As of June 2026, Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders has an AI-exposure score of 52/100 (Elevated exposure) on the AI-Safe Careers index, blending O*NET tasks, the Anthropic Economic Index, the Penn/OpenAI study, and BLS data. This is an estimate of task exposure, not a prediction of job loss.
Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
More exposed than 38% of the roles we track. Median pay ~US$51,610. About 5,400 projected openings a year (BLS 2024–34 — growth plus replacement).
Pay & demand figures are US medians (BLS, in USD) — your local figures will differ. Your exposure score applies broadly.
How you compare to similar Production roles
Your tasks, by AI exposure
- Turn valves to pump sterilizing solutions or rinse water through pipes or equipment or to spray vats with atomizers.
- Examine samples to verify qualities such as clarity, cleanliness, consistency, dryness, or texture.
- Start agitators, shakers, conveyors, pumps, or centrifuge machines.
- Test samples to determine viscosity, acidity, specific gravity, or degree of concentration, using test equipment such as viscometers, pH meters, or hydrometers.
- Collect samples of materials or products for laboratory analysis.
- Turn valves or move controls to admit, drain, separate, filter, clarify, mix, or transfer materials.
- Monitor material flow or instruments, such as temperature or pressure gauges, indicators, or meters, to ensure optimal processing conditions.
- Measure or weigh materials to be refined, mixed, transferred, stored, or otherwise processed.
- Remove clogs, defects, or impurities from machines, tanks, conveyors, screens, or other processing equipment.
- Set up or adjust machine controls to regulate conditions such as material flow, temperature, or pressure.
- Communicate processing instructions to other workers.
- Remove full containers from discharge outlets and replace them with empty containers.
- Install, maintain, or repair hoses, pumps, filters, or screens to maintain processing equipment, using hand tools.
- Maintain logs of instrument readings, test results, or shift production for entry in computer databases.
- Dump, pour, or load specified amounts of refined or unrefined materials into equipment or containers for further processing or storage.
- Clean or sterilize tanks, screens, inflow pipes, production areas, or equipment, using hoses, brushes, scrapers, or chemical solutions.
- Operate machines to process materials in compliance with applicable safety, energy, or environmental regulations.
- Connect pipes between vats and processing equipment.
- Assemble fittings, valves, bowls, plates, disks, impeller shafts, or other parts to prepare equipment for operation.
- Inspect machines or equipment for hazards, operating efficiency, malfunctions, wear, or leaks.
No durable tasks identified for this role — its real, individually-assessed tasks consistently read as augmentable (95%).
Safer adjacent roles
Your AI-Safe Career Report
Every task scored with what to do about it · 5–10 safer roles with salary, demand & reachability · skill-gap map · a 30/60/90-day roadmap · plus a résumé & LinkedIn rewrite · PDF.
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Workers with AI skills earn a roughly 62% wage premium — adapting pays. — PwC Global AI Jobs Barometer, 2026
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