Equipment and Component Manufacturing | $48540 | $23.34 |
| Nonmetallic Mineral Mining and Quarrying | $47270 | $22.72 |
| Nonferrous Metal Production and Processing | $47230 | $22.71 |
| Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing | $46860 | $22.53 |
| Rubber Product Manufacturing | $46640 | $22.43 |
View more salary by industries here.
Where can they work
Where can Mixing and Blending Machine Operators work? Here is a table showing the top 10 largest employers of Mixing and Blending Machine Operators including the average salary in that industry.
| Employers | Total Employed | Annual Salary | Hourly Wages |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chemical Manufacturing | 16980 | $39890 | $19.18 |
| Chemical Manufacturing | 14660 | $42830 | $20.59 |
| Nonmetallic Mineral Product Manufacturing | 11230 | $43270 | $20.80 |
| Pharmaceutical and Medicine Manufacturing | 10220 | $40470 | $19.46 |
| Animal Food Manufacturing | 7630 | $37790 | $18.17 |
| Other Food Manufacturing | 4580 | $40730 | $19.58 |
| Merchant Wholesalers, Nondurable Goods | 3700 | $41010 | $19.72 |
| Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing | 3440 | $46860 | $22.53 |
| Rubber Product Manufacturing | 3280 | $46640 | $22.43 |
| Plastics Product Manufacturing | 3040 | $39860 | $19.16 |
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What is the work day like
Working hours
Working schedule
How often do you use email in this job?
Telephone
How often do you have telephone conversations in this job?
Group discussions
How often do you have group discussions in this job?
Public speaking
How often does this job require you to do public speaking?
Level of competition
How much competitive pressure is in this job?
What is the work environment like
Office-style environment
Indoors in an environmentally controlled condition
Warehouse-style environment
Indoors in a non-controlled environmental condition such as a warehouse
Outdoors
Outdoors exposed to all weather conditions
Outdoors – Under Cover
Outdoors but under cover (e.g. structure with roof but no walls)
How to become one
Difficulty to become one
Required level of education
What level of education do you need to perform the job?
Relevant majors
Relevant work experience
How much related work experience do you need to get hired for the job?
On The Job Training
How much on the job training do you need to perform the job?
Should you become one
Best personality type for this career
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
People with The Leader personality likes to start and work on projects. They also like leading people and making many decisions.
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?
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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