Cleaning, Washing, and Metal Pickling Equipment Operators and Tenders
High69.86%
Found in Industries:
Salary Range
Low (10th %)$31,370
Median$39,340
High (90th %)$54,180
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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.
The occupation "Cleaning, Washing, and Metal Pickling Equipment Operators and Tenders" faces an automation risk of 69.9%, closely mirroring its base risk estimate of 70.5%. This relatively high risk is primarily due to the nature of the tasks, which tend to be routine and heavily reliant on mechanical processes that are amenable to automation. Modern advances in robotics, sensors, and process control technologies enable machines to efficiently and safely handle repetitive operations traditionally carried out by human operators in these environments. Therefore, many core duties associated with this occupation are particularly vulnerable to substitution by automated systems. Looking specifically at the most automatable tasks, the highest risks are associated with activities such as adding specified amounts of chemicals to equipment, monitoring and adjusting machines based on gauges or thermometers, and setting controls to regulate operational parameters like temperature and cycle length. These actions are fundamentally rule-based, requiring consistency and precision that automated systems can easily achieve. Automation technologies, such as programmable logic controllers (PLCs) and robotic arms, are already widely used for such functions in industrial settings, further accelerating the shift away from manual intervention in these areas. Conversely, some aspects of the job remain more resistant to automation. Tasks like loading and unloading objects, maintaining and lubricating mechanical parts, and drawing samples for laboratory analysis often require a combination of dexterity, problem-solving, and adaptability. These tasks involve physical handling, nuanced use of hand tools, and real-time decision making based on sensory feedback, which are still challenging for machines to replicate reliably. Nevertheless, the very low levels of required originality (1.9% and 1.5%) associated with the occupation indicate that truly creative or novel problem-solving is rare, limiting bottlenecks to automation mainly to physical and sensory-motor challenges rather than cognitive complexity.
Filter by Automatable Status
Add specified amounts of chemicals to equipment at required times to maintain solution levels and concentrations.
Automatable
Observe machine operations, gauges, or thermometers, and adjust controls to maintain specified conditions.
Automatable
Set controls to regulate temperature and length of cycles, and start conveyors, pumps, agitators, and machines.
Automatable
Drain, clean, and refill machines or tanks at designated intervals, using cleaning solutions or water.
Partially Automatable
Record gauge readings, materials used, processing times, or test results in production logs.
Automatable
Examine and inspect machines to detect malfunctions.
Partially Automatable
Measure, weigh, or mix cleaning solutions, using measuring tanks, calibrated rods or suction tubes.
Partially Automatable
Draw samples for laboratory analysis, or test solutions for conformance to specifications, such as acidity or specific gravity.
Partially Automatable
Adjust, clean, and lubricate mechanical parts of machines, using hand tools and grease guns.
Non-Automatable
Load machines with objects to be processed and unload them after cleaning, placing them on conveyors or racks.
Automatable
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.
Partially Automatable
Reading ComprehensionActive ListeningCritical ThinkingComplex Problem SolvingOperations MonitoringEquipment MaintenanceJudgment and Decision MakingManagement of Financial ResourcesWritingSpeakingMathematicsScienceActive LearningLearning StrategiesMonitoringSocial PerceptivenessCoordinationPersuasionNegotiationInstructingService OrientationOperations AnalysisTechnology DesignEquipment SelectionInstallationProgrammingOperation and ControlTroubleshootingRepairingQuality Control AnalysisSystems AnalysisSystems EvaluationTime ManagementManagement of Material ResourcesManagement of Personnel Resources
Arm-Hand SteadinessAuditory AttentionCategory FlexibilityControl PrecisionDeductive ReasoningDepth PerceptionDynamic FlexibilityDynamic StrengthExplosive StrengthExtent FlexibilityFar VisionFinger DexterityFlexibility of ClosureFluency of IdeasGlare SensitivityGross Body CoordinationGross Body EquilibriumHearing SensitivityInductive ReasoningInformation OrderingManual DexterityMathematical ReasoningMemorizationMultilimb CoordinationNear VisionNight VisionNumber FacilityOral ComprehensionOral ExpressionOriginalityPerceptual SpeedPeripheral VisionProblem SensitivityRate ControlReaction TimeResponse OrientationSelective AttentionSound LocalizationSpatial OrientationSpeech ClaritySpeech RecognitionSpeed of ClosureSpeed of Limb MovementStaminaStatic StrengthTime SharingTrunk StrengthVisual Color DiscriminationVisualizationWrist-Finger SpeedWritten ComprehensionWritten Expression
