# Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders

> Set up, operate, or tend machines to mix or blend materials, such as chemicals, tobacco, liquids, color pigments, or explosive ingredients.
- **Entity Type:** role
- **Schema Version:** role.v1
- **Soc Code:** 51-9023.00
- **Summary:** Set up, operate, or tend machines to mix or blend materials, such as chemicals, tobacco, liquids, color pigments, or explosive ingredients.

## Aliases

- Blender
- Machine Operator
- Mixer
- Mixer Operator
- Batchmaker
- Blending Technician (Blending Tech)
- Ink Blender
- Issuing Operator
- Operator
- Stock Preparation Operator (Stock Prep Operator)
- Abrasive Mixer
- Acetylene Cylinder Packing Mixer

## Tasks

| Text | Type | Iwa |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Weigh or measure materials, ingredients, or products to ensure conformance to requirements. | Core | 4.A.1.b.3.a |
| Read work orders to determine production specifications or information. | Core | 4.A.1.a.1.b |
| Observe production or monitor equipment to ensure safe and efficient operation. | Core | 4.A.1.a.2.a |
| Mix or blend ingredients by starting machines and mixing for specified times. | Core | 4.A.3.a.3.f |
| Stop mixing or blending machines when specified product qualities are obtained and open valves and start pumps to transfer mixtures. | Core | 4.A.3.a.3.b |
| Examine materials, ingredients, or products visually or with hands to ensure conformance to established standards. | Core | 4.A.1.b.2.c |
| Compound or process ingredients or dyes, according to formulas. | Core | 4.A.3.a.1.a |
| 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. | Core | 4.A.3.a.3.f |
| Dump or pour specified amounts of materials into machinery or equipment. | Core | 4.A.3.a.1.f |
| Record operational or production data on specified forms. | Core | 4.A.3.b.6.h |
| Collect samples of materials or products for laboratory testing. | Core | 4.A.3.a.2.b |
| Unload mixtures into containers or onto conveyors for further processing. | Core | 4.A.3.a.1.f |

## Emerging Tasks


## Activities

| Name | Iwa |
| --- | --- |
| Measure ingredients or substances to be used in production processes. | 4.A.1.b.3.a |
| Weigh finished products. | 4.A.1.b.3.a |
| Measure dimensions of completed products or workpieces to verify conformance to specifications. | 4.A.1.b.3.a |
| Test chemical or physical characteristics of materials or products. | 4.A.1.b.2.c |
| Operate cooking, baking, or other food preparation equipment. | 4.A.3.a.3.f |
| Operate mixing equipment. | 4.A.3.a.3.f |
| Load materials into production equipment. | 4.A.3.a.1.f |
| Monitor equipment operation to ensure proper functioning. | 4.A.1.a.2.a |
| Operate pumping systems or equipment. | 4.A.3.a.3.b |
| Collect samples of materials or products for testing. | 4.A.3.a.2.b |
| Mix substances to create chemical solutions. | 4.A.3.a.1.a |
| Record operational or production data. | 4.A.3.b.6.h |
| Move products, materials, or equipment between work areas. | 4.A.3.a.1.j |
| Read work orders or other instructions to determine product specifications or materials requirements. | 4.A.1.a.1.b |
| Clean production equipment. | 4.A.3.a.1.c |
| Maintain production or processing equipment. | 4.A.3.b.5.a |
| Clear equipment jams. | 4.A.3.b.5.a |
| Adjust equipment controls to regulate flow of production materials or products. | 4.A.3.a.2.i |
| Clean work areas. | 4.A.3.a.1.c |
| Clean facilities or work areas. | 4.A.3.a.1.c |

## Capabilities

| Name | Family | Value |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Production and Processing | knowledge | 4.31 |
| Operations Monitoring | transferable_skill | 3.62 |
| Operation and Control | transferable_skill | 3.62 |
| Near Vision | ability | 3.38 |
| Arm-Hand Steadiness | ability | 3.25 |
| Manual Dexterity | ability | 3.25 |
| Reading Comprehension | essential_skill | 3.12 |
| Critical Thinking | essential_skill | 3.12 |
| Monitoring | essential_skill | 3.12 |
| Equipment Maintenance | transferable_skill | 3.12 |
| Troubleshooting | transferable_skill | 3.12 |
| Repairing | transferable_skill | 3.12 |
| Quality Control Analysis | transferable_skill | 3.12 |
| Time Management | transferable_skill | 3.12 |
| Oral Comprehension | ability | 3.12 |
| Written Comprehension | ability | 3.12 |
| Problem Sensitivity | ability | 3.12 |
| Information Ordering | ability | 3.12 |
| Category Flexibility | ability | 3.12 |
| Perceptual Speed | ability | 3.12 |
| Selective Attention | ability | 3.12 |
| Control Precision | ability | 3.12 |
| Multilimb Coordination | ability | 3.12 |
| Reaction Time | ability | 3.12 |
| Far Vision | ability | 3.12 |
| Speaking | essential_skill | 3 |
| Coordination | transferable_skill | 3 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | transferable_skill | 3 |
| Oral Expression | ability | 3 |
| Deductive Reasoning | ability | 3 |
| Inductive Reasoning | ability | 3 |
| Finger Dexterity | ability | 3 |
| Response Orientation | ability | 3 |
| Rate Control | ability | 3 |
| Static Strength | ability | 3 |
| Trunk Strength | ability | 3 |
| Visual Color Discrimination | ability | 3 |
| Speech Clarity | ability | 3 |
| English Language | knowledge | 2.96 |
| Active Listening | essential_skill | 2.88 |

