Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders

ManufacturingO*NET 51-9023.00United States

Set up, operate, or tend machines to mix or blend materials, such as chemicals, tobacco, liquids, color pigments, or explosive ingredients.

COMING SOON See related ASU learning

Median annual earnings: $48,892
Projected change: −1%
Typical education: High school diploma or less
Employment: 96.01K jobs

Explore this career by location

Compare nationwide estimates with state or county job-market data.

Showing United States

State

County

Loading available locations…

Build the skills

ASU learning related to this career

These courses and certificates are connected through catalog career relationships and Lightcast skill tags.

The work

What mixing and blending machine setters, operators, and tenders do

Tasks reported for this occupation, ordered by how often they come up in the role.

Weigh or measure materials, ingredients, or products to ensure conformance to requirements.
Read work orders to determine production specifications or information.
Observe production or monitor equipment to ensure safe and efficient operation.
Mix or blend ingredients by starting machines and mixing for specified times.
Stop mixing or blending machines when specified product qualities are obtained and open valves and start pumps to transfer mixtures.
Examine materials, ingredients, or products visually or with hands to ensure conformance to established standards.
Compound or process ingredients or dyes, according to formulas.
Operate or tend machines to mix or blend any of a wide variety of materials, such as spices, dough batter, tobacco, fruit juices, chemicals, livestock feed, food products, color pigments, or explosive ingredients.
Dump or pour specified amounts of materials into machinery or equipment.
Collect samples of materials or products for laboratory testing.
Record operational or production data on specified forms.
Unload mixtures into containers or onto conveyors for further processing.
Clean work areas.
Add or mix chemicals or ingredients for processing, using hand tools or other devices.
Tend accessory equipment, such as pumps or conveyors, to move materials or ingredients through production processes.
Transfer materials, supplies, or products between work areas, using moving equipment or hand tools.
Clean and maintain equipment, using hand tools.
Dislodge and clear jammed materials or other items from machinery or equipment, using hand tools.

Pay and outlook

What the job pays and where it is heading

Annual earnings range

Reported earnings by percentile, United States

10th percentile: $36,529
25th percentile: $42,642
50th percentile: $48,892
75th percentile: $59,944
90th percentile: $70,545

The gold marker shows the median. Half earn more than $48,892 and half earn less.

Employment outlook

2025 to 2035 projection

−1%projected to decline

202596,007 jobs

2035 projected95,060 jobs

947 fewer positions over the decade, before replacement hiring.

Preparation

Education levels

What people currently working in the career hold. These are not entry requirements.

High school diploma or less: 81.8%
Certificate: 11.9%
Some college: 6.3%

Skills

Skills employers ask for

Technical skills appearing most often in job postings for this occupation.

Good Manufacturing Practices
Lifting Ability
Forklift Truck
General Mathematics
Packaging And Labeling
Sanitation
Food Safety And Sanitation
Machinery
Warehousing
Standard Operating Procedure
Housekeeping
Personal Protective Equipment
Safety Standards
Safety Procedures
Blender (Device)
Industrial Mixer
Development Environment
Production Process
Batch Sheets
Machine Operation

How the work gets done

Core competencies

Broad capabilities associated with strong performance in this occupation.

Operations Monitoring: Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
Operation and Control: Controlling operations of equipment or systems.
Monitoring: Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Equipment Maintenance: Performing routine maintenance on equipment and determining when and what kind of maintenance is needed.
Repairing: Repairing machines or systems using the needed tools.
Quality Control Analysis: Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.
Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
Time Management: Managing one's own time and the time of others.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
Troubleshooting: Determining causes of operating errors and deciding what to do about it.
Coordination: Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Judgment and Decision Making: Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Writing: Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
Active Learning: Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
Complex Problem Solving: Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
Social Perceptiveness: Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Learning Strategies: Selecting and using training/instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things.
Systems Analysis: Determining how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations, and the environment will affect outcomes.

In the market

Job titles and employers

Recent job postings in United States

Common job titles

01Compounders560 postings
02Mixers385 postings
03Mixing Operators381 postings
04Batch Makers279 postings
05Blending Operators228 postings
06Operators207 postings
07Blending Technicians163 postings
08Batch Mixers134 postings
09Blender Operators134 postings
10Blenders134 postings
11Batchers128 postings
12Chemical Mixers93 postings
13Compounding Technicians82 postings
14Batch Operators78 postings
15Chemical Compounders74 postings
16Compounding Managers71 postings
17Mixer Operators68 postings
18Matchmakers62 postings
19Liquidation Specialists55 postings
20Color Mixers52 postings

Top employers

01Aerotek193 postings
02Actalent182 postings
03ManpowerGroup138 postings
04Express Employment Professionals45 postings
05Randstad44 postings
06Guardian Protection Products41 postings
07Aspire Bakeries40 postings
08QPS Employment Group38 postings
09Refresco37 postings
10PrideStaff29 postings
11Rust-Oleum Corporation29 postings
12Clement Pappas & Co.27 postings
13Makers Pride26 postings
14Osi Holding26 postings
15Flowers Foods24 postings
16Masterson Staffing24 postings
17Amneal Pharmaceuticals23 postings
18Osi Industries23 postings
19Kelly Services22 postings
20Sherwin-Williams22 postings

Keep looking

Adhesive Bonding Machine Operators and Tenders

Median pay: $46,467
Employment outlook: +0.5%

Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers

Median pay: $65,331
Employment outlook: −7.4%

Appraisers and Assessors of Real Estate

Median pay: $68,507
Employment outlook: −2.3%

Appraisers of Personal and Business Property

Median pay: $68,507
Employment outlook: −2.3%