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Advanced ManufacturingGreen JobOccupation aligned to O*NET green economy classifications.

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

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 openings

246

Median wage

$49,590

Typical education

High school (GED)

Growth 2026–2032

+1%

Median wage source: Colorado BLS OEWS (2025).

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Career requirements

What does this career require?

Explore education, required qualifications, voluntary credentials and employer preferences for this role. Check the details to see which apply.

Typical education

High school (GED)

Credential requirement

A National Institute for Metalworking Skills (NIMS) Level I Certification, Production Technician Certificate, or Operator's Certificate is valued.

Work experience

This is an entry-level role so no experience is required. However, any previous experience working with large machines, engines or on a production floor, or knowledge of basic mechanical principles is valued.

Employer competency information

  • Feedback from employers identifies the following competencies as being critical to success: mechanical aptitude, attention to detail (including the ability to build something to specifications and tolerance), diagnosing and problem solving, basic computer skills, teamwork, a focus on safety, and accountability.
Do you have steady hands and learn quickly? Are you interested in machines and moving parts? Becoming a machine operator is a great way to start out in the manufacturing industry, working in the middle of all the action on the production floor. It’s an exciting job with a lot of opportunity for advancement.
Machine operators work as part of the assembly line in a production facility. Your position will put you in charge of a basic, manually-controlled manufacturing machine. You’ll start, stop, and monitor the machine’s operation, making sure there are no defects or issues in the product it makes. You might need to make small adjustments to your machine, or perform minor repairs if it malfunctions. Depending on the size of your company and the manufacturing system, you may be assigned to one specific machine, or to several.
Participation in a robotics league/competition is a good way to learn about working with and programming machines.

Is this work a fit?

What the work actually feels like

How people in this career tend to spend their time, the interests it draws on, and a look at a typical day.

Automation exposure

High exposure

Many tasks are repeatable, so technology could reshape the day-to-day over time.

A typical day

  1. Dump, pour, or load specified amounts of refined or unrefined materials into equipment or containers for further processing or storage.
  2. Monitor material flow or instruments, such as temperature or pressure gauges, indicators, or meters, to ensure optimal processing conditions.
  3. Set up or adjust machine controls to regulate conditions such as material flow, temperature, or pressure.
  4. Examine samples to verify qualities such as clarity, cleanliness, consistency, dryness, or texture.
  5. Communicate processing instructions to other workers.
  6. Maintain logs of instrument readings, test results, or shift production for entry in computer databases.
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