Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders Salary - BLS OEWS Wage Benchmarks
SOC 51-9012 · National · May 2025 OEWS Data
Median Annual Salary
$51,605
$24.81/hr
Verified BLS OEWS data · Updated May 18, 2026
Source: BLS OEWS · Published May 15, 2026
Next refresh: May 2027
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The national median salary for Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders is $51,605 per year ($24.81/hr) according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2025. The middle 50% of earners make between $44,408 and $63,939 annually. Top earners at the 90th percentile reach $79,747 per year. There are approximately 60,100 separating, filtering, clarifying, precipitating, and still machine setters, operators, and tenders employed in the United States.
About This Role
BLS Standard Occupational Classification 2018
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.
Career Outlook
BLS Employment Projections · 2024-2034
10-year growth
-4.3%
Slower than average
Annual openings
5K
per year, on avg
Workforce today
54K
as of 2024
Why those openings exist
0% from new growth100% from people leaving the role
Most openings come from replacement, not growth. Retention matters more than recruiting here.
Typical entry requirements
Education
High school diploma or equivalent
Experience
None
On-the-job training
Moderate-term on-the-job training
Industry Wage Breakdown
Top 5 industries by employment · median annual wage, sector-specific
Industry
Workforce
Median Pay
Beverage Manufacturing
NAICS 312100
28K
$56,450
Dairy Product Manufacturing
NAICS 311500
7K
$53,120
Restaurants and Other Eating Places
NAICS 722500
4K
$39,840
Pharmaceutical and Medicine Manufacturing
NAICS 325400
3K
$51,450
Chemical Manufacturing (3251, 3252, 3253, and 3259 only)
NAICS 3250A1
3K
$52,380
Wage range across top 5 industries: $39,840 to $56,450 (42% spread)
Wage Percentiles
Hourly & annualized (2,080 hours)
Percentile
Hourly Rate
Annual Salary
P10
$17.40
$36,192
P25
$21.35
$44,408
P50MEDIAN
$24.81
$51,605
P75
$30.74
$63,939
P90
$38.34
$79,747
Market Context Signal
JOLTS · manufacturing sector
Stable
Openings Rate
3.5%
Quits Rate
1.4%
Manufacturing openings ticked up to 462K (+19K) in March, with the rate at 3.5%. Hires rose to 310K. The sector has stabilized after late-2025 softening.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average separating, filtering, clarifying, precipitating, and still machine setters, operators, and tenders salary?
The national median salary for Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders is $51,605 per year ($24.81/hr) according to BLS OEWS May 2025 data. The middle 50% earn between $44,408 and $63,939 annually.
How much do top-earning separating, filtering, clarifying, precipitating, and still machine setters, operators, and tenders make?
The 90th percentile salary for Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders is $79,747 per year ($38.34/hr). The 75th percentile is $63,939 per year.
What is the entry-level salary for separating, filtering, clarifying, precipitating, and still machine setters, operators, and tenders?
Entry-level Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders (10th percentile) earn approximately $36,192 per year ($17.40/hr). The 25th percentile is $44,408 per year.
Wage figures on this page come from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2025 release. OEWS surveys roughly 1.1 million establishments annually. It is the most comprehensive employer-reported wage dataset in the United States.
P10 through P90 percentiles represent the wage distribution across all surveyed employers (not self-reported by workers). Geographic adjustments use BLS-derived cost multipliers calibrated from regional wage variation.
Wages are estimates. Individual compensation depends on experience, education, employer size, industry, and negotiation. Use this as benchmark context, not absolute ground truth.
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