How to hire separating, filtering, clarifying, precipitating, and still machine setters, operators, and tenders
A job description you can copy, interview questions tied to the real work, and what to pay. Free.
$24.81U.S. median hourly pay
$44,410–$63,930Middle half, yearly
60,100People in this job in the U.S.
Job description template
Copy it, fill in the brackets, and remove anything that does not fit your job. Keep only must-haves you would really turn someone away for.
[Job title] at [Company name] [City, State] · [Full-time / Part-time] · [Pay range] About the role [Two or three sentences about your team, the work and why it matters.] What you will do • Collect samples of materials or products for laboratory analysis. • Communicate processing instructions to other workers. • Inspect machines or equipment for hazards, operating efficiency, malfunctions, wear, or leaks. • Maintain logs of instrument readings, test results, or shift production for entry in computer databases. • Monitor material flow or instruments, such as temperature or pressure gauges, indicators, or meters, to ensure optimal processing conditions. • Operate machines to process materials in compliance with applicable safety, energy, or environmental regulations. • Set up or adjust machine controls to regulate conditions such as material flow, temperature, or pressure. • Test samples to determine viscosity, acidity, specific gravity, or degree of concentration, using test equipment such as viscometers, pH meters, or hydrometers. What you bring • [Required license, certification or years of experience, if any] • [Education, only if you truly need it. Typical to start in this job: High school diploma or equivalent] • Strong critical thinking, monitoring, active listening and reading comprehension skills • Working knowledge of production and processing, English Language, food production and education and training • [Anything else you would really turn someone away for] Pay and benefits [Pay range]. For reference, the U.S. median for this job is $24.81 an hour ($51,610 a year). [Benefits, schedule and anything else candidates should know.] How to apply [Apply on JAI Bot. Every applicant hears back.]
Interview questions for separating, filtering, clarifying, precipitating, and still machine setters, operators, and tenders
Ask every candidate the same questions, in the same order, and write down what they say. Questions about past work show what someone has actually done.
- Tell me about a time you had to collect samples of materials or products for laboratory analysis. What did you do, and how did it turn out?
- Tell me about a time you had to communicate processing instructions to other workers. What did you do, and how did it turn out?
- Tell me about a time you had to inspect machines or equipment for hazards, operating efficiency, malfunctions, wear, or leaks. What did you do, and how did it turn out?
- Tell me about a time you had to maintain logs of instrument readings, test results, or shift production for entry in computer databases. What did you do, and how did it turn out?
- Describe a decision at work where the obvious answer was wrong. How did you work out the better choice?
- How do you keep track of your own work quality during a busy shift or week? Give an example of catching a problem early.
- Tell me about a time you had to understand a request or problem that was explained poorly. How did you make sure you got it right?
- Why this job, and why now? What would make you stay here for the long term?
Good answers name a real situation, what the person did themselves and what happened. Avoid questions about age, family plans, religion, health, national origin or anything else unrelated to the job.
What separating, filtering, clarifying, precipitating, and still machine setters, operators, and tenders do
- Collect samples of materials or products for laboratory analysis.
- Communicate processing instructions to other workers.
- Inspect machines or equipment for hazards, operating efficiency, malfunctions, wear, or leaks.
- Maintain logs of instrument readings, test results, or shift production for entry in computer databases.
- Monitor material flow or instruments, such as temperature or pressure gauges, indicators, or meters, to ensure optimal processing conditions.
- Operate machines to process materials in compliance with applicable safety, energy, or environmental regulations.
- Set up or adjust machine controls to regulate conditions such as material flow, temperature, or pressure.
- Test samples to determine viscosity, acidity, specific gravity, or degree of concentration, using test equipment such as viscometers, pH meters, or hydrometers.
Skills that matter most
Education, experience and outlook for separating, filtering, clarifying, precipitating, and still machine setters, operators, and tenders
- Typical education to start: High school diploma or equivalent (BLS)
- Related work experience most have: 1 to 3 months (O*NET)
- Training on the job: Moderate-term on-the-job training (BLS)
- Job outlook: -5.7% over ten years, declining · about 5,200 openings a year (BLS)
What to pay separating, filtering, clarifying, precipitating, and still machine setters, operators, and tenders
Pay depends a lot on where the job is. Highest and lowest median yearly pay by state:
| State | Median yearly pay |
|---|---|
| New Hampshire | $60,340 |
| Wisconsin | $60,100 |
| Virginia | $59,480 |
| Kentucky | $58,770 |
| Louisiana | $58,640 |
| Nebraska | $47,080 |
| Texas | $46,910 |
| Arkansas | $41,720 |
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Post this job on JAI Bot. Free to start: JAI Bot reads every applicant against your must-haves, shows the resume evidence behind each one, and helps you reply to everyone. People make every decision.
Post a job freePay by areaJob duties and skills: O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license; O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. JAI Bot has modified this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications. Pay: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS, May 2025. Interview questions and the job description template: JAI Bot, based on the duties and skills above.