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Skilled Trades

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.

Median salary (BLS)

$48,990

10th–90th percentile (BLS)

$37k – $70k

Job outlook

No separate BLS projection for this specific role

AI exposure

Plan a path to Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders

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Education

Typical entry: No degree required

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How to qualify

EstimateLicense required

Cost to qualify

$100–$2,600

Time to qualify

3.1 yr

Renewal

$50/yr

  1. 1

    Registered apprenticeship (paid)

    Experience

    Earn-while-you-learn training — apprentices are paid during the program; fees are tools/books, not tuition.

    $0–$2,000 · 36 months · varies by state source

  2. 2

    Journeyman exam & state/local license

    License

    Most states and municipalities test and license journeyman-level trades workers.

    $100–$600 · 1 months · varies by state · renews every 2 yr source

Estimated typical U.S. route for "Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders" — built from BLS education requirements and College Board 2024–25 average published prices (public, in-state tuition + fees + books). Not yet verified against a specific state's licensing rules — confirm with your state licensing board or program.

Typical progression

  1. Junior Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders

    Entry / Junior

    $36,790

    ~2 yrs to advance

  2. Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders

    Established

    $48,990

    ~3 yrs to advance

  3. Senior Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders

    Senior

    $59,595

Key skills

A typical day

  • •Weigh or measure materials, ingredients, or products to ensure conformance to requirements.
  • •Read work orders to determine production specifications or information.
  • •Observe production or monitor equipment to ensure safe and efficient operation.
  • •Mix or blend ingredients by starting machines and mixing for specified times.
  • •Stop mixing or blending machines when specified product qualities are obtained and open valves and start pumps to transfer mixtures.

Fields of study

Any field

Top colleges for Skilled Trades

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Reputation-based selection; stats shown are outcome data per school.