Also called: Separating Machine Operators
Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders build operations monitoring, operation and control and quality control analysis skills that carry over to other work. Below are 25 careers ranked by how closely their skills match, with pay from BLS May 2025. The closest match is Chemical Plant and System Operators (86%).
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
Sorted by skill match.
| # | Career | Skill match | Median pay | Pay change | Extra education |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chemical Plant and System Operators | 86% | $78,120 | +51% | None |
| 2 | Heat Treating Equipment Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | 85% | $48,750 | −6% | None |
| 3 | Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders | 83% | $44,810 | −13% | None |
| 4 | Extruding and Forming Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Synthetic and Glass Fibers | 81% | $46,350 | −10% | None |
| 5 | Pump Operators, Except Wellhead Pumpers | 80% | $61,770 | +20% | None |
| 6 | Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | 80% | $46,330 | −10% | None |
| 7 | Gas Compressor and Gas Pumping Station Operators | 79% | $77,320 | +50% | None |
| 8 | Biomass Plant Technicians | 79% | $102,040Pay for the broader BLS group “Power Plant Operators” | Not compared | None |
| 9 | Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | 79% | $49,030 | −5% | None |
| 10 | Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders | 79% | $54,430 | +5% | None |
Compared with Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, median $51,610. Skill match is our estimate (0–99) from O*NET 31.0 skills, knowledge, work activities and interests, adjusted for preparation and big pay drops. Pay: BLS OEWS May 2025, national median.
How important each skill is in work as separating, filtering, clarifying, precipitating, and still machine setters, operators, and tenders (O*NET importance, scale 1–5).
The gaps that show up most often across your top 10 matches.
Free and low-cost training: use the CareerOneStop training finder below.
A concrete first step, the skills to add, and the hard parts of each job, from O*NET 31.0 education, training and work context data.
86% skill match · $78,120 · +51% pay
Operation and Control · Systems Evaluation · Quality Control Analysis
85% skill match · $48,750 · −6% pay
Operation and Control · Instructing
83% skill match · $44,810 · −13% pay
Social Perceptiveness
If you want to stay close to what you do now, these roles are the nearest.
The closest matches are Chemical Plant and System Operators (86% skill match, median $78,120), Heat Treating Equipment Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic (85% skill match, median $48,750) and Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders (83% skill match, median $44,810), based on O*NET 31.0 data and BLS May 2025 pay.
Among the 25 matches, 10 pay more than separating, filtering, clarifying, precipitating, and still machine setters, operators, and tenders at the median. The biggest increases: Power Plant Operators (+98%, $102,040), Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers (+87%, $96,710) and Chemical Plant and System Operators (+51%, $78,120).
25 of the 25 matches usually need no more education than you have now, based on O*NET Job Zones.
We compare the importance of skills, knowledge, work activities and interests in O*NET 31.0 for your job and every other career, then adjust for extra preparation and big pay drops. The full method is on our Methodology page.