## Skills

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

## Tools

| Example | Category | Hot | In Demand |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Microsoft Excel | Spreadsheet software | yes | no |
| Microsoft Office software | Office suite software | yes | no |
| Microsoft Outlook | Electronic mail software | yes | no |
| Microsoft Windows | Operating system 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 |
| Operational databases | Data base user interface and query 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 | 5 |
| Spend Time Standing | 4.69 |
| Time Pressure | 4.68 |
| Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams | 4.63 |
| Exposed to Contaminants | 4.62 |
| Importance of Being Exact or Accurate | 4.62 |
| Health and Safety of Other Workers | 4.53 |
| Exposed to Hazardous Conditions | 4.53 |
| Spend Time Using Your Hands to Handle, Control, or Feel Objects, Tools, or Controls | 4.5 |
| Work With or Contribute to a Work Group or Team | 4.47 |
| Frequency of Decision Making | 4.29 |
| Work Outcomes and Results of Other Workers | 4.26 |
| Coordinate or Lead Others in Accomplishing Work Activities | 4.25 |
| Importance of Repeating Same Tasks | 4.24 |
| Exposed to Sounds, Noise Levels that are Distracting or Uncomfortable | 4.18 |
| Pace Determined by Speed of Equipment | 4.09 |
| Impact of Decisions on Co-workers or Company Results | 4.03 |
| Contact With Others | 3.92 |
| Spend Time Making Repetitive Motions | 3.78 |
| Exposed to Hazardous Equipment | 3.77 |
| Consequence of Error | 3.67 |
| Freedom to Make Decisions | 3.65 |
| Indoors, Environmentally Controlled | 3.63 |
| Spend Time Bending or Twisting Your Body | 3.63 |
| Determine Tasks, Priorities and Goals | 3.46 |
| Spend Time Walking or Running | 3.4 |
| Wear Specialized Protective or Safety Equipment such as Breathing Apparatus, Safety Harness, Full Protection Suits, or Radiation Protection | 3.28 |
| In an Open Vehicle or Operating Equipment | 3.17 |
| Exposed to Very Hot or Cold Temperatures | 3.06 |
| Exposed to High Places | 2.99 |
| Level of Competition | 2.87 |
| Conflict Situations | 2.77 |
| Dealing With Unpleasant, Angry, or Discourteous People | 2.7 |
| Physical Proximity | 2.67 |
| Exposed to Extremely Bright or Inadequate Lighting Conditions | 2.55 |
| Degree of Automation | 2.53 |
| Outdoors, Exposed to All Weather Conditions | 2.49 |
| Indoors, Not Environmentally Controlled | 2.44 |
| Written Letters and Memos | 2.31 |
| Telephone Conversations | 2.07 |

## 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 | 80.32 |
| Post-Secondary Certificate | 11.87 |
| Some College Courses | 6.3 |
| Less than a High School Diploma | 1.51 |

## Person Fit

| Name | Family | Value |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Realistic | career_interest_type | 6.56 |
| Physical/Manual Labor | specific_interest_area | 4.37 |
| Conventional | career_interest_type | 4.24 |
| Dependability | work_style | 3 |
| Attention to Detail | work_style | 2.47 |
| Cautiousness | work_style | 2.43 |
| Transportation/Machine Operation | specific_interest_area | 2.32 |
| Mechanics/Electronics | specific_interest_area | 2.26 |
| Engineering | specific_interest_area | 2.11 |
| Investigative | career_interest_type | 1.94 |
| Culinary Art | specific_interest_area | 1.73 |
| Physical Science | specific_interest_area | 1.66 |
| Mathematics/Statistics | specific_interest_area | 1.39 |
| Agriculture | specific_interest_area | 1.3 |
| Integrity | work_style | 1.29 |
| Medical Science | specific_interest_area | 1.25 |