Administration and ManagementAdministrativeEconomics and AccountingCustomer and Personal ServicePersonnel and Human ResourcesProduction and ProcessingFood ProductionComputers and ElectronicsEngineering and TechnologyDesignBuilding and ConstructionMechanicalMathematicsPhysicsChemistryBiologyPsychologySociology and AnthropologyHistory and ArcheologyPhilosophy and TheologyPublic Safety and SecurityLaw and GovernmentTelecommunicationsCommunications and MediaTransportationGeographyMedicine and DentistryForeign LanguageEnglish LanguageFine ArtsEducation and TrainingTherapy and CounselingSales and Marketing
Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or MaterialsMonitoring Processes, Materials, or SurroundingsEstimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or InformationGetting InformationIdentifying Objects, Actions, and EventsJudging the Qualities of Objects, Services, or PeopleProcessing InformationEvaluating Information to Determine Compliance with StandardsAnalyzing Data or InformationMaking Decisions and Solving ProblemsThinking CreativelyUpdating and Using Relevant KnowledgeHandling and Moving ObjectsControlling Machines and ProcessesOperating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or EquipmentWorking with ComputersRepairing and Maintaining Electronic EquipmentDocumenting/Recording InformationDrafting, Laying Out, and Specifying Technical Devices, Parts, and EquipmentInterpreting the Meaning of Information for OthersCommunicating with Supervisors, Peers, or SubordinatesCommunicating with People Outside the OrganizationEstablishing and Maintaining Interpersonal RelationshipsOrganizing, Planning, and Prioritizing WorkAssisting and Caring for OthersSelling or Influencing OthersRepairing and Maintaining Mechanical EquipmentResolving Conflicts and Negotiating with OthersPerforming for or Working Directly with the PublicCoordinating the Work and Activities of OthersDeveloping and Building TeamsTraining and Teaching OthersGuiding, Directing, and Motivating SubordinatesCoaching and Developing OthersProviding Consultation and Advice to OthersPerforming Administrative ActivitiesStaffing Organizational UnitsMonitoring and Controlling ResourcesDeveloping Objectives and StrategiesScheduling Work and ActivitiesPerforming General Physical Activities
Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders
Medium53.38%
Operate or tend food or tobacco roasting, baking, or drying equipment, including hearth ovens, kiln driers, roasters, char kilns, and vacuum drying equipment.
Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders
High69.97%
Operate or tend cooking equipment, such as steam cooking vats, deep fry cookers, pressure cookers, kettles, and boilers, to prepare food products.
Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
Medium38.52%
Set up, operate, or tend grinding and related tools that remove excess material or burrs from surfaces, sharpen edges or corners, or buff, hone, or polish metal or plastic work pieces.
Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders
Medium56.08%
Operate or tend furnaces, such as gas, oil, coal, electric-arc or electric induction, open-hearth, or oxygen furnaces, to melt and refine metal before casting or to produce specified types of steel.
Heat Treating Equipment Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
Medium50.59%
Set up, operate, or tend heating equipment, such as heat-treating furnaces, flame-hardening machines, induction machines, soaking pits, or vacuum equipment to temper, harden, anneal, or heat treat metal or plastic objects.
Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
Medium60.67%
Set up, operate, or tend plating machines to coat metal or plastic products with chromium, zinc, copper, cadmium, nickel, or other metal to protect or decorate surfaces. Typically, the product being coated is immersed in molten metal or an electrolytic solution.
Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers
Low31.21%
Operate or tend washing or dry-cleaning machines to wash or dry-clean industrial or household articles, such as cloth garments, suede, leather, furs, blankets, draperies, linens, rugs, and carpets. Includes spotters and dyers of these articles.
Textile Bleaching and Dyeing Machine Operators and Tenders
Medium56.98%
Operate or tend machines to bleach, shrink, wash, dye, or finish textiles or synthetic or glass fibers.
