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Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders Salary
Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders earn a median $51,610 a year in the U.S., with 60,100 jobs (May 2025).
- Median wage
- $51,610 a year
- Employment
- 60,100
- Excludes self-employed
- Projected growth
- -5.7%
- 2025 to 2035
- Openings per year
- 5,200
- Average, including replacements
Pay range nationally
The middle half of workers earn between the 25th and 75th percentile (shaded)
- Median (50%)
- $51,610 · $24.81 an hour
- Mean (average)
- $56,030 · $26.94 an hour (estimate error ±1.1%)
- 10th percentile
- $36,200 · $17.40 an hour
- 25th percentile
- $44,410 · $21.35 an hour
- 75th percentile
- $63,930 · $30.74 an hour
- 90th percentile
- $79,750 · $38.34 an hour
- Employment
- 60,100 (estimate error ±3.3%)
What they do
Standard Occupational Classification definition
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. Excludes “Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders” (51-9011).
Job outlook
BLS Employment Projections, 2025 to 2035
- Jobs in 2025
- 61,400
- Projected for 2035
- 57,900
- Change
- -3,500 (-5.7%)
- Openings each year
- 5,200
- Typical education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
- Self-employed
- Not reported
Highest paying states
Median wage for this occupation
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| # | State | Median wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wyoming | $108,900 | 410 |
| 2 | Nevada | $62,960 | 270 |
| 3 | New Hampshire | $60,340 | 590 |
| 4 | Wisconsin | $60,100 | 1,520 |
| 5 | Virginia | $59,480 | 2,130 |
| 6 | North Dakota | $59,390 | 270 |
| 7 | Kentucky | $58,770 | 1,500 |
| 8 | Louisiana | $58,640 | 770 |
| 9 | New Jersey | $58,140 | 930 |
| 10 | Arizona | $57,820 | 970 |
States with the most jobs
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| State | Employment | Median wage |
|---|---|---|
| California | 14,210 | $52,910 |
| New York | 3,490 | $55,990 |
| Tennessee | 2,450 | $50,470 |
| Michigan | 2,230 | $49,480 |
| Pennsylvania | 2,150 | $48,390 |
| Virginia | 2,130 | $59,480 |
| Colorado | 1,970 | $49,590 |
| Minnesota | 1,810 | $57,190 |
| Missouri | 1,590 | $49,290 |
| Washington | 1,560 | $56,160 |
Highest paying metro areas
Metro areas with at least 100 jobs in this occupation
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| # | Metro area | Median wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Syracuse, NY | $82,530 | 520 |
| 2 | Vallejo, CA | $82,440 | 240 |
| 3 | Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $80,140 | 640 |
| 4 | Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $76,350 | 530 |
| 5 | Modesto, CA | $73,690 | 1,000 |
| 6 | Hanford-Corcoran, CA | $66,310 | 220 |
| 7 | Napa, CA | $64,000 | 1,400 |
| 8 | San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $62,320 | 730 |
| 9 | Merced, CA | $61,920 | 270 |
| 10 | Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $61,550 | 970 |
| 11 | San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $61,300 | 690 |
| 12 | Oklahoma City, OK | $60,480 | 140 |
Metro areas with the most jobs
Swipe the table sideways to see more columns.
| Metro area | Employment | Median wage |
|---|---|---|
| Napa, CA | 1,400 | $64,000 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 1,140 | $59,690 |
| Modesto, CA | 1,000 | $73,690 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | 980 | $51,180 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | 970 | $61,550 |
| Memphis, TN-MS-AR | 930 | $50,470 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | 800 | $50,150 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | 790 | $57,700 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | 760 | $59,080 |
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | 750 | $59,220 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | 740 | $58,970 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | 730 | $53,360 |
Visa filings for this occupation
Wages employers offered on Department of Labor filings
- PERM green card (FY 2026 through Q3)1 certified filingsMedian offered wage Not reported
Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders pay by state
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Puerto Rico
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
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Frequently asked questions
- How much do separating, filtering, clarifying, precipitating, and still machine setters, operators, and tenders make?
- The median wage for separating, filtering, clarifying, precipitating, and still machine setters, operators, and tenders in the U.S. is $51,610 a year, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $44,410 and $63,930.
- Which state pays separating, filtering, clarifying, precipitating, and still machine setters, operators, and tenders the most?
- Wyoming has the highest median wage for this occupation at $108,900 a year.
- What is the job outlook for separating, filtering, clarifying, precipitating, and still machine setters, operators, and tenders?
- BLS projects employment to decline 5.7% from 2025 to 2035, with about 5,200 openings each year on average.
- What education do separating, filtering, clarifying, precipitating, and still machine setters, operators, and tenders need?
- The typical entry-level education is: high school diploma or equivalent.