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

Thinking about a career as a Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders in Pennsylvania? Here’s what the data says. 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. Excludes “Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders” (51-9011).

What do Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders Make in Pennsylvania?

The separating, filtering, clarifying, precipitating, and still machine setters, operators, and tenders working in Pennsylvania, the typical annual salary is $49,930 per year (or about $24.01/hour).Pay can range from $34,320 at the 10th percentile to $68,370 at the 90th percentile.

Wage Statistic	Annual	Hourly
10th percentile	$34,320	$16.50
25th percentile	$39,520	$19.00
Median (50th)	$49,930	$24.01
75th percentile	$59,060	$28.40
90th percentile	$68,370	$32.87

The location quotient — a measure of how concentrated this occupation is in Pennsylvania compared to the national average — is 1.03.

National Wage Comparison

Nationally, separating, filtering, clarifying, precipitating, and still machine setters, operators, and tenders earn a median of $33,975 per year ($16.33/hour), above the Pennsylvania median.

Employment Outlook

National employment for 138,959 separating, filtering, clarifying, precipitating, and still machine setters, operators, and tenders nationwide. In Pennsylvania alone, around 2,170 people work in this role. That’s more than the typical state, which employs around 650 separating, filtering, clarifying, precipitating, and still machine setters, operators, and tenders.

Top Pennsylvania Metros for Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders

The metro areas below employ the most separating, filtering, clarifying, precipitating, and still machine setters, operators, and tenders in Pennsylvania.

Metro Area	Number Employed	Annual Median Salary
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD	650	$51,280
Pittsburgh, PA	380	$47,180
Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ	260	$58,120
Reading, PA	140	$52,150
Scranton–Wilkes-Barre, PA	130	$45,760
Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA	110	$54,170
Lancaster, PA	90	$42,470
York-Hanover, PA	90	$51,580
Chambersburg, PA	40	$50,740
Johnstown, PA	40	$45,300
Erie, PA	30	$35,850

Top States for Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders Employment

These states have the highest employment of separating, filtering, clarifying, precipitating, and still machine setters, operators, and tenders work.

State	Number Employed
California	11,030
New York	3,080
Tennessee	2,350
Pennsylvania	2,170
Texas	2,110
Colorado	1,990
Michigan	1,870
Indiana	1,770
North Carolina	1,590
Wisconsin	1,580
Minnesota	1,510
Florida	1,490
Washington	1,470
Ohio	1,360
Oregon	1,230
Kentucky	1,150
Virginia	1,130
Missouri	1,060
Illinois	1,010
Georgia	910

Highest-Paying States for Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders

The highest-paying states for separating, filtering, clarifying, precipitating, and still machine setters, operators, and tenders.

State	Annual Median Salary
Wyoming	$105,470
Nevada	$62,400
Wisconsin	$61,790
Alaska	$60,460
California	$59,090
Washington	$58,530
North Dakota	$56,600
New Hampshire	$56,510
Kentucky	$55,400
Minnesota	$53,150

Skills

Key separating, filtering, clarifying, precipitating, and still machine setters, operators, and tenders skills, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:

Knowledge Areas

Important knowledge areas for this occupation, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:

Abilities

Key abilities for separating, filtering, clarifying, precipitating, and still machine setters, operators, and tenders, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:

Daily Tasks

Day-to-day, separating, filtering, clarifying, precipitating, and still machine setters, operators, and tenders typically:

• 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.
• Examine samples to verify qualities such as clarity, cleanliness, consistency, dryness, or texture.
• Start agitators, shakers, conveyors, pumps, or centrifuge machines.
• Inspect machines or equipment for hazards, operating efficiency, malfunctions, wear, or leaks.
• Collect samples of materials or products for laboratory analysis.
• Communicate processing instructions to other workers.
• Turn valves to pump sterilizing solutions or rinse water through pipes or equipment or to spray vats with atomizers.
• Maintain logs of instrument readings, test results, or shift production for entry in computer databases.

Work Activities

• Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings
• Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
• Getting Information
• Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
• Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials
• Controlling Machines and Processes
• Making Decisions and Solving Problems
• Handling and Moving Objects
• Performing General Physical Activities
• Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards
• Processing Information
• Working with Computers

Tools & Technology

Common tools and software used in this occupation include: Hot technologies: Microsoft Excel In-demand technologies: Microsoft Office software

Related Careers

Other careers like separating, filtering, clarifying, precipitating, and still machine setters, operators, and tenders include:

• Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders
• Food Batchmakers
• Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders
• Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders
• Heat Treating Equipment Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
• Textile Bleaching and Dyeing Machine Operators and Tenders

Also Known As

Absorber Operator, Absorption Operator, Acetone Recovery Worker, Acetylene Plant Operator, Acid Extractor, Acid Purifier, Almond Blancher Operator, Almond Huller, Amalgamator, Ammonium Nitrate Crystallizer, Automatic Centrifugal Station Operator, Automatic Dry Starch Operator, Barley Steeper, Basin Operator, Batch Operator.

References

• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — https://www.bls.gov/oes/
• O*NET Online — https://www.onetonline.org/
• BLS Employment Projections — https://www.bls.gov/emp/
• O*NET-SOC code: 51-9012.00