Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders Salaries by State
Mean and median pay, wage percentiles, employment, and top-paying metro areas for separating, filtering, clarifying, precipitating, and still machine setters, operators, and tenderss across the U.S. Source: BLS OEWS May 2025 (data.bls.gov OEWS tool /OESServices/combo/table, all-occupation crawl by area).
Job Outlook, 2024–2034
Source: BLS Employment Projections 2024-2034.
Salary Map
Brighter tiles = higher average pay; dashed tiles have no data. Click a state for details.
💰 Top 5 Highest-Paying States
- Wyoming$88,980
- Nevada$64,590
- New Jersey$62,770
- Virginia$62,230
- New Hampshire$61,080
📉 5 Lowest-Paying States
- West Virginia$38,210
- Arkansas$43,410
- New Mexico$44,420
- Mississippi$46,820
- Alabama$48,320
State Rankings
| # | State | Mean | Median | Hourly | vs. U.S. | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wyoming | $88,980 | $108,900 | $43 | +58.8% | 410 |
| 2 | Nevada | $64,590 | $62,960 | $31 | +15.3% | 270 |
| 3 | New Jersey | $62,770 | $58,140 | $30 | +12% | 930 |
| 4 | Virginia | $62,230 | $59,480 | $30 | +11.1% | 2,130 |
| 5 | New Hampshire | $61,080 | $60,340 | $29 | +9% | 590 |
| 6 | North Dakota | $59,750 | $59,390 | $29 | +6.6% | 270 |
| 7 | Wisconsin | $59,740 | $60,100 | $29 | +6.6% | 1,520 |
| 8 | California | $59,240 | $52,910 | $28 | +5.7% | 14,210 |
| 9 | Maine | $59,150 | $57,190 | $28 | +5.6% | 430 |
| 10 | Georgia | $59,040 | $55,500 | $28 | +5.4% | 1,210 |
| 11 | Washington | $58,880 | $56,160 | $28 | +5.1% | 1,560 |
| 12 | Maryland | $58,370 | $55,580 | $28 | +4.2% | 580 |
| 13 | New York | $58,250 | $55,990 | $28 | +4% | 3,490 |
| 14 | Louisiana | $57,590 | $58,640 | $28 | +2.8% | 770 |
| 15 | Arizona | $56,700 | $57,820 | $27 | +1.2% | 970 |
| 16 | Minnesota | $56,400 | $57,190 | $27 | +0.7% | 1,810 |
| 17 | Kentucky | $56,210 | $58,770 | $27 | +0.3% | 1,500 |
| 18 | Iowa | $55,970 | $52,220 | $27 | -0.1% | 1,090 |
| 19 | Oregon | $55,770 | $50,160 | $27 | -0.5% | 1,340 |
| 20 | Vermont | $55,420 | $53,570 | $27 | -1.1% | 230 |
| 21 | Florida | $55,090 | $49,610 | $26 | -1.7% | 1,150 |
| 22 | Alaska | $54,740 | $48,000 | $26 | -2.3% | 100 |
| 23 | Idaho | $54,690 | $52,160 | $26 | -2.4% | 780 |
| 24 | Colorado | $54,540 | $49,590 | $26 | -2.7% | 1,970 |
| 25 | Massachusetts | $54,470 | $48,970 | $26 | -2.8% | 510 |
| 26 | Kansas | $54,330 | $48,790 | $26 | -3% | 450 |
| 27 | Connecticut | $54,190 | $50,370 | $26 | -3.3% | 310 |
| 28 | Indiana | $54,140 | $53,990 | $26 | -3.4% | 1,510 |
| 29 | Hawaii | $53,270 | $51,070 | $26 | -4.9% | 160 |
| 30 | Missouri | $52,760 | $49,290 | $25 | -5.8% | 1,590 |
| 31 | North Carolina | $52,520 | $49,140 | $25 | -6.3% | 1,310 |
| 32 | Oklahoma | $52,210 | $49,440 | $25 | -6.8% | 260 |
| 33 | Montana | $51,350 | $47,920 | $25 | -8.4% | 340 |
| 34 | Texas | $51,330 | $46,910 | $25 | -8.4% | 1,460 |
| 35 | South Dakota | $50,950 | $50,780 | $25 | -9.1% | 270 |
| 36 | Michigan | $50,810 | $49,480 | $24 | -9.3% | 2,230 |
| 37 | Illinois | $50,730 | $48,440 | $24 | -9.5% | 780 |
| 38 | South Carolina | $50,530 | $49,320 | $24 | -9.8% | 470 |
| 39 | Rhode Island | $50,250 | $46,710 | $24 | -10.3% | 140 |
| 40 | Pennsylvania | $50,210 | $48,390 | $24 | -10.4% | 2,150 |
| 41 | Ohio | $50,070 | $47,640 | $24 | -10.6% | 1,470 |
| 42 | Tennessee | $50,000 | $50,470 | $24 | -10.8% | 2,450 |
| 43 | Nebraska | $49,570 | $47,080 | $24 | -11.5% | 1,050 |
| 44 | Delaware | $49,480 | $47,520 | $24 | -11.7% | 110 |
