# 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.
- **Entity Type:** role
- **Schema Version:** role.v1
- **Soc Code:** 51-9012.00
- **Summary:** 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.

## Aliases

- Brewer
- Cellar Worker
- Machine Tender
- Pulper Operator
- Blender
- Digester Cook
- Paper Machine Tender
- Plant Operator
- Winemaker
- Absorber Operator
- Absorption Operator
- Acetone Recovery Worker

## Tasks

| Text | Type | Iwa |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Dump, pour, or load specified amounts of refined or unrefined materials into equipment or containers for further processing or storage. | Core | 4.A.3.a.1.f |
| Operate machines to process materials in compliance with applicable safety, energy, or environmental regulations. | Core | 4.A.2.a.3.b |
| Monitor material flow or instruments, such as temperature or pressure gauges, indicators, or meters, to ensure optimal processing conditions. | Core | 4.A.1.a.2.a |
| Turn valves or move controls to admit, drain, separate, filter, clarify, mix, or transfer materials. | Core | 4.A.3.a.2.i |
| Set up or adjust machine controls to regulate conditions such as material flow, temperature, or pressure. | Core | 4.A.3.a.2.i |
| Examine samples to verify qualities such as clarity, cleanliness, consistency, dryness, or texture. | Core | 4.A.1.b.2.c |
| Start agitators, shakers, conveyors, pumps, or centrifuge machines. | Core | 4.A.3.a.3.b |
| Inspect machines or equipment for hazards, operating efficiency, malfunctions, wear, or leaks. | Core | 4.A.1.b.2.g |
| Test samples to determine viscosity, acidity, specific gravity, or degree of concentration, using test equipment such as viscometers, pH meters, or hydrometers. | Supplemental | 4.A.1.b.2.c |
| Measure or weigh materials to be refined, mixed, transferred, stored, or otherwise processed. | Supplemental | 4.A.1.b.3.a |
| Collect samples of materials or products for laboratory analysis. | Core | 4.A.3.a.2.b |
| Communicate processing instructions to other workers. | Core | 4.A.4.a.2.c |

## Emerging Tasks


## Activities

| Name | Iwa |
| --- | --- |
| Adjust equipment controls to regulate flow of production materials or products. | 4.A.3.a.2.i |
| Adjust temperature controls of ovens or other heating equipment. | 4.A.3.a.2.i |
| Monitor instruments to ensure proper production conditions. | 4.A.1.a.2.a |
| Collect samples of materials or products for testing. | 4.A.3.a.2.b |
| Test chemical or physical characteristics of materials or products. | 4.A.1.b.2.c |
| Measure ingredients or substances to be used in production processes. | 4.A.1.b.3.a |
| Clean work areas. | 4.A.3.a.1.c |
| Clean production equipment. | 4.A.3.a.1.c |
| Inspect production equipment. | 4.A.1.b.2.g |
| Load materials into production equipment. | 4.A.3.a.1.f |
| Connect supply lines to production equipment or tools. | 4.A.3.a.2.ah |
| Exchange information with colleagues. | 4.A.4.a.2.c |
| Clear equipment jams. | 4.A.3.b.5.a |
| Install mechanical components in production equipment. | 4.A.3.a.2.at |
| Repair production equipment or tools. | 4.A.3.b.4.c |
| Maintain production or processing equipment. | 4.A.3.b.5.a |
| Adjust equipment controls to regulate flow of water, cleaning solutions, or other liquids. | 4.A.3.a.2.i |
| Position containers to receive materials or workpieces. | 4.A.3.a.2.v |
| Assess compliance with environmental laws. | 4.A.2.a.3.b |
| Maintain safety. | 4.A.3.a.1.k |
| Operate pumping systems or equipment. | 4.A.3.a.3.b |
| Operate mixing equipment. | 4.A.3.a.3.f |
| Record operational or production data. | 4.A.3.b.6.h |
| Assemble machine tools, parts, or fixtures. | 4.A.3.a.2.d |

