Cleaning, Washing, and Metal Pickling Equipment Operators and Tenders: Career Profile
Operate or tend machines to wash or clean products, such as barrels or kegs, glass items, tin plate, food, pulp, coal, plastic, or rubber, to remove impurities.
Featured schools near , edit
What Tasks Do Cleaning, Washing, and Metal Pickling Equipment Operators and Tenders Do?
The day-to-day responsibilities of cleaning, washing, and metal pickling equipment operators and tenders span:
- Add specified amounts of chemicals to equipment at required times to maintain solution levels and concentrations.
- Observe machine operations, gauges, or thermometers, and adjust controls to maintain specified conditions.
- Set controls to regulate temperature and length of cycles, and start conveyors, pumps, agitators, and machines.
- Drain, clean, and refill machines or tanks at designated intervals, using cleaning solutions or water.
- Operate or tend machines to wash and remove impurities from items such as barrels or kegs, glass products, tin plate surfaces, dried fruit, pulp, animal stock, coal, manufactured articles, plastic, or rubber.
- Record gauge readings, materials used, processing times, or test results in production logs.
- Examine and inspect machines to detect malfunctions.
- Measure, weigh, or mix cleaning solutions, using measuring tanks, calibrated rods or suction tubes.
Skills and Knowledge
Effective cleaning, washing, and metal pickling equipment operators and tenders combine a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Key Skills
These are the skills that matter most in this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Top Knowledge Areas
Other Cleaning, Washing, and Metal Pickling Equipment Operators and Tenders Job Titles
People in this occupation may also be known by titles such as:
- Acid Dipper
- Agitator
- Agricultural Produce Washer
- Air Table Operator
- Ampoule Washing Machine Operator
- Anodizer
- Bag Bleacher
- Barrel Cleaner
Job Outlook
There are roughly 47,560 cleaning, washing, and metal pickling equipment operators and tenders working in the United States today. Demand is forecast to grow by +2.2% over the projection horizon.
Salary for Cleaning, Washing, and Metal Pickling Equipment Operators and Tenders
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $63,526 |
| Hourly median | $30.54 |
| 10th percentile | $36,116 |
| 25th percentile | $49,821 |
| 75th percentile | $77,231 |
| 90th percentile | $90,936 |
Wages vary widely based on experience, location, and industry.
How Much Do Cleaning, Washing, and Metal Pickling Equipment Operators and Tenders Make in Different U.S. States?
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| Virginia | $55,900 |
| Wisconsin | $51,410 |
| New York | $50,430 |
| Minnesota | $47,310 |
| North Dakota | $46,760 |
| Pennsylvania | $45,300 |
| Louisiana | $45,270 |
| Massachusetts | $45,050 |
| Oregon | $43,870 |
| California | $43,770 |
| Utah | $43,730 |
| Indiana | $43,290 |
| Michigan | $43,040 |
| New Jersey | $42,180 |
| Iowa | $42,060 |
| South Dakota | $41,600 |
| New Hampshire | $41,590 |
| Kansas | $41,560 |
| Georgia | $41,320 |
| Maine | $41,070 |
| Montana | $40,650 |
| Arkansas | $40,430 |
| Kentucky | $40,140 |
| Ohio | $39,980 |
| South Carolina | $39,980 |
| Washington | $39,790 |
| Tennessee | $39,680 |
| Connecticut | $39,330 |
| Missouri | $39,240 |
| Arizona | $38,550 |
| Rhode Island | $38,520 |
| Oklahoma | $38,360 |
| Texas | $38,330 |
| Nebraska | $38,260 |
| North Carolina | $37,640 |
| Florida | $35,630 |
| Alabama | $34,920 |
| Mississippi | $34,410 |
| Idaho | $32,060 |
| Nevada | $31,200 |
| Puerto Rico | $23,050 |
Where Cleaning, Washing, and Metal Pickling Equipment Operators and Tenders Earn the Most
Compensation for cleaning, washing, and metal pickling equipment operators and tenders vary by region. The following regions pay the most:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Middle Atlantic | $45,835 | 9.8% | 0.89 |
| Far Western US | $42,902 | 21.6% | 1.43 |
| Great Lakes | $42,640 | 20.1% | 2.09 |
| Plains States | $40,515 | 8.7% | 2.05 |
| Southeast | $39,960 | 17.4% | 1.06 |
| Rocky Mountains | $39,412 | 2.6% | 1.29 |
| New England | $39,132 | 4.0% | 1.02 |
| Southwest | $38,372 | 13.8% | 1.85 |
Where the Jobs Cluster
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | WI | $63,300 | 50 |
| Reading, PA | PA | $57,050 | 60 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | VA | $55,900 | 30 |
| Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY | NY | $55,560 | 100 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | WA | $53,130 | 40 |
| Rochester, NY | NY | $52,380 | 40 |
| Napa, CA | CA | $50,800 | 40 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | CA | $49,750 | 120 |
Industry Breakdown
Most cleaning, washing, and metal pickling equipment operators and tenders work in these industries:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 10,970 | $42,120 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | 900 | $36,200 |
| Wholesale Trade | 750 | $42,600 |
| Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction | 320 | $51,420 |
| Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting | 300 | $38,460 |
| Transportation and Warehousing | 250 | $47,130 |
| Other Services (except Public Administration) | 140 | $37,090 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 70 | $43,380 |
Below are examples of industries where cleaning, washing, and metal pickling equipment operators and tenders work:
Tech Stack
- Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Word processing software: Microsoft Word (hot technology)
The Day-to-Day Environment
Daily working conditions for cleaning, washing, and metal pickling equipment operators and tenders tends to involve the following characteristics:
- Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets
- Spend Time Standing
- Exposed to Sounds, Noise Levels that are Distracting or Uncomfortable
- Spend Time Walking or Running
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
How to Become Cleaning, Washing, and Metal Pickling Equipment Operators and Tenders
Most cleaning, washing, and metal pickling equipment operators and tenders positions require a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry-level education. The role falls in Some Preparation Needed (Job Zone 2), signaling the level of preparation typically expected.
Related Careers
Similar Occupations
- Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders (Supplemental)
- Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders (Supplemental)
- Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic (Supplemental)
- Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders (Supplemental)
- Heat Treating Equipment Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic (Primary-Long)
- Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic (Supplemental)
- Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers (Primary-Short)
- Textile Bleaching and Dyeing Machine Operators and Tenders (Primary-Short)
About the Data
Statistics shown above are sourced 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: 51-9192.00 (Cleaning, Washing, and Metal Pickling Equipment Operators and Tenders).
Course Advisor provides higher-education, college and university, degree, program, career, salary, and other helpful information to students, faculty, institutions, and other internet audiences. Presented information and data are subject to change. Inclusion on this website does not imply or represent a direct relationship with the company, school, or brand. Information, though believed correct at time of publication, may not be correct, and no warranty is provided. Contact the schools to verify any information before relying on it. Financial aid may be available for those who qualify. The displayed options may include sponsored or recommended results, not necessarily based on your preferences.
© Course Advisor – All Rights Reserved.