| 45 | Utah | $49,300 | $46,600 | $24 | -12% | 480 |
| 46 | Alabama | $48,320 | $46,970 | $23 | -13.8% | 140 |
| 47 | Mississippi | $46,820 | $43,890 | $23 | -16.4% | 100 |
| 48 | New Mexico | $44,420 | $41,370 | $21 | -20.7% | 370 |
| 49 | Arkansas | $43,410 | $41,720 | $21 | -22.5% | 500 |
| 50 | West Virginia | $38,210 | $35,870 | $18 | -31.8% | 110 |
Top-Paying Metro Areas
Highest median pay among 277 metro areas.
| # | Metro area | Median | Mean | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Western Wyoming nonmetropolitan area | $108,900 | $95,190 | 350 |
| 2 | Syracuse, NY | $82,530 | $71,200 | 520 |
| 3 | Vallejo, CA | $82,440 | $70,470 | 240 |
| 4 | Balance of Nevada nonmetropolitan area | $82,210 | $77,340 | 110 |
| 5 | Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $80,140 | $67,670 | 640 |
| 6 | Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $76,350 | $67,010 | 530 |
| 7 | South Central Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | $75,280 | $62,440 | 220 |
| 8 | Modesto, CA | $73,690 | $65,390 | 1,000 |
| 9 | Northwest Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $70,200 | $63,550 | 90 |
| 10 | Hanford-Corcoran, CA | $66,310 | $64,520 | 220 |
Pay by Industry
Highest-paying industries employing separating, filtering, clarifying, precipitating, and still machine setters, operators, and tenderss (BLS OEWS, by median).
| # | Industry | Median | Mean | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Utilities | $94,000 | $92,680 | 70 |
| 2 | Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution | $94,000 | $92,800 | 70 |
| 3 | Sector 22 - Utilities | $94,000 | $92,680 | 70 |
| 4 | Pulp, Paper, and Paperboard Mills | $78,770 | $73,940 | 430 |
| 5 | Beer, Wine, and Liquor Retailers | $73,250 | $79,860 | 130 |
| 6 | Nonmetallic Mineral Mining and Quarrying | $71,820 | $79,210 | 480 |
| 7 | Paper Manufacturing | $71,320 | $69,610 | 500 |
| 8 | Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing | $70,710 | $72,600 | 70 |
| 9 | Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing | $70,710 | $72,600 | 70 |
| 10 | Mining (except Oil and Gas) | $67,210 | $74,950 | 840 |
| 11 | Sector 21 - Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction | $67,210 | $74,950 | 840 |
| 12 | Food and Beverage Retailers | $66,760 | $77,270 | 140 |
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do separating, filtering, clarifying, precipitating, and still machine setters, operators, and tenders make in the U.S.?
The median separating, filtering, clarifying, precipitating, and still machine setters, operators, and tenders salary in the United States is $51,610 per year (mean $56,030), and about 80% earn between $36,200 and $79,750.
How much do separating, filtering, clarifying, precipitating, and still machine setters, operators, and tenders make per hour?
Roughly $27 per hour, based on a mean annual wage of $56,030 and 2,080 work hours per year.
Which state pays separating, filtering, clarifying, precipitating, and still machine setters, operators, and tenders the most?
Wyoming has the highest average pay for separating, filtering, clarifying, precipitating, and still machine setters, operators, and tenders at $88,980 per year (median $108,900).
What is the job outlook for separating, filtering, clarifying, precipitating, and still machine setters, operators, and tenders?
Employment is projected to change -4.3% from 2024 to 2034 (Decline), with about 5,400 openings per year.