## Capabilities

| Name | Family | Value |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Near Vision | ability | 3.88 |
| Operations Monitoring | transferable_skill | 3.75 |
| Production and Processing | knowledge | 3.75 |
| Perceptual Speed | ability | 3.75 |
| Problem Sensitivity | ability | 3.5 |
| Information Ordering | ability | 3.38 |
| Arm-Hand Steadiness | ability | 3.38 |
| Mechanical | knowledge | 3.29 |
| Reaction Time | ability | 3.25 |
| Critical Thinking | essential_skill | 3.12 |
| Monitoring | essential_skill | 3.12 |
| Operation and Control | transferable_skill | 3.12 |
| Quality Control Analysis | transferable_skill | 3.12 |
| Oral Comprehension | ability | 3.12 |
| Flexibility of Closure | ability | 3.12 |
| Selective Attention | ability | 3.12 |
| Control Precision | ability | 3.12 |
| Multilimb Coordination | ability | 3.12 |
| Static Strength | ability | 3.12 |
| English Language | knowledge | 3.09 |
| Reading Comprehension | essential_skill | 3 |
| Active Listening | essential_skill | 3 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | transferable_skill | 3 |
| Time Management | transferable_skill | 3 |
| Oral Expression | ability | 3 |
| Deductive Reasoning | ability | 3 |
| Inductive Reasoning | ability | 3 |
| Category Flexibility | ability | 3 |
| Visualization | ability | 3 |
| Manual Dexterity | ability | 3 |
| Finger Dexterity | ability | 3 |
| Rate Control | ability | 3 |
| Trunk Strength | ability | 3 |
| Extent Flexibility | ability | 3 |
| Gross Body Equilibrium | ability | 3 |
| Far Vision | ability | 3 |
| Visual Color Discrimination | ability | 3 |
| Hearing Sensitivity | ability | 3 |
| Speech Recognition | ability | 3 |
| Writing | essential_skill | 2.88 |

## Skills

| Name | Type |
| --- | --- |
| Information Ordering | Specialized Skill |
| Critical Thinking | Common Skill |
| English Language | Common Skill |
| Visualization | Specialized Skill |
| Time Management | Common Skill |
| Speech Recognition | Specialized Skill |
| Reading Comprehension | Common Skill |
| Microsoft Word | Common Skill |
| Microsoft PowerPoint | Common Skill |
| Microsoft Outlook | Common Skill |
| Microsoft Excel | Common Skill |
| Inductive Reasoning | Common Skill |
| Finger Dexterity | Common Skill |
| Deductive Reasoning | Common Skill |
| Active Listening | Common Skill |
| Writing | Common Skill |
| Equipment Maintenance | Specialized Skill |
| Complex Problem Solving | Common Skill |
| Active Learning | Common Skill |
| Mathematics | Common Skill |
| Social Perceptiveness | Common Skill |
| Learning Strategies | Specialized Skill |
| Depth Perception | Common Skill |
| Chemistry | Specialized Skill |
| Systems Analysis | Specialized Skill |
| Instructing | Specialized Skill |
| Physics | Specialized Skill |
| Equipment Selection | Specialized Skill |
| Negotiation | Common Skill |
| Installation | Specialized Skill |
| Email Software | Specialized Skill |
| Telecommunications | Specialized Skill |
| Biology | Specialized Skill |
| Psychology | Specialized Skill |
| Geography | Specialized Skill |
| Foreign Language | Common Skill |
| Presentation Software | Specialized Skill |

## Tools

| Example | Category | Hot | In Demand |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Microsoft Office software | Office suite software | yes | yes |
| Microsoft Excel | Spreadsheet software | yes | no |
| Microsoft Outlook | Electronic mail software | yes | no |
| Microsoft PowerPoint | Presentation software | yes | no |
| Microsoft Word | Word processing software | yes | no |
| SAP software | Enterprise resource planning ERP software | yes | no |
| Email software | Electronic mail software | no | no |

## Work Context

| Name | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets | 4.91 |
| Exposed to Contaminants | 4.64 |
| Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams | 4.57 |
| Exposed to Sounds, Noise Levels that are Distracting or Uncomfortable | 4.35 |
| Freedom to Make Decisions | 4.27 |
| Indoors, Not Environmentally Controlled | 4.16 |
| Consequence of Error | 4.13 |
| Impact of Decisions on Co-workers or Company Results | 3.99 |
| Determine Tasks, Priorities and Goals | 3.99 |
| Spend Time Using Your Hands to Handle, Control, or Feel Objects, Tools, or Controls | 3.94 |
| Telephone Conversations | 3.84 |
| Exposed to Very Hot or Cold Temperatures | 3.83 |
| Work With or Contribute to a Work Group or Team | 3.82 |
| Importance of Being Exact or Accurate | 3.66 |
| Health and Safety of Other Workers | 3.61 |
| Frequency of Decision Making | 3.59 |
| Conflict Situations | 3.52 |
| Exposed to Hazardous Equipment | 3.51 |
| Exposed to Minor Burns, Cuts, Bites, or Stings | 3.51 |
| Degree of Automation | 3.5 |
| Exposed to Hazardous Conditions | 3.49 |
| Dealing With Unpleasant, Angry, or Discourteous People | 3.43 |
| Spend Time Standing | 3.34 |
| Pace Determined by Speed of Equipment | 3.33 |
| Exposed to High Places | 3.3 |
| Indoors, Environmentally Controlled | 3.27 |
| Spend Time Walking or Running | 3.23 |
| Contact With Others | 3.21 |
| Work Outcomes and Results of Other Workers | 3.12 |
| Exposed to Extremely Bright or Inadequate Lighting Conditions | 3.09 |
| Written Letters and Memos | 3.06 |
| Exposed to Cramped Work Space, Awkward Positions | 3.03 |
| Coordinate or Lead Others in Accomplishing Work Activities | 3 |
| Importance of Repeating Same Tasks | 2.99 |
| Time Pressure | 2.95 |
| Physical Proximity | 2.91 |
| Spend Time Making Repetitive Motions | 2.89 |
| Spend Time Bending or Twisting Your Body | 2.52 |
| Spend Time Sitting | 2.51 |
| Level of Competition | 2.2 |

