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Skilled Trades

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.

Median salary (BLS)

$51,610

10th–90th percentile (BLS)

$36k – $80k

Job outlook

No separate BLS projection for this specific role

AI exposure

Plan a path to Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still 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 "Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still 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 Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders

    Entry / Junior

    $36,200

    ~2 yrs to advance

  2. Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders

    Established

    $51,610

    ~3 yrs to advance

  3. Senior Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders

    Senior

    $65,680

Key skills

A typical day

  • •Dump, pour, or load specified amounts of refined or unrefined materials into equipment or containers for further processing or storage.
  • •Operate machines to process materials in compliance with applicable safety, energy, or environmental regulations.
  • •Monitor material flow or instruments, such as temperature or pressure gauges, indicators, or meters, to ensure optimal processing conditions.
  • •Turn valves or move controls to admit, drain, separate, filter, clarify, mix, or transfer materials.
  • •Set up or adjust machine controls to regulate conditions such as material flow, temperature, or pressure.

Fields of study

Any field

Top colleges for Skilled Trades

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