Biofuels Processing Technicians earn a median of $62,470 per year ($30.03/hr) (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Employment is projected to grow 2.3% through 2035, with about 1,200 openings a year (BLS EP, 2025–2035). Typical entry-level education: High school diploma or equivalent.
- SOC 51-8099
- Production
- Last updated October 9, 2026
At a glance
Biofuels Processing Technician in four numbers
- Median pay
- $62,470a year, or $30.03/hrBLS OEWS, May 2025Lowest 10% $41KTop 10% $95K
US median, all jobs: $50,980
- Projected growth
- +2.3%Slower than averageBLS EP, 2025–2035This career+2.3%All jobs+3.5%
Projected employment change, 2025–2035 Item Value This career +2.3% All jobs +3.5% - Openings a year
- 1,20014,300 jobs todayBLS EP, 2025–2035
- Jobs in 202514.3K
- Projected 203514.6K
Employment, 2025–2035 Item Value Jobs in 2025 14.3K Projected 2035 14.6K - Typical education
- High schoolneeded to enterBLS EP, 2025–2035; mix: O*NET
- Less than high school1.9%
- High school71.2%
- Certificate18.1%
- Some college3.2%
- Associate's5.7%
Highest education held by biofuels processing technicians Segment Value Less than high school 1.9% High school 71.2% Certificate 18.1% Some college 3.2% Associate's 5.7%
Also advertised as: Biofuels Processing Technician, Board Operator, Chemical Operator, Ethanol Operator, Mash Preparatory Operator, Process Operator.
Pay
How much do Biofuels Processing Technicians make?
Every biofuels processing technician in the US, by percentile of annual wage
Median
$62,470
Middle half earn $48,900 to $78,480
- 10th
- $40,700
- 25th
- $48,900
- 75th
- $78,480
- 90th
- $94,560
All US occupations: $50,980
| Percentile | Value |
|---|---|
| 10th | $40,700 |
| 25th | $48,900 |
| Median | $62,470 |
| 75th | $78,480 |
| 90th | $94,560 |
| All US occupations | $50,980 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Median annual wage
- $62,470
- Median hourly wage
- $30.03/hr
- Mean annual wage
- $65,700
- People employed
- 14,080
Versus all US occupations
At $62,470, Biofuels Processing Technicians earn 23% above the $50,980 median across all US occupations, a difference of $11,490 a year.
Versus production occupations
Inside the Production group, where the middle occupation pays $48,030, this is 30% above the group median.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $94,560 or more while the bottom 10% earn $40,700, a gap of 2.3×. That is a typical spread for a US occupation.
Rank in the bank
This median pays more than 36% of the 1,741 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Highest-paying state
Massachusetts pays the most at $120,660, and still leads at $114,092 once local prices are taken into account.
Pay by state
Which states pay Biofuels Processing Technicians the most?
State medians come from the same OEWS release as the national figures. The cost-of-living column divides each state median by that state's BEA Regional Price Parity, restating pay in national-average dollars so a high-cost state and a low-cost one can be compared directly.
| State | Median | COL-adjusted | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1Massachusetts | $120,660 | $114,092 | 40 |
| 2Washington | $88,730 | $82,915 | 190 |
| 3Minnesota | $88,290 | $89,525 | 200 |
| 4Maryland | $81,890 | $78,021 | 270 |
| 5Montana | $81,340 | $85,942 | 170 |
| 6Nevada | $80,000 | $80,017 | 150 |
| 7California | $78,020 | $70,466 | 1,560 |
| 8Illinois | $77,780 | $77,813 | 230 |
| 9Iowa | $75,800 | $86,370 | 50 |
| 10New York | $74,700 | $69,217 | 310 |
Job outlook
Is Biofuels Processing Technician a growing career?
Employment change over 2025–2035, against every US occupation
Slower than average. +2.3% projected growth vs 3.5% for all occupations.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Biofuels Processing Technicians | +2.3% |
| All US occupations | +3.5% |
Source: BLS EP, 2025–2035
Slower than average
BLS projects employment of Biofuels Processing Technicians to change 2.3% over 2025–2035, against 3.5% projected for all occupations. That is 300 more jobs.