## Preparation

- **Job Zone:** 2
- **Job Zone Name:** Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed
- **Education:** Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
- **Experience:** Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training.
- **Svp Range:** (Below 6.0)

### Education Distribution

| Label | Percentage |
| --- | --- |
| High School Diploma | 90.81 |
| Less than a High School Diploma | 4.72 |
| Post-Secondary Certificate | 1.92 |
| Some College Courses | 1.47 |
| Bachelor's Degree | 0.76 |
| Post-Baccalaureate Certificate | 0.32 |

## Person Fit

| Name | Family | Value |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Realistic | career_interest_type | 6.27 |
| Conventional | career_interest_type | 4.47 |
| Physical/Manual Labor | specific_interest_area | 3.45 |
| Mechanics/Electronics | specific_interest_area | 3.04 |
| Dependability | work_style | 3 |
| Cautiousness | work_style | 2.47 |
| Engineering | specific_interest_area | 2.37 |
| Attention to Detail | work_style | 2.37 |
| Investigative | career_interest_type | 2.29 |
| Transportation/Machine Operation | specific_interest_area | 2.11 |
| Physical Science | specific_interest_area | 1.84 |
| Agriculture | specific_interest_area | 1.59 |
| Life Science | specific_interest_area | 1.48 |
| Medical Science | specific_interest_area | 1.42 |
| Mathematics/Statistics | specific_interest_area | 1.39 |
| Culinary Art | specific_interest_area | 1.35 |

## Related Roles

| Soc Code | Slug | Title | Tier |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 51-9192.00 | role-51-9192-00 | Cleaning, Washing, and Metal Pickling Equipment Operators and Tenders | Primary-Short |
| 51-9023.00 | role-51-9023-00 | Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | Primary-Short |
| 51-9051.00 | role-51-9051-00 | Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders | Primary-Short |
| 51-9011.00 | role-51-9011-00 | Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders | Primary-Short |
| 51-8091.00 | role-51-8091-00 | Chemical Plant and System Operators | Primary-Short |
| 51-9041.00 | role-51-9041-00 | Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | Primary-Long |
| 51-3092.00 | role-51-3092-00 | Food Batchmakers | Primary-Long |
| 51-4191.00 | role-51-4191-00 | Heat Treating Equipment Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | Primary-Long |
| 51-9021.00 | role-51-9021-00 | Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | Primary-Long |
| 51-3091.00 | role-51-3091-00 | Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders | Primary-Long |
| 51-4051.00 | role-51-4051-00 | Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders | Supplemental |
| 51-9193.00 | role-51-9193-00 | Cooling and Freezing Equipment Operators and Tenders | Supplemental |

## Career Clusters

| Cluster | Slug |
| --- | --- |
| Advanced Manufacturing | advanced-manufacturing |

## Education Level

- **Category:** High school diploma or equivalent

## Study Programs

| Title | Slug |
| --- | --- |
| Agriculture, Agriculture Operations, and Related Sciences | agriculture-agriculture-operations-and-related-sciences |

## Market

- **Median Wage:** 49500
- **Mean Wage:** 53830
- **Pct10Wage:** 35810
- **Pct25Wage:** 41830
- **Pct75Wage:** 61350
- **Pct90Wage:** 75860
- **Employment:** 54200
- **Area Title:** U.S.