Chemical Plant and System Operators
Medium58.58%
Control or operate entire chemical processes or system of machines.
Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders
Medium53.74%
Operate or tend equipment to control chemical changes or reactions in the processing of industrial or consumer products. Equipment used includes devulcanizers, steam-jacketed kettles, and reactor vessels.
Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
Medium48.23%
Set up, operate, or tend continuous flow or vat-type equipment; filter presses; shaker screens; centrifuges; condenser tubes; precipitating, fermenting, or evaporating tanks; scrubbing towers; or batch stills. These machines extract, sort, or separate liquids, gases, or solids from other materials to recover a refined product. Includes dairy processing equipment operators.
Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
Medium57.80%
Set up, operate, or tend machines to crush, grind, or polish materials, such as coal, glass, grain, stone, food, or rubber.
Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
Medium59.40%
Set up, operate, or tend machines to mix or blend materials, such as chemicals, tobacco, liquids, color pigments, or explosive ingredients.
Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
Medium57.10%
Set up, operate, or tend machines, such as glass-forming machines, plodder machines, and tuber machines, to shape and form products such as glassware, food, rubber, soap, brick, tile, clay, wax, tobacco, or cosmetics.
Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders
Medium51.07%
Operate or tend heating equipment other than basic metal, plastic, or food processing equipment. Includes activities such as annealing glass, drying lumber, curing rubber, removing moisture from materials, or boiling soap.
Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders
Medium61.82%
Operate or tend machines to prepare industrial or consumer products for storage or shipment. Includes cannery workers who pack food products.
Adhesive Bonding Machine Operators and Tenders
Medium51.08%
Operate or tend bonding machines that use adhesives to join items for further processing or to form a completed product. Processes include joining veneer sheets into plywood; gluing paper; or joining rubber and rubberized fabric parts, plastic, simulated leather, or other materials.
Cooling and Freezing Equipment Operators and Tenders
Medium61.76%
Operate or tend equipment such as cooling and freezing units, refrigerators, batch freezers, and freezing tunnels, to cool or freeze products, food, blood plasma, and chemicals.
Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment
Medium33.55%
Wash or otherwise clean vehicles, machinery, and other equipment. Use such materials as water, cleaning agents, brushes, cloths, and hoses.
Machine Feeders and Offbearers
High66.68%
Feed materials into or remove materials from machines or equipment that is automatic or tended by other workers.
Dishwashers
Low20.96%
Clean dishes, kitchen, food preparation equipment, or utensils.
Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners
Low25.93%
Keep buildings in clean and orderly condition. Perform heavy cleaning duties, such as cleaning floors, shampooing rugs, washing walls and glass, and removing rubbish. Duties may include tending furnace and boiler, performing routine maintenance activities, notifying management of need for repairs, and cleaning snow or debris from sidewalk.
Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation
Low29.66%
Mix or apply pesticides, herbicides, fungicides, or insecticides through sprays, dusts, vapors, soil incorporation, or chemical application on trees, shrubs, lawns, or crops. Usually requires specific training and state or federal certification.
Graders and Sorters, Agricultural Products
High69.65%
Grade, sort, or classify unprocessed food and other agricultural products by size, weight, color, or condition.
Food Batchmakers
Medium63.36%
Set up and operate equipment that mixes or blends ingredients used in the manufacturing of food products. Includes candy makers and cheese makers.
Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators
Medium52.51%
Operate or control an entire process or system of machines, often through the use of control boards, to transfer or treat water or wastewater.
Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
Medium42.67%
Set up, operate, or tend spraying or rolling machines to coat or paint any of a wide variety of products, including glassware, cloth, ceramics, metal, plastic, paper, or wood, with lacquer, silver, copper, rubber, varnish, glaze, enamel, oil, or rust-proofing materials. Includes painters of transportation vehicles such as painters in auto body repair facilities.
Recycling and Reclamation Workers
Medium40.67%
Prepare and sort materials or products for recycling. Identify and remove hazardous substances. Dismantle components of products such as appliances.
Pump Operators, Except Wellhead Pumpers
Medium61.86%
Tend, control, or operate power-driven, stationary, or portable pumps and manifold systems to transfer gases, oil, other liquids, slurries, or powdered materials to and from various vessels and processes.