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Separating and Still Machine Operator

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AVG. SALARY

$49,930

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EDUCATION

High school preferred +

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JOB OUTLOOK

Stable

What They Do

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

About This Career

Sets up, operates, or tends 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.

This career is part of the Manufacturing cluster Production pathway.

A person in this career:

  • Dumps, pours, or loads specified amounts of refined or unrefined materials into equipment or containers for further processing or storage.
  • Operates machines to process materials in compliance with applicable safety, energy, or environmental regulations.
  • Monitors material flow or instruments, such as temperature or pressure gauges, indicators, or meters, to ensure optimal processing conditions.
  • Turns valves or moves controls to admit, drain, separate, filter, clarify, mix, or transfer materials.
  • Sets up or adjusts machine controls to regulate conditions such as material flow, temperature, or pressure.
  • Examines samples to verify qualities such as clarity, cleanliness, consistency, dryness, or texture.
  • Starts agitators, shakers, conveyors, pumps, or centrifuge machines.
  • Inspects machines or equipment for hazards, operating efficiency, malfunctions, wear, or leaks.
  • Collects samples of materials or products for laboratory analysis.
  • Communicates processing instructions to other workers.

Working Conditions and Physical Demands

People who do this job report that:

  • You would often handle loads up to 10 lbs., sometimes up to 20 lbs. You might do a lot of walking or standing, or you might sit but use your arms and legs to control machines, equipment or tools.
  • Work in this occupation involves use of protective items such as safety shoes, glasses, gloves, hearing protection, a hard hat, or personal flotation devices
  • Exposure to pollutants, gases, dust, fumes, odors, poor ventilation, etc.
  • Conditions are very hot (above 90 F) or very cold (under 32 F)
  • Work in this occupation involves using your hands to hold, control, and feel objects more than one-third of the time
  • Sound and noise levels are loud and distracting

Working in this career involves (physical activities):

  • Maintaining a body position that prevents falling when in an unstable position
  • Identifying color and seeing differences in color, including shades and brightness
  • Bending, stretching, twisting, or reaching
  • Seeing clearly at a distance
  • Detecting sounds and hearing the differences between sounds of different pitch and loudness
  • Seeing clearly up close
  • Identifying and understanding the speech of another person
  • Lifting, pushing, pulling, or carrying objects
  • Using abdominal and lower back muscles repeatedly or over time without tiring

Work Hours and Travel

  • Rotating shift work

Specialty and Similar Careers

Careers that are more detailed or close to this career:

  • Blender
  • Brewer
  • Cellar Worker
  • Digester Cook
  • Machine Tender
  • Paper Machine Tender
  • Plant Operator
  • Pulper Operator
  • Winemaker

Contact

  • Email Support
  • 1-800-GO-TO-XAP (1-800-468-6927)
    From outside the U.S., please call +1 (424) 750-3900
  • North Dakota Career Resource Network
    ndcrn@nd.gov | (701) 328-9733

Support