## Industries


### Top

| Naics | Slug | Title | Level | Employment | Median Wage | Lq |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 31-33 | 31-33 | Manufacturing | Sector | 43390 | 49910 | 9.67 |
| 72 | 72 | Accommodation and Food Services | Sector | 4980 | 47390 | 1 |
| 722511 | 722511 | Full-Service Restaurants | National industry | 2510 | 47080 | 1.33 |
| 42 | 42 | Wholesale Trade | Sector | 1330 | 45880 | 0.63 |
| 56 | 56 | Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | Sector | 1190 | 41410 | 0.37 |
| 11 | 11 | Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting | Sector | 970 | 38640 | 6.52 |
| 561320 | 561320 | Temporary Help Services | National industry | 890 | 38650 | 0.96 |
| 21 | 21 | Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction | Sector | 670 | 71810 | 3.32 |
| 54 | 54 | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | Sector | 570 | 62020 | 0.15 |
| 44-45 | 44-45 | Retail Trade | Sector | 530 | 46110 | 0.1 |
| 23 | 23 | Construction | Sector | 130 | 50290 | 0.05 |
| 22 | 22 | Utilities | Sector | 90 | 91020 |  |

### Concentrated

| Naics | Slug | Title | Level | Employment | Lq |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 31-33 | 31-33 | Manufacturing | Sector | 43390 | 9.67 |
| 11 | 11 | Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting | Sector | 970 | 6.52 |
| 21 | 21 | Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction | Sector | 670 | 3.32 |
| 722511 | 722511 | Full-Service Restaurants | National industry | 2510 | 1.33 |
| 72 | 72 | Accommodation and Food Services | Sector | 4980 | 1 |
| 561320 | 561320 | Temporary Help Services | National industry | 890 | 0.96 |
| 42 | 42 | Wholesale Trade | Sector | 1330 | 0.63 |
| 56 | 56 | Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | Sector | 1190 | 0.37 |
- **Count:** 19

## Ai Signals

| Source | Label | Score | Scale | Release |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| frey_osborne | Computerization probability | 0.88 | 0-1 probability | 2013-baseline-2016-employment-snapshot |
| felten_aioe | AI occupational exposure | -0.9379141 | relative exposure score | 2021-plus-generative-ai-workbooks |
| felten_image_generation_aioe | Image generation occupational exposure | -0.5839289 | relative exposure score | 2021-plus-generative-ai-workbooks |
| felten_language_modeling_aioe | Language modeling occupational exposure | -1.048361 | relative exposure score | 2021-plus-generative-ai-workbooks |

## Ai Outlook


### Index

- **Value:** 24
- **Percentile:** 22
- **Band:** Low
- **Version:** ai-exposure-index-v1

#### Components

| Percentile | Source |
| --- | --- |
| 20 | felten_aioe |
| 22 | openai_gpts_are_gpts |
| 31 | microsoft_working_with_ai |
- **Component Count:** 3

### Exposure

| Source | Label | Value | Percentile | Band | Note |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| felten_aioe | Overall AI exposure (Felten et al.) | -0.9379141 | 20 | Low | How much this job's abilities overlap with what AI systems can do, across many AI capabilities. A relative research score, not a forecast of job loss. |
| eloundou_gamma | LLM task exposure, γ (OpenAI / Eloundou) | 0.17142857142857143 | 22 | Low | Share of this job's tasks where a large language model plus simple tools could cut the time to do them by at least half. γ is capped at 1.0 and many jobs reach that ceiling, so treat a top score as 'in the top group', not a precise rank. |
| microsoft_applicability | AI assistant applicability (Microsoft) | 0.1028406614003804 | 31 | Low | How applicable today's AI assistants are to this job's activities, measured from real Microsoft Copilot conversations. Applicability is not the same as replacement. |

### Frey Historical

- **Source:** frey
- **Label:** Computerization probability (Frey & Osborne, 2013)
- **Value:** 0.88
- **Percentile:** 75
- **Band:** High
- **Note:** A pre-LLM (2013) estimate of how automatable this job is by computerization and robotics. Shown for historical context only — it is not part of any current AI ranking.
- **Teleworkable:** no

### Eloundou

- **Alpha:** 0.11428571428571428
- **Beta:** 0.14285714285714285
- **Gamma:** 0.17142857142857143

### Usage Tasks


### Bls

- **Growth Percent:** -4.3
- **Growth Percentile:** 14
- **Direction:** Declining
- **Annual Openings Thousands:** 5.4
- **Annual Openings Percentile:** 50
- **Employment2024Thousands:** 54.4
- **Employment2034Thousands:** 52

### Sources

| Source | Version |
| --- | --- |
| bls_employment_projections | 2024-2034 |
| dingel_neiman | dingel-neiman-workathome |
| felten_aioe | felten-raj-seamans-aioe |
| frey_osborne | frey-osborne-automation |
| microsoft_working_with_ai | working-with-ai |
| openai_gpts_are_gpts | gpts-are-gpts |

## Counts

- **Tasks:** 20
- **Skills:** 37
- **Capabilities:** 120
- **Tools:** 7
- **Related Roles:** 20

## Source

- **Dataset:** gold.onet_role_starter_surface
- **Version:** 30.3
- **Generated At:** 2026-06-02T21:00:32.945303+00:00
- **Content Hash:** eb9bc2085ef43b46