Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders Salary in the United States
The median annual wage for separating, filtering, clarifying, precipitating, and still machine setters, operators, and tenders in the U.S. is $51,610 ($24.81 per hour), according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program, May 2025 estimates.
- Median annual wage
- $51,610
- Mean annual wage
- $56,030
- Median hourly wage
- $24.81
- Employment
- 60,100
60,100 employed
Wage percentiles
| Percentile | Annual wage | Hourly wage |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $36,200 | $17.40 |
| 25th percentile | $44,410 | $21.35 |
| Median (50th) | $51,610 | $24.81 |
| 75th percentile | $63,930 | $30.74 |
| 90th percentile | $79,750 | $38.34 |
Highest-paying states for separating, filtering, clarifying, precipitating, and still machine setters, operators, and tenders
| State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| Wyoming | $108,900 | 410 |
| Nevada | $62,960 | 270 |
| New Hampshire | $60,340 | 590 |
| Wisconsin | $60,100 | 1,520 |
| Virginia | $59,480 | 2,130 |
| North Dakota | $59,390 | 270 |
| Kentucky | $58,770 | 1,500 |
| Louisiana | $58,640 | 770 |
| New Jersey | $58,140 | 930 |
| Arizona | $57,820 | 970 |
Lowest-paying states
- West Virginia: $35,870 median annual wage
- New Mexico: $41,370 median annual wage
- Arkansas: $41,720 median annual wage
- Mississippi: $43,890 median annual wage
- Utah: $46,600 median annual wage
About this occupation
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.
Typical tasks
- Connect pipes between vats and processing equipment.
- Communicate processing instructions to other workers.
- Dump, pour, or load specified amounts of refined or unrefined materials into equipment or containers for further processing or storage.
- Set up or adjust machine controls to regulate conditions such as material flow, temperature, or pressure.
- Inspect machines or equipment for hazards, operating efficiency, malfunctions, wear, or leaks.
- Operate machines to process materials in compliance with applicable safety, energy, or environmental regulations.
Education of the current workforce — typical entry: High school diploma or equivalent
| Education level | Share of workers |
|---|---|
| Less than high school diploma | 4.9% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 26.6% |
| Some college, no degree | 24.7% |
| Associate's degree | 12.8% |
| Bachelor's degree | 24.0% |
| Master's degree | 5.8% |
| Doctoral or professional degree | 1.1% |
Occupation profile data from CareerOneStop, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor.
Related occupations
- Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators$44,650
- First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers$74,450
- Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers$48,570
- Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers$53,750
- Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders$43,220
- Machinists$58,750
- Production Workers, All Other$40,110
- Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers$45,850
About this data
- Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — data period May 2025, retrieved August 13, 2026.
- Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — data period May 2025, retrieved August 13, 2026.
- CareerOneStop Occupation Profiles — data period 2026-08, retrieved August 14, 2026.
Figures are shown exactly as published by the source or derived by the documented formulas on our methodology page. Where a source suppresses an estimate, we show “—” rather than a substitute value.