Occupation Summary

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

O*NET 51-9012.00

Description:

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.

Annual Wages:
$49,999.00
Employment Rate:
Employment is expected to increase by 7.59%.
Education Level:
High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED). According to O*Net, the majority of people employed in this occupation have this level of education.
Endorsement:
Business and Industry

  1. Set up or adjust machine controls to regulate conditions such as material flow, temperature, or pressure.
  2. Monitor material flow or instruments, such as temperature or pressure gauges, indicators, or meters, to ensure optimal processing conditions.
  3. Collect samples of materials or products for laboratory analysis.
  4. Test samples to determine viscosity, acidity, specific gravity, or degree of concentration, using test equipment such as viscometers, pH meters, or hydrometers.
  5. Measure or weigh materials to be refined, mixed, transferred, stored, or otherwise processed.
  6. Clean or sterilize tanks, screens, inflow pipes, production areas, or equipment, using hoses, brushes, scrapers, or chemical solutions.
  7. Inspect machines or equipment for hazards, operating efficiency, malfunctions, wear, or leaks.
  8. Dump, pour, or load specified amounts of refined or unrefined materials into equipment or containers for further processing or storage.
  9. Connect pipes between vats and processing equipment.
  10. Communicate processing instructions to other workers.
  11. Remove clogs, defects, or impurities from machines, tanks, conveyors, screens, or other processing equipment.
  12. Install, maintain, or repair hoses, pumps, filters, or screens to maintain processing equipment, using hand tools.
  13. Turn valves to pump sterilizing solutions or rinse water through pipes or equipment or to spray vats with atomizers.
  14. Remove full containers from discharge outlets and replace them with empty containers.
  15. Operate machines to process materials in compliance with applicable safety, energy, or environmental regulations.
  16. Turn valves or move controls to admit, drain, separate, filter, clarify, mix, or transfer materials.
  17. Examine samples to verify qualities such as clarity, cleanliness, consistency, dryness, or texture.
  18. Start agitators, shakers, conveyors, pumps, or centrifuge machines.
  19. Maintain logs of instrument readings, test results, or shift production for entry in computer databases.
  20. Assemble fittings, valves, bowls, plates, disks, impeller shafts, or other parts to prepare equipment for operation.


National Industry Employment Patterns


Industry % of Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders employed Annual Growth Rate
Beverage manufacturing 41.4 0.72
Dairy product manufacturing 10.4 -0.17
Pharmaceutical and medicine manufacturing 7.5 -0.49
Restaurants and other eating places 4.5 0.39
Grain and oilseed milling 3.1 0.00
Employment services 2.5 0.00
Drinking places (alcoholic beverages) 2.3 -0.80


Labor Market Information


2024 Statewide average hourly wage $24.04
2024 National average hourly wage $25.88
2022 National employment 55,600
2022 Texas employment 3,032
Texas projected employment by 2032 3,262
Texas projected annual employment and Turnover openings through 2032 314




TEXAS COUNTY MAP BY WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AREA
* Due to confidentiality rules, not all regions may have the data displayed. The sum of all the regions may not be equal to the state total.


Top 10 Relevant Knowledge Areas Relevant Importance Levels
Production and Processing
Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.
75.00%
Mechanical
Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
65.80%
English Language
Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
61.80%
Public Safety and Security
Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.
57.40%
Mathematics
Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
56.00%
Education and Training
Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
55.20%
Chemistry
Knowledge of the chemical composition, structure, and properties of substances and of the chemical processes and transformations that they undergo. This includes uses of chemicals and their interactions, danger signs, production techniques, and disposal methods.
52.60%
Computers and Electronics
Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
51.20%
Engineering and Technology
Knowledge of the practical application of engineering science and technology. This includes applying principles, techniques, procedures, and equipment to the design and production of various goods and services.
49.20%
Customer and Personal Service
Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
48.80%


Top 10 Relevant Skill Areas Relevant Importance Levels
Operations Monitoring
Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
75.00%
Operation and Control
Controlling operations of equipment or systems.
62.40%
Quality Control Analysis
Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.
62.40%
Critical Thinking
Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
62.40%
Monitoring
Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
62.40%
Reading Comprehension
Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
60.00%
Active Listening
Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
60.00%
Judgment and Decision Making
Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
60.00%
Time Management
Managing one's own time and the time of others.
60.00%
Equipment Maintenance
Performing routine maintenance on equipment and determining when and what kind of maintenance is needed.
57.60%


Top 10 Relevant Abilities Relevant Importance Levels
Near Vision
The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
77.60%
Perceptual Speed
The ability to quickly and accurately compare similarities and differences among sets of letters, numbers, objects, pictures, or patterns. The things to be compared may be presented at the same time or one after the other. This ability also includes comparing a presented object with a remembered object.
75.00%
Problem Sensitivity
The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing that there is a problem.
70.00%
Information Ordering
The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
67.60%
Arm-Hand Steadiness
The ability to keep your hand and arm steady while moving your arm or while holding your arm and hand in one position.
67.60%
Reaction Time
The ability to quickly respond (with the hand, finger, or foot) to a signal (sound, light, picture) when it appears.
65.00%
Static Strength
The ability to exert maximum muscle force to lift, push, pull, or carry objects.
62.40%
Selective Attention
The ability to concentrate on a task over a period of time without being distracted.
62.40%
Control Precision
The ability to quickly and repeatedly adjust the controls of a machine or a vehicle to exact positions.
62.40%
Multilimb Coordination
The ability to coordinate two or more limbs (for example, two arms, two legs, or one leg and one arm) while sitting, standing, or lying down. It does not involve performing the activities while the whole body is in motion.
62.40%


  • Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings
    -- Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.
  • Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
    -- Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
  • Getting Information
    -- Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
  • Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
    -- Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
  • Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials
    -- Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.
Other Activities


  • Independence
    - Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to work on their own and make decisions. Corresponding needs are Creativity, Responsibility and Autonomy.
  • Support
    - Occupations that satisfy this work value offer supportive management that stands behind employees. Corresponding needs are Company Policies, Supervision: Human Relations and Supervision: Technical.

No certifications found.


Tools

Adjustable wrenches: Adjustable wrenches;

Claw hammer: Claw hammers;

Colorimeters: Colorimeters;

Depth indicators: Gauging rods;

Desktop computers: Desktop computers;

Floor or platform scales: Industrial platform scales; Platform scales;

Grease guns: Grease guns;

Handheld refractometers or polarimeters: Handheld refractometers;

Hydrometers: Hydrometers;

Laboratory burets: Graduated burets;

Locking pliers: Locking pliers;

Personal computers: Personal computers;

pH meters: pH indicators;

Power drills: Power drills;

Ratchets: Ratchets;

Remote reading thermometers: Remote reading electronic thermometers;

Screwdrivers: Phillips head screwdrivers; Straight screwdrivers;

Socket sets: Socket wrench sets;

Viscosimeters: Viscosity meters;

Wire brushes: Wire brushes;


Technology

Electronic mail software: Email software; Microsoft Outlook;

Enterprise resource planning ERP software: SAP software;

Office suite software: Microsoft Office software;

Presentation software: Microsoft PowerPoint;

Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel; Spreadsheet software;

Word processing software: Word processing software; Microsoft Word;


Related O*NET occupational titles for Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders include:
  • 51-9011.00 Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders
  • 51-8091.00 Chemical Plant and System Operators
  • 51-9192.00 Cleaning, Washing, and Metal Pickling Equipment Operators and Tenders
  • 51-9021.00 Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
  • 51-9041.00 Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
  • 51-3091.00 Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders
  • 51-3092.00 Food Batchmakers
  • 51-9051.00 Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders
  • 51-4191.00 Heat Treating Equipment Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
  • 51-9023.00 Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders


No sources of additional information found.

Contact Texas Workforce Commission
Labor Market and Career Information  |  101 E. 15th Street, Annex Room 0252  |  Austin, Texas 78778
Official Website  |  1-800-822-PLAN (7526)  |  512.936.3200

** The information in this report may be derived from many sources like O*NET, BLS (Bureau of Labor Statistics), OOH (Occupational Outlook Handbook), and Career One Stop.