Biofuels Processing Technicians: Career Overview
Calculate, measure, load, mix, and process refined feedstock with additives in fermentation or reaction process vessels and monitor production process. Perform, and keep records of, plant maintenance, repairs, and safety inspections.
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What Do Biofuels Processing Technicians Do?
The core tasks performed by biofuels processing technicians span:
- Monitor batch, continuous flow, or hybrid biofuels production processes.
- Operate valves, pumps, engines, or generators to control and adjust biofuels production.
- Monitor and record biofuels processing data.
- Collect biofuels samples and perform routine laboratory tests or analyses to assess biofuels quality.
- Operate equipment, such as a centrifuge, to extract biofuels products and secondary by-products or reusable fractions.
- Process refined feedstock with additives in fermentation or reaction process vessels.
- Operate chemical processing equipment for the production of biofuels.
- Monitor and record flow meter performance.
Key Skills and Knowledge
Top biofuels processing technicians draw on a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Key Skills
The abilities most important for this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Top Knowledge Areas
Other Biofuels Processing Technicians Job Titles
People in this occupation may also be known by titles such as:
- Biodiesel Process Control Technician
- Biodiesel Processing Technician
- Biodiesel Production Associate
- Biodiesel Production Technician
- Biofuels Data Scientist
- Biofuels Processing Technician
- Biofuels Production Associate
- Biofuels Production Technician
How Many Biofuels Processing Technicians Are There?
There are roughly 437,368 biofuels processing technicians working in the United States today. Employment is projected to grow by +1.3% over the projection horizon.
Salary for Biofuels Processing Technicians
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $43,310 |
| Hourly median | $20.82 |
| 10th percentile | $24,327 |
| 25th percentile | $33,819 |
| 75th percentile | $52,802 |
| 90th percentile | $62,294 |
Pay can vary substantially based on experience, location, and industry.
Biofuels Processing Technicians Salary by State
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| Minnesota | $83,060 |
| Washington | $82,040 |
| Maryland | $80,080 |
| Montana | $78,850 |
| Alaska | $78,620 |
| Kentucky | $77,690 |
| New Jersey | $74,700 |
| California | $73,950 |
| Kansas | $73,170 |
| New York | $72,410 |
| West Virginia | $70,660 |
| Wisconsin | $70,010 |
| Nevada | $69,280 |
| Indiana | $68,780 |
| Michigan | $67,320 |
| Oklahoma | $67,230 |
| Arizona | $66,540 |
| Oregon | $65,150 |
| Utah | $63,380 |
| Mississippi | $63,260 |
| Tennessee | $63,160 |
| New Hampshire | $62,830 |
| Connecticut | $62,590 |
| Ohio | $62,140 |
| Idaho | $61,960 |
| Illinois | $61,710 |
| North Carolina | $61,280 |
| Maine | $60,060 |
| Wyoming | $60,050 |
| Louisiana | $59,720 |
| South Dakota | $58,750 |
| Iowa | $58,340 |
| Virginia | $57,740 |
| South Carolina | $54,140 |
| New Mexico | $54,080 |
| Florida | $53,300 |
| Pennsylvania | $52,270 |
| Colorado | $52,210 |
| Texas | $50,470 |
| Georgia | $50,270 |
| Nebraska | $46,340 |
| Missouri | $40,610 |
| Puerto Rico | $39,540 |
| Arkansas | $39,160 |
Top-Paying U.S. Regions
Compensation for biofuels processing technicians shift depending on where you work. Top regions by median wage:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Far Western US | $73,563 | 16.3% | 1.05 |
| Middle Atlantic | $67,438 | 9.4% | 0.74 |
| Great Lakes | $65,813 | 7.8% | 0.65 |
| New England | $61,783 | 2.3% | 1.78 |
| Plains States | $59,428 | 5.7% | 1.42 |
| Rocky Mountains | $56,375 | 11.3% | 4.09 |
| Southeast | $56,317 | 18.3% | 1.08 |
| Southwest | $51,569 | 28.5% | 2.67 |
Highest-Paying Metro Areas for Biofuels Processing Technicians
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duluth, MN-WI | MN | $85,510 | 30 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | CA | $84,840 | 270 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | DC | $81,930 | 390 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | MN | $81,140 | 80 |
| Modesto, CA | CA | $80,930 | 30 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | CA | $78,770 | 90 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | CA | $78,540 | 310 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | NY | $78,500 | 320 |
Top Industries Employing Biofuels Processing Technicians
Most biofuels processing technicians are concentrated in the following sectors:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 6,640 | $56,980 |
| Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction | 1,760 | $61,950 |
| Construction | 1,210 | $53,140 |
| Wholesale Trade | 1,050 | $49,640 |
| Utilities | 390 | $93,150 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 240 | $90,450 |
| Health Care and Social Assistance | 70 | $69,290 |
| Educational Services | 60 | $50,840 |
Below are examples of industries where biofuels processing technicians work:
Tools and Technology
- Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Word processing software: Microsoft Word (hot technology)
- Object or component oriented development software: Python (hot technology)
- Object or component oriented development software: R (hot technology)
- Analytical or scientific software: SAS (hot technology)
- Business intelligence and data analysis software: Tableau (hot technology)
What the Workplace Is Like
The work environment for biofuels processing technicians is shaped by the following characteristics:
- Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Exposed to Contaminants
- Exposed to Hazardous Conditions
- Contact With Others
Education and Training
Entry-level biofuels processing technicians positions require a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry-level education. The role falls in Some Preparation Needed (Job Zone 2), reflecting the level of preparation typically expected.
Other Careers to Consider
Similar Occupations
- Geothermal Production Managers (Supplemental)
- Biofuels Production Managers (Supplemental)
- Biomass Power Plant Managers (Supplemental)
- Biofuels/Biodiesel Technology and Product Development Managers (Supplemental)
- Chemical Engineers (Supplemental)
- Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians (Supplemental)
- Agricultural Technicians (Supplemental)
- Geothermal Technicians (Primary-Long)
About the Data
Data on this page comes from the following authoritative sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for employment and wage data by state and industry.
- BLS Employment Projections for total employment and growth forecasts.
- O*NET (Occupational Information Network) for skills, knowledge, tasks, work activities, work context, technology, and education-zone data.
SOC code: 51-8099.01 (Plant and System Operators, All Other).
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