## Related Roles

| Soc Code | Slug | Title | Tier |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 51-9012.00 | role-51-9012-00 | Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | Primary-Short |
| 51-3092.00 | role-51-3092-00 | Food Batchmakers | Primary-Short |
| 51-9192.00 | role-51-9192-00 | Cleaning, Washing, and Metal Pickling Equipment Operators and Tenders | Primary-Short |
| 51-9021.00 | role-51-9021-00 | Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | Primary-Short |
| 51-9041.00 | role-51-9041-00 | Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | Primary-Short |
| 53-7063.00 | role-53-7063-00 | Machine Feeders and Offbearers | Primary-Long |
| 51-9191.00 | role-51-9191-00 | Adhesive Bonding Machine Operators and Tenders | Primary-Long |
| 51-9051.00 | role-51-9051-00 | Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders | Primary-Long |
| 51-6061.00 | role-51-6061-00 | Textile Bleaching and Dyeing Machine Operators and Tenders | Primary-Long |
| 51-9011.00 | role-51-9011-00 | Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders | Primary-Long |
| 51-9111.00 | role-51-9111-00 | Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | Supplemental |
| 51-4033.00 | role-51-4033-00 | Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | Supplemental |

## Career Clusters

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

## Education Level

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

## Study Programs


## Market

- **Median Wage:** 47680
- **Mean Wage:** 49990
- **Pct10Wage:** 35000
- **Pct25Wage:** 39800
- **Pct75Wage:** 57940
- **Pct90Wage:** 67570
- **Employment:** 100840
- **Area Title:** U.S.

## Industries


### Top

| Naics | Slug | Title | Level | Employment | Median Wage | Lq |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 31-33 | 31-33 | Manufacturing | Sector | 82210 | 48100 | 9.85 |
| 42 | 42 | Wholesale Trade | Sector | 8620 | 47540 | 2.18 |
| 56 | 56 | Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | Sector | 4570 | 37310 | 0.77 |
| 561320 | 561320 | Temporary Help Services | National industry | 3180 | 36810 | 1.83 |
| 23 | 23 | Construction | Sector | 1270 | 48030 | 0.24 |
| 21 | 21 | Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction | Sector | 1180 | 51260 | 3.15 |
| 44-45 | 44-45 | Retail Trade | Sector | 1080 | 39010 | 0.11 |
| 54 | 54 | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | Sector | 580 | 56370 | 0.08 |
| 55 | 55 | Management of Companies and Enterprises | Sector | 470 | 49840 | 0.26 |
| 48-49 | 48-49 | Transportation and Warehousing | Sector | 380 | 47200 | 0.08 |
| 11 | 11 | Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting | Sector | 330 | 39100 | 1.19 |
| 456110 | 456110 | Pharmacies and Drug Retailers | National industry | 200 | 40860 | 0.43 |

### Concentrated

| Naics | Slug | Title | Level | Employment | Lq |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 31-33 | 31-33 | Manufacturing | Sector | 82210 | 9.85 |
| 21 | 21 | Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction | Sector | 1180 | 3.15 |
| 42 | 42 | Wholesale Trade | Sector | 8620 | 2.18 |
| 561320 | 561320 | Temporary Help Services | National industry | 3180 | 1.83 |
| 11 | 11 | Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting | Sector | 330 | 1.19 |
| 238110 | 238110 | Poured Concrete Foundation and Structure Contractors | National industry | 140 | 0.83 |
| 56 | 56 | Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | Sector | 4570 | 0.77 |
| 456110 | 456110 | Pharmacies and Drug Retailers | National industry | 200 | 0.43 |
- **Count:** 15

## Ai Signals

| Source | Label | Score | Scale | Release |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| frey_osborne | Computerization probability | 0.83 | 0-1 probability | 2013-baseline-2016-employment-snapshot |
| felten_aioe | AI occupational exposure | -0.819664 | relative exposure score | 2021-plus-generative-ai-workbooks |
| felten_image_generation_aioe | Image generation occupational exposure | -0.556771 | relative exposure score | 2021-plus-generative-ai-workbooks |
| felten_language_modeling_aioe | Language modeling occupational exposure | -0.940904 | relative exposure score | 2021-plus-generative-ai-workbooks |

## Ai Outlook


### Index

- **Value:** 21
- **Percentile:** 18
- **Band:** Low
- **Version:** ai-exposure-index-v1

#### Components

| Percentile | Source |
| --- | --- |
| 25 | felten_aioe |
| 15 | openai_gpts_are_gpts |
| 22 | microsoft_working_with_ai |
- **Component Count:** 3

### Exposure

| Source | Label | Value | Percentile | Band | Note |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| felten_aioe | Overall AI exposure (Felten et al.) | -0.819664 | 25 | 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) | 0.1111111111111111 | 15 | 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) | 0.07824783416111356 | 22 | 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:** 0.83
- **Percentile:** 68
- **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:** 0.1111111111111111
- **Beta:** 0.1111111111111111
- **Gamma:** 0.1111111111111111

### Usage Tasks

| Task | Usage Percent | Importance |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Record operational or production data on specified forms. | 0.0020541557625231607 | 4.41 |
- **Usage Release:** 2026-01-15-v4-plus-2025-03-27-v2

### Bls

- **Growth Percent:** -6.8
- **Growth Percentile:** 9
- **Direction:** Declining
- **Annual Openings Thousands:** 8.8
- **Annual Openings Percentile:** 60
- **Employment2024Thousands:** 101.1
- **Employment2034Thousands:** 94.3

### 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:** 8
- **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:** 36e3899ae9e4aab8