Cleaning, Washing, and Metal Pickling Equipment Operators and Tenders earn a median of $43,530 per year ($20.93/hr) (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Employment is projected to grow 3.4% through 2035, with about 1,700 openings a year (BLS EP, 2025–2035). Typical entry-level education: High school diploma or equivalent.
- SOC 51-9192
- Production
- Last updated October 9, 2026
At a glance
Cleaning, Washing, and Metal Pickling Equipment Operator and Tender in four numbers
- Median pay
- $43,530a year, or $20.93/hrBLS OEWS, May 2025Lowest 10% $34KTop 10% $59K
US median, all jobs: $50,980
- Projected growth
- +3.4%About as fast as averageBLS EP, 2025–2035This career+3.4%All jobs+3.5%
Projected employment change, 2025–2035 Item Value This career +3.4% All jobs +3.5% - Openings a year
- 1,70016,200 jobs todayBLS EP, 2025–2035
- Jobs in 202516.2K
- Projected 203516.8K
Employment, 2025–2035 Item Value Jobs in 2025 16.2K Projected 2035 16.8K - Typical education
- High schoolneeded to enterBLS EP, 2025–2035; mix: O*NET
- Less than high school31.7%
- High school59.8%
- Certificate0.7%
- Some college3.9%
- Associate's3.9%
Highest education held by cleaning, washing, and metal pickling equipment operators and tenders Segment Value Less than high school 31.7% High school 59.8% Certificate 0.7% Some college 3.9% Associate's 3.9%
Also advertised as: Anodizer, Clean in Places Operator (CIP Operator), Filler Operator, Parts Cleaner, Sanitation Technician, Sanitation Worker.
Pay
How much do Cleaning, Washing, and Metal Pickling Equipment Operators and Tenders make?
Every cleaning, washing, and metal pickling equipment operator and tender in the US, by percentile of annual wage
Median
$43,530
Middle half earn $37,310 to $49,320
- 10th
- $33,790
- 25th
- $37,310
- 75th
- $49,320
- 90th
- $58,570
All US occupations: $50,980
| Percentile | Value |
|---|---|
| 10th | $33,790 |
| 25th | $37,310 |
| Median | $43,530 |
| 75th | $49,320 |
| 90th | $58,570 |
| All US occupations | $50,980 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Median annual wage
- $43,530
- Median hourly wage
- $20.93/hr
- Mean annual wage
- $44,600
- People employed
- 14,760
Versus all US occupations
At $43,530, Cleaning, Washing, and Metal Pickling Equipment Operators and Tenders earn 15% below the $50,980 median across all US occupations, a difference of $7,450 a year.
Versus production occupations
Inside the Production group, where the middle occupation pays $48,030, this is 9% below the group median.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $58,570 or more while the bottom 10% earn $33,790, a gap of 1.7×. That is a narrow spread, so experience and employer move pay less than in most occupations.
Rank in the bank
This median pays more than 10% of the 1,741 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Highest-paying state
Maine pays the most at $64,610, and still leads at $66,574 once local prices are taken into account.
Pay by state
Which states pay Cleaning, Washing, and Metal Pickling Equipment Operators and Tenders 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1Maine | $64,610 | $66,574 | 40 |
| 2Wisconsin | $54,290 | $57,697 | 310 |
| 3Oregon | $49,130 | $47,532 | 70 |
| 4North Dakota | $48,240 | $54,227 | 60 |
| 5Pennsylvania | $48,000 | $49,194 | 370 |
| 6New Hampshire | $47,510 | $45,610 | 120 |
| 7Iowa | $46,970 | $53,520 | 430 |
| 8New York | $46,290 | $42,892 | 710 |
| 9Nebraska | $45,690 | $50,709 | 400 |
| 10Washington | $45,600 | $42,612 | 180 |
Job outlook
Is Cleaning, Washing, and Metal Pickling Equipment Operator and Tender a growing career?