Annual openings
About 1,200 openings are projected each year, 8.4% of the 14,300 jobs that existed in 2025. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
Getting in
How to become a Biofuels Processing Technician
- 1
Typical entry-level education
High school diploma or equivalent
- 2
Work experience in a related occupation
None
- 3
Typical on-the-job training
Moderate-term on-the-job training
- 4
Preparation needed (O*NET job zone)
Little or no preparation
BLS Employment Projections, 2025–2035; job zone from O*NET 31.0 Database.
What education people in the job have
O*NET incumbent survey: the highest level of education reported by people already working as biofuels processing technicians.
- High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)71.2%
- Post-Secondary Certificate18.1%
- Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree5.7%
- Some College Courses3.2%
- Less than a High School Diploma1.9%
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) | 71.2% |
| Post-Secondary Certificate | 18.1% |
| Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree | 5.7% |
| Some College Courses | 3.2% |
| Less than a High School Diploma | 1.9% |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
The work
What does a Biofuels Processing Technician do?
Calculate, measure, load, mix, and process refined feedstock with additives in fermentation or reaction process vessels and monitor production process. Perform, and keep records of, plant maintenance, repairs, and safety inspections.
Day-to-day tasks
- Operate valves, pumps, engines, or generators to control and adjust biofuels production.
- Clean biofuels processing work area, ensuring compliance with safety regulations.
- Inspect biofuels plant or processing equipment regularly, recording or reporting damage and mechanical problems.
- Monitor and record biofuels processing data.
- Collect biofuels samples and perform routine laboratory tests or analyses to assess biofuels quality.
- Monitor stored biofuels products or secondary by-products until reused or transferred to users.
- Monitor batch, continuous flow, or hybrid biofuels production processes.
- Monitor and record flow meter performance.
O*NET core tasks, ordered by reported importance.
Working conditions and hours
Where the work happens
Indoors, climate-controlled
NeverEvery dayIndoors, in a climate-controlled space, every day.
Outdoors in all weather
NeverEvery dayOutdoors in all weather at least weekly.
Physical demands
Sitting
NeverAlmost all the timeStanding
NeverAlmost all the timeBending or twisting
NeverAlmost all the time
Working with people
Contact with other people
NoneConstantConstant contact with other people.
Face-to-face discussions
NeverEvery dayFace-to-face discussions every day.
Dealing with the public
Not importantExtremely important
Pressure and stakes
Strict deadlines
NeverEvery dayConflict situations
NeverEvery dayCost of a mistake
Not seriousExtremely seriousMistakes carry very serious consequences.
Autonomy
Freedom to decide
NoneA lotA lot of freedom to make decisions without checking first.
Conditions: O*NET Work Context survey. Each item has its own scale, so each dot is read against the two answers that end its own line.
Core skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Reading Comprehension3.5
- Monitoring3.4
- Active Listening3.3
- Speaking3.3
- Writing3.1
- Critical Thinking3.1
- Mathematics2.9
- Science2.9
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Reading Comprehension | 3.5 |
| Monitoring | 3.4 |
| Active Listening | 3.3 |
| Speaking | 3.3 |
| Writing | 3.1 |
| Critical Thinking | 3.1 |
| Mathematics | 2.9 |
| Science | 2.9 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Transferable skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Operations Monitoring3.9
- Operation and Control3.8
- Quality Control Analysis3.4
- Equipment Maintenance3.3
- Social Perceptiveness3.1
- Coordination3.1
- Instructing3.0
- Service Orientation3.0
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Operations Monitoring | 3.9 |
| Operation and Control | 3.8 |
| Quality Control Analysis | 3.4 |
| Equipment Maintenance | 3.3 |
| Social Perceptiveness | 3.1 |
| Coordination | 3.1 |
| Instructing | 3.0 |
| Service Orientation | 3.0 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Tools and software
- Analytical or scientific software · in demand
- Business intelligence and data analysis software · in demand
- Object or component oriented development software · in demand
- Spreadsheet software · in demand
- Word processing software · in demand
- Facilities management software
- Industrial control software
- Inventory management software
“In demand” marks an O*NET Employer-Based Hot Technology, software named in real job postings for this occupation.
