Cleaning, Washing, and Metal Pickling Equipment Operators and Tenders
Production
Washing and pickling machines take impurities off barrels, kegs, glass, tin plate, food, pulp, coal, plastic, rubber, and other goods. Chemicals are measured and mixed with tanks, calibrated rods, or suction tubes, then added at set times; tanks are drained, cleaned, and refilled on a schedule. Temperature and cycle length are set from gauges and thermometers, then conveyors, pumps, and agitators are started. Gauge readings, materials used, processing times, and test results go into production logs, and machines are inspected for faults. The work fits people who like mixing solutions to a specified formula, watching process conditions, and keeping timed records.
Typical education: High School Diploma or GED
Annual Median Wage in Field (2025)
$43'530
Median Wage Market Position
$43'530
What you might do
- Wash barrels, glass, tin plate, or other goods
- Add chemicals to keep bath strength on target
- Set temperature and cycle length, then start machines
- Drain, clean, and refill tanks at set intervals
- Read gauges and tweak heat and flow as needed
- Record readings, chemicals used, and test results
Skills that matter
- Setting wash cycles and tank temperatures
- Chemical doses at the scheduled times
- Spotting wash-machine faults by inspection
- Production-log entries for readings and tests
- Solution mixes to the written formula
- Hearing spoken batch and tank instructions
AI & the future of this role
Wash and pickle lines already rely on automated cycles, so process software may further cut routine monitoring. Loading, chemistry checks, and keeping equipment running still involve hands-on work, which can cushion the role even as some tending tasks get lighter.
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Includes O*NET® 30.3 Database information by USDOL/ETA under CC BY 4.0; modified by LostInCareer. Wage/outlook from BLS. Attribution details