Employment change over 2025–2035, against every US occupation
About as fast as average. +3.4% projected growth vs 3.5% for all occupations.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Cleaning, Washing, and Metal Pickling Equipment Operators and Tenders | +3.4% |
| All US occupations | +3.5% |
Source: BLS EP, 2025–2035
About as fast as average
BLS projects employment of Cleaning, Washing, and Metal Pickling Equipment Operators and Tenders to change 3.4% over 2025–2035, against 3.5% projected for all occupations. That is 500 more jobs.
Annual openings
About 1,700 openings are projected each year, 10.5% of the 16,200 jobs that existed in 2025. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
Getting in
How to become a Cleaning, Washing, and Metal Pickling Equipment Operator and Tender
- 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 cleaning, washing, and metal pickling equipment operators and tenders.
- High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)59.8%
- Less than a High School Diploma31.7%
- Some College Courses3.9%
- Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree3.9%
- Post-Secondary Certificate0.7%
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) | 59.8% |
| Less than a High School Diploma | 31.7% |
| Some College Courses | 3.9% |
| Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree | 3.9% |
| Post-Secondary Certificate | 0.7% |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
The work
What does a Cleaning, Washing, and Metal Pickling Equipment Operator and Tender do?
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.
Day-to-day tasks
- Drain, clean, and refill machines or tanks at designated intervals, using cleaning solutions or water.
- Examine and inspect machines to detect malfunctions.
- Set controls to regulate temperature and length of cycles, and start conveyors, pumps, agitators, and machines.
- Record gauge readings, materials used, processing times, or test results in production logs.
- Observe machine operations, gauges, or thermometers, and adjust controls to maintain specified conditions.
- Add specified amounts of chemicals to equipment at required times to maintain solution levels and concentrations.
- Measure, weigh, or mix cleaning solutions, using measuring tanks, calibrated rods or suction tubes.
- 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.
O*NET core tasks, ordered by reported importance.
Working conditions and hours
Where the work happens
Indoors, climate-controlled
NeverEvery dayOutdoors in all weather
NeverEvery day
Physical demands
Sitting
NeverAlmost all the timeStanding
NeverAlmost all the timeOn their feet more than half the working day.
Bending or twisting
NeverAlmost all the time
Working with people
Contact with other people
NoneConstantFace-to-face discussions
NeverEvery dayDealing with the public
Not importantExtremely importantLittle or no dealing with customers or the public.
Pressure and stakes
Strict deadlines
NeverEvery dayMeeting strict deadlines at least weekly.
Conflict situations
NeverEvery dayCost of a mistake
Not seriousExtremely serious
Autonomy
Freedom to decide
NoneA lot
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
- Active Listening2.9
- Speaking2.9
- Critical Thinking2.9
- Monitoring2.9
- Reading Comprehension2.8
- Writing2.3
- Learning Strategies2.3
- Active Learning2.1
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Active Listening | 2.9 |
| Speaking | 2.9 |
| Critical Thinking | 2.9 |
| Monitoring | 2.9 |
| Reading Comprehension | 2.8 |
| Writing | 2.3 |
| Learning Strategies | 2.3 |
| Active Learning | 2.1 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Transferable skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Operation and Control3.3
- Operations Monitoring3.1
- Time Management2.9
- Social Perceptiveness2.8
- Coordination2.8
- Judgment and Decision Making2.6
- Complex Problem Solving2.5
- Quality Control Analysis2.5
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Operation and Control | 3.3 |
| Operations Monitoring | 3.1 |
| Time Management | 2.9 |
| Social Perceptiveness | 2.8 |
| Coordination | 2.8 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 2.6 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 2.5 |
| Quality Control Analysis | 2.5 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Tools and software
- Spreadsheet software · in demand
- Word processing software · in demand
“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 Cleaning, Washing, and Metal Pickling Equipment Operator and Tender?
O*NET Occupational Interests (RIASEC), scored 1 to 7
| Axis | Cleaning, Washing, and Metal Pickling Equipment Operator and Tender |
|---|---|
| Realistic | 7 |
| Investigative | 2 |
| Artistic | 1 |
| Social | 1 |
| Enterprising | 1 |
| Conventional | 4 |
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.
- Realistic7.0
- Conventional4.4
- Investigative1.7
- Artistic1.0
- Social1.0
- Enterprising1.0
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 Cleaning, Washing, and Metal Pickling Equipment Operator and Tender
O*NET related occupations
- Production
Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setter, Operator, and Tender
$51,610median a year
Most earn $36K to $80K
−5.7%High school - Production
Mixing and Blending Machine Setter, Operator, and Tender
$48,990median a year
Most earn $37K to $70K
−6.1%High school - Production
Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operator and Tender
$48,040median a year
Most earn $36K to $70K
+2.6%High school - Production
Textile Bleaching and Dyeing Machine Operator and Tender
$38,180median a year
Most earn $30K to $48K
−12.5%High school - Production
- Transportation and Material Moving
Cleaner of Vehicles and Equipment
$35,830median a year
Most earn $27K to $48K
+3.9%No formal credential
More production careers
Median annual pay, with cleaning, washing, and metal pickling equipment operators and tenders highlighted
- Power Plant Operator$102,040
- Tool and Die Maker$64,050
- Machinist$58,750
- Welder$53,750
- Structural Metal Fabricator and Fitter$51,330
- Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operator$50,690
- Cleaning, Washing, and Metal Pickling Equipment Operator and Tender$43,530
- Butcher and Meat Cutter$40,140
- Baker$37,160
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Power Plant Operator | $102,040 |
| Tool and Die Maker | $64,050 |
| Machinist | $58,750 |
| Welder | $53,750 |
| Structural Metal Fabricator and Fitter | $51,330 |
| Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operator | $50,690 |
| Cleaning, Washing, and Metal Pickling Equipment Operator and Tender | $43,530 |
| Butcher and Meat Cutter | $40,140 |
| Baker | $37,160 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
Lists Cleaning, Washing, and Metal Pickling Equipment Operator and Tender appears on
Questions
Cleaning, Washing, and Metal Pickling Equipment Operator and Tender: frequently asked questions
How much do Cleaning, Washing, and Metal Pickling Equipment Operators and Tenders make?
Cleaning, Washing, and Metal Pickling Equipment Operators and Tenders earn a median of $43,530 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025), 15% below the $50,980 median for all US occupations. That works out at $20.93/hr. The middle half earn between $37,310 and $49,320. The top 10% earn $58,570 or more.
Do you need a degree to become a Cleaning, Washing, and Metal Pickling Equipment Operator and Tender?
No. A bachelor's degree is not the norm: BLS reports a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry-level education for Cleaning, Washing, and Metal Pickling Equipment Operators and Tenders. 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, 59.8% hold high school diploma or the equivalent (such as a ged).
Is Cleaning, Washing, and Metal Pickling Equipment Operator and Tender a growing career?
It is stable rather than fast-growing: employment is projected to change 3.4% over 2025–2035, about the same as the 3.5% projected across all occupations (BLS EP, 2025–2035). BLS still projects about 1,700 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does a Cleaning, Washing, and Metal Pickling Equipment Operator and Tender do?
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. A core O*NET task: drain, clean, and refill machines or tanks at designated intervals, using cleaning solutions or water. Employers most often ask for Spreadsheet software, Word processing software.
Which states pay Cleaning, Washing, and Metal Pickling Equipment Operators and Tenders the most?
The highest state medians for Cleaning, Washing, and Metal Pickling Equipment Operators and Tenders are Maine ($64,610), Wisconsin ($54,290), Oregon ($49,130) (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
What personality type suits a Cleaning, Washing, and Metal Pickling Equipment Operator and Tender?
O*NET scores Cleaning, Washing, and Metal Pickling Equipment Operators and Tenders highest on the Realistic and Conventional 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.