Personality fit
What personality type suits a Biofuels Processing Technician?
O*NET Occupational Interests (RIASEC), scored 1 to 7
| Axis | Biofuels Processing Technician |
|---|---|
| Realistic | 6 |
| Investigative | 3 |
| Artistic | 1 |
| Social | 1 |
| Enterprising | 2 |
| Conventional | 5 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
What the work is built around
Day to day this is work built around hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors, combined with organising, following procedures and working precisely with data.
- Realistic5.9
- Conventional5.3
- Investigative3.3
- Enterprising2.1
- Artistic1.0
- Social1.0
Closest MBTI types
NueCareer fit scores: cosine similarity between each MBTI type's interest vector and this occupation's O*NET interest profile. Not a BLS or O*NET figure; the method is documented on our methodology page.
Explore further
Careers related to Biofuels Processing Technician
O*NET related occupations
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Most earn $57K to $116K
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$60,020median a year
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More production careers
Median annual pay, with biofuels processing technicians highlighted
- Power Plant Operator$102,040
- Tool and Die Maker$64,050
- Biofuels Processing Technician$62,470
- Machinist$58,750
- Welder$53,750
- Structural Metal Fabricator and Fitter$51,330
- Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operator$50,690
- Butcher and Meat Cutter$40,140
- Baker$37,160
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Power Plant Operator | $102,040 |
| Tool and Die Maker | $64,050 |
| Biofuels Processing Technician | $62,470 |
| Machinist | $58,750 |
| Welder | $53,750 |
| Structural Metal Fabricator and Fitter | $51,330 |
| Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operator | $50,690 |
| Butcher and Meat Cutter | $40,140 |
| Baker | $37,160 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
Lists Biofuels Processing Technician appears on
Questions
Biofuels Processing Technician: frequently asked questions
How much do Biofuels Processing Technicians make?
Biofuels Processing Technicians earn a median of $62,470 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025), 23% above the $50,980 US median across all occupations. That works out at $30.03/hr. The middle half earn between $48,900 and $78,480. The top 10% earn $94,560 or more.
Do you need a degree to become a Biofuels Processing Technician?
No. A bachelor's degree is not the norm: BLS reports a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry-level education for Biofuels Processing Technicians. BLS also lists moderate-term on-the-job training as typical on-the-job training. In O*NET's survey of people already doing the job, 71.2% hold high school diploma or the equivalent (such as a ged).
Is Biofuels Processing Technician a growing career?
It is growing, but slowly: 2.3% over 2025–2035 against 3.5% for all occupations (BLS EP, 2025–2035). BLS still projects about 1,200 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does a Biofuels Processing Technician do?
Calculate, measure, load, mix, and process refined feedstock with additives in fermentation or reaction process vessels and monitor production process. A core O*NET task: operate valves, pumps, engines, or generators to control and adjust biofuels production. Employers most often ask for Analytical or scientific software, Business intelligence and data analysis software, Object or component oriented development software.
Which states pay Biofuels Processing Technicians the most?
The highest state medians for Biofuels Processing Technicians are Massachusetts ($120,660), Washington ($88,730), Minnesota ($88,290) (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
What personality type suits a Biofuels Processing Technician?
O*NET scores Biofuels Processing Technicians highest on the Realistic, Conventional and Investigative interest areas, so the work mixes hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors with organising, following procedures and working precisely with data. On NueCareer's MBTI-to-interest mapping that lines up most closely with ISTJ personalities. Personality is a fit signal, not a gate. The free NueCareer quiz scores your own profile against all 1,731 careers in the bank.