Supply Chain & ProductionStable

Cleaning, Washing, and Metal Pickling Equipment Operators and Tenders

Q: What does a Cleaning, Washing, and Metal Pickling Equipment Operators and Tenders 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.

Q: What is the salary of a Cleaning, Washing, and Metal Pickling Equipment Operators and Tenders?

The typical salary range is $29,021 - $58,043 per year.

Operational-level

Also known as: Acid Dipper, Agitator, Agricultural Produce Washer, Air Table Operator

Supply Chain & ProductionBachelor's Degree

Job Description

As a Cleaning, Washing, and Metal Pickling Equipment Operator, you run machines that clean a variety of products like barrels, glass, food items, plastic, and metal to remove dirