Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders (SOC 51-9012) earn a median $51,610 a year ($24.81 an hour) in the United States, with 60,100 employed as of May 2025; the highest-paying state is Wyoming.
What separating, filtering, clarifying, precipitating, and still machine setters, operators, and tenders do
Operators of separating, filtering, clarifying, precipitating, and still machines run equipment that pulls one material away from another: filter presses, shaker screens, centrifuges, condensers, evaporating and fermenting tanks, and scrubbing towers. The SOC definition includes dairy processing equipment operators. The operator loads or pours measured amounts of refined or unrefined material into equipment or containers, turns valves or moves controls to admit, drain, separate, filter, or transfer the material, and sets machine controls for flow, temperature, and pressure. Instruments are watched to keep processing conditions in range, and samples are examined for qualities such as clarity, cleanliness, dryness, and consistency. Machines are run in line with applicable safety, energy, and environmental regulations. Titles such as absorber operator and acid extractor reflect the variety. Chemical equipment operators and tenders are excluded and counted in their own code.
Typical entry: According to O*NET, a high school diploma or equivalent is the most common level of education reported by workers in this occupation.
Also called: Absorber Operator, Absorption Operator, Acetone Recovery Worker, Acetylene Plant Operator, Acid Extractor.
National wage percentiles, May 2025
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||
| United States | Hourly | $17.40 | $21.35 | $24.81 | $30.74 | $38.34 | $26.94 | 60,100 |
| Annual | $36,200 | $44,410 | $51,610 | $63,930 | $79,750 | $56,030 | ||
Employment per 1,000 jobs and the location quotient are area measures; they appear in the state and metro tables below. To see what a wage in this range leaves after tax, use FastCalc's take-home pay calculator.
Where separating, filtering, clarifying, precipitating, and still machine setters, operators, and tenders earn and work most
Five highest-paying states
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Wyoming | Hourly | $22.11 | $29.69 | $52.35 | $55.05 | $56.54 | $42.78 | 410 | 1.48 | 3.82 |
| Annual | $46,000 | $61,760 | $108,900 | $114,510 | $117,600 | $88,980 | ||||
| Nevada | Hourly | $20.12 | $22.88 | $30.27 | $39.52 | $43.86 | $31.05 | 270 | 0.18 | 0.46 |
| Annual | $41,840 | $47,590 | $62,960 | $82,210 | $91,240 | $64,590 | ||||
| New Hampshire | Hourly | $20.71 | $24.66 | $29.01 | $30.81 | $40.27 | $29.37 | 590 | 0.87 | 2.25 |
| Annual | $43,080 | $51,300 | $60,340 | $64,080 | $83,750 | $61,080 | ||||
| Wisconsin | Hourly | $18.39 | $22.41 | $28.89 | $36.90 | $36.90 | $28.72 | 1,520 | 0.52 | 1.34 |
| Annual | $38,250 | $46,600 | $60,100 | $76,750 | $76,750 | $59,740 | ||||
| Virginia | Hourly | $18.01 | $23.05 | $28.60 | $37.69 | $38.86 | $29.92 | 2,130 | 0.52 | 1.34 |
| Annual | $37,460 | $47,940 | $59,480 | $78,400 | $80,820 | $62,230 | ||||
Five states with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| California | Hourly | $16.50 | $21.62 | $25.44 | $34.38 | $40.21 | $28.48 | 14,210 | 0.78 | 2.02 |
| Annual | $34,320 | $44,970 | $52,910 | $71,510 | $83,630 | $59,240 | ||||
| New York | Hourly | $18.43 | $23.00 | $26.92 | $31.19 | $39.68 | $28.01 | 3,490 | 0.36 | 0.93 |
| Annual | $38,340 | $47,840 | $55,990 | $64,880 | $82,530 | $58,250 | ||||
| Tennessee | Hourly | $16.26 | $18.22 | $24.26 | $27.34 | $36.19 | $24.04 | 2,450 | 0.75 | 1.94 |
| Annual | $33,830 | $37,890 | $50,470 | $56,870 | $75,280 | $50,000 | ||||
| Michigan | Hourly | $16.36 | $19.15 | $23.79 | $27.34 | $31.13 | $24.43 | 2,230 | 0.51 | 1.31 |
| Annual | $34,020 | $39,840 | $49,480 | $56,860 | $64,740 | $50,810 | ||||
| Pennsylvania | Hourly | $15.45 | $18.58 | $23.26 | $27.99 | $33.94 | $24.14 | 2,150 | 0.35 | 0.92 |
| Annual | $32,130 | $38,650 | $48,390 | $58,230 | $70,590 | $50,210 | ||||
Five highest-paying metropolitan areas
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Syracuse, NY | Hourly | $23.64 | $30.18 | $39.68 | $39.68 | $39.68 | $34.23 | 520 | 1.74 | 4.50 |
| Annual | $49,160 | $62,770 | $82,530 | $82,530 | $82,530 | $71,200 | ||||
| Vallejo, CA | Hourly | $21.47 | $24.90 | $39.63 | $39.63 | $39.63 | $33.88 | 240 | 1.66 | 4.30 |
| Annual | $44,650 | $51,780 | $82,440 | $82,440 | $82,440 | $70,470 | ||||
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | Hourly | $22.34 | $23.83 | $38.53 | $38.53 | $38.53 | $32.53 | 640 | 0.22 | 0.57 |
| Annual | $46,460 | $49,570 | $80,140 | $80,140 | $80,140 | $67,670 | ||||
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | Hourly | $18.27 | $27.24 | $36.71 | $36.71 | $37.56 | $32.22 | 530 | 0.69 | 1.79 |
| Annual | $38,000 | $56,670 | $76,350 | $76,350 | $78,120 | $67,010 | ||||
| Modesto, CA | Hourly | $19.63 | $26.97 | $35.43 | $36.05 | $36.05 | $31.44 | 1,000 | 5.14 | 13.30 |
| Annual | $40,830 | $56,090 | $73,690 | $74,980 | $74,980 | $65,390 | ||||
Five metropolitan areas with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Napa, CA | Hourly | $22.07 | $24.06 | $30.77 | $40.53 | $56.90 | $35.68 | 1,400 | 17.93 | 46.40 |
| Annual | $45,910 | $50,040 | $64,000 | $84,300 | $118,360 | $74,220 | ||||
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | Hourly | $22.20 | $23.44 | $28.70 | $36.54 | $42.95 | $30.48 | 1,140 | 0.12 | 0.31 |
| Annual | $46,180 | $48,760 | $59,690 | $75,990 | $89,340 | $63,400 | ||||
| Modesto, CA | Hourly | $19.63 | $26.97 | $35.43 | $36.05 | $36.05 | $31.44 | 1,000 | 5.14 | 13.30 |
| Annual | $40,830 | $56,090 | $73,690 | $74,980 | $74,980 | $65,390 | ||||
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | Hourly | $18.94 | $21.72 | $24.61 | $35.27 | $36.78 | $27.38 | 980 | 0.61 | 1.57 |
| Annual | $39,390 | $45,170 | $51,180 | $73,370 | $76,510 | $56,940 | ||||
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | Hourly | $21.94 | $23.79 | $29.59 | $38.69 | $49.61 | $33.65 | 970 | 4.75 | 12.28 |
| Annual | $45,630 | $49,480 | $61,550 | $80,470 | $103,200 | $70,000 | ||||
Top industries employing separating, filtering, clarifying, precipitating, and still machine setters, operators, and tenders
Beverage Manufacturing employ 46.7% of separating, filtering, clarifying, precipitating, and still machine setters, operators, and tenders nationally (28,060 jobs) at a median $56,450 a year ($27.14 an hour), followed by Dairy Product Manufacturing (11.2%) and Restaurants and Other Eating Places (7.4%).
| Industry | Employment | Share of occupation | Median annual | Median hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beverage Manufacturing NAICS 312100 | 28,060 | 46.7% | $56,450 | $27.14 |
| Dairy Product Manufacturing NAICS 311500 | 6,740 | 11.2% | $53,120 | $25.54 |
| Restaurants and Other Eating Places NAICS 722500 | 4,450 | 7.4% | $39,840 | $19.15 |
| Pharmaceutical and Medicine Manufacturing NAICS 325400 | 3,170 | 5.3% | $51,450 | $24.74 |
| Chemical Manufacturing (3251, 3252, 3253, and 3259 only) NAICS 3250A1 | 2,730 | 4.5% | $52,380 | $25.18 |
Share is the industry's employment over the occupation's national employment (60,100). Industries whose employment BLS withheld are not ranked.
Published medians, May 2021 to May 2025
BLS published a median annual wage of $46,030 for separating, filtering, clarifying, precipitating, and still machine setters, operators, and tenders in May 2021 and $51,610 in May 2025, with employment of 48,620 and 60,100.
| Release | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2021 | $46,030 | $22.13 | 48,620 |
| May 2022 | $46,250 | $22.24 | 52,470 |
| May 2023 | $48,120 | $23.13 | 53,170 |
| May 2024 | $49,500 | $23.80 | 54,200 |
| May 2025 | $51,610 | $24.81 | 60,100 |
BLS does not design OEWS as a time series: each release pools three years of samples, and occupational classifications, area definitions and estimation methods change between releases, so a difference between two releases is not a measure of change over time. The figures are shown as published, side by side, and nothing is computed from them. See how often OEWS is updated.
Every state, by median wage
50 states and DC publish a row for this occupation. A linked state has its own page with the within-state metro table and comparison; the others appear here only.
| Rank | State | Median hourly | Median annual | 10th pct (annual) | 90th pct (annual) | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wyoming profile | $52.35 | $108,900 | $46,000 | $117,600 | 410 | 1.48 | 3.82 |
| 2 | Nevada profile | $30.27 | $62,960 | $41,840 | $91,240 | 270 | 0.18 | 0.46 |
| 3 | New Hampshire profile | $29.01 | $60,340 | $43,080 | $83,750 | 590 | 0.87 | 2.25 |
| 4 | Wisconsin profile | $28.89 | $60,100 | $38,250 | $76,750 | 1,520 | 0.52 | 1.34 |
| 5 | Virginia profile | $28.60 | $59,480 | $37,460 | $80,820 | 2,130 | 0.52 | 1.34 |
| 6 | North Dakota profile | $28.56 | $59,390 | $41,960 | $75,830 | 270 | 0.62 | 1.60 |
| 7 | Kentucky profile | $28.25 | $58,770 | $45,160 | $71,310 | 1,500 | 0.75 | 1.94 |
| 8 | Louisiana profile | $28.19 | $58,640 | $34,900 | $77,340 | 770 | 0.40 | 1.03 |
| 9 | New Jersey profile | $27.95 | $58,140 | $42,430 | $89,340 | 930 | 0.22 | 0.56 |
| 10 | Arizona profile | $27.80 | $57,820 | $37,270 | $74,810 | 970 | 0.30 | 0.77 |
| 11 | Maine profile | $27.50 | $57,190 | $45,650 | $79,800 | 430 | 0.68 | 1.75 |
| 12 | Minnesota profile | $27.49 | $57,190 | $40,210 | $73,270 | 1,810 | 0.61 | 1.59 |
| 13 | Washington profile | $27.00 | $56,160 | $41,740 | $78,700 | 1,560 | 0.44 | 1.14 |
| 14 | New York profile | $26.92 | $55,990 | $38,340 | $82,530 | 3,490 | 0.36 | 0.93 |
| 15 | Maryland profile | $26.72 | $55,580 | $36,990 | $81,600 | 580 | 0.21 | 0.54 |
| 16 | Georgia profile | $26.68 | $55,500 | $33,320 | $80,140 | 1,210 | 0.25 | 0.64 |
| 17 | Indiana profile | $25.96 | $53,990 | $40,600 | $65,590 | 1,510 | 0.47 | 1.22 |
| 18 | Vermont profile | $25.76 | $53,570 | $44,660 | $67,750 | 230 | 0.74 | 1.92 |
| 19 | California profile | $25.44 | $52,910 | $34,320 | $83,630 | 14,210 | 0.78 | 2.02 |
| 20 | Iowa profile | $25.11 | $52,220 | $39,200 | $83,210 | 1,090 | 0.70 | 1.81 |
| 21 | Idaho profile | $25.08 | $52,160 | $39,880 | $74,710 | 780 | 0.91 | 2.35 |
| 22 | Hawaii profile | $24.55 | $51,070 | $37,710 | $75,500 | 160 | 0.26 | 0.66 |
| 23 | South Dakota profile | $24.41 | $50,780 | $38,390 | $60,980 | 270 | 0.60 | 1.55 |
| 24 | Tennessee profile | $24.26 | $50,470 | $33,830 | $75,280 | 2,450 | 0.75 | 1.94 |
| 25 | Connecticut profile | $24.22 | $50,370 | $38,020 | $71,050 | 310 | 0.18 | 0.47 |
| 26 | Oregon profile | $24.12 | $50,160 | $36,880 | $79,020 | 1,340 | 0.68 | 1.76 |
| 27 | Florida profile | $23.85 | $49,610 | $32,210 | $82,280 | 1,150 | 0.12 | 0.30 |
| 28 | Colorado profile | $23.84 | $49,590 | $38,270 | $76,510 | 1,970 | 0.69 | 1.77 |
| 29 | Michigan profile | $23.79 | $49,480 | $34,020 | $64,740 | 2,230 | 0.51 | 1.31 |
| 30 | Oklahoma profile | $23.77 | $49,440 | $34,600 | $76,500 | 260 | 0.15 | 0.39 |
| 31 | South Carolina profile | $23.71 | $49,320 | $33,430 | $75,800 | 470 | 0.20 | 0.52 |
| 32 | Missouri profile | $23.70 | $49,290 | $34,100 | $82,850 | 1,590 | 0.54 | 1.40 |
| 33 | North Carolina profile | $23.63 | $49,140 | $36,120 | $73,840 | 1,310 | 0.27 | 0.68 |
| 34 | Massachusetts profile | $23.54 | $48,970 | $38,730 | $76,420 | 510 | 0.14 | 0.37 |
| 35 | Kansas profile | $23.46 | $48,790 | $39,190 | $76,240 | 450 | 0.31 | 0.81 |
| 36 | Illinois profile | $23.29 | $48,440 | $31,200 | $73,880 | 780 | 0.13 | 0.33 |
| 37 | Pennsylvania profile | $23.26 | $48,390 | $32,130 | $70,590 | 2,150 | 0.35 | 0.92 |
| 38 | Alaska profile | $23.08 | $48,000 | $36,670 | $73,910 | 100 | 0.30 | 0.78 |
| 39 | Montana profile | $23.04 | $47,920 | $37,080 | $64,160 | 340 | 0.67 | 1.74 |
| 40 | Ohio profile | $22.90 | $47,640 | $34,910 | $63,550 | 1,470 | 0.27 | 0.69 |
| 41 | Delaware profile | $22.85 | $47,520 | $36,660 | $59,840 | 110 | 0.24 | 0.61 |
| 42 | Nebraska profile | $22.64 | $47,080 | $35,990 | $62,650 | 1,050 | 1.03 | 2.66 |
| 43 | Alabama profile | $22.58 | $46,970 | $34,520 | $58,820 | 140 | 0.07 | 0.17 |
| 44 | Texas profile | $22.55 | $46,910 | $35,720 | $69,670 | 1,460 | 0.10 | 0.27 |
| 45 | Rhode Island profile | $22.46 | $46,710 | $37,060 | $71,130 | 140 | 0.28 | 0.72 |
| 46 | Utah profile | $22.40 | $46,600 | $37,260 | $60,030 | 480 | 0.28 | 0.72 |
| 47 | Mississippi profile | $21.10 | $43,890 | $31,500 | $71,000 | 100 | 0.08 | 0.21 |
| 48 | Arkansas profile | $20.06 | $41,720 | $30,970 | $55,750 | 500 | 0.38 | 0.98 |
| 49 | New Mexico profile | $19.89 | $41,370 | $32,470 | $56,100 | 370 | 0.43 | 1.11 |
| 50 | West Virginia profile | $17.25 | $35,870 | $26,620 | $51,610 | 110 | 0.16 | 0.41 |
Related occupations
Occupations in the same SOC broad group (51-9010), with their national median annual wage.
Part of Production Occupations. Compare any area in the wage explorer.
Source and notes
Data: BLS OEWS May 2025, released 2026-05-15. Cross-industry estimates, all ownerships. BLS page: OEWS 51-9012 Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders.
- Annual wages assume 2,080 hours a year at the hourly rate; occupations BLS publishes on one basis only show an en dash (–) on the other.
- Employment is rounded to the nearest 10 by BLS. Where BLS withholds a cell, nothing is estimated in its place.
- Top industries: nat4d_M2025_dl.xlsx in oesm25in4.zip (BLS OEWS May 2025, national, 4-digit NAICS, cross-ownership). Employment is the industry's rounded total for this occupation; industries whose employment BLS withheld (**) are not ranked.
- Published medians: national_M2021_dl.xlsx to national_M2024_dl.xlsx in oesm21nat.zip to oesm24nat.zip (BLS OEWS May 2021 to May 2024, national, cross-industry, all ownerships) and the May 2025 spine. Each release is shown as published; nothing is computed between them.
Sources
- BLS Standard Occupational Classification 2018, definition of 51-9012, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- O*NET 30.1 Database, 51-9012.00, National Center for O*NET Development, USDOL/ETA (CC BY 4.0).
- OEWS May 2025 national industry-specific estimates, 4-digit NAICS (oesm25in4.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2021 national estimates (oesm21nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2022 national estimates (oesm22nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2023 national estimates (oesm23nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2024 national estimates (oesm24nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2025 national estimates (oesm25nat.zip), the site's data spine, US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
Includes information from O*NET 30.1 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
Description written 2026-10-17 in our own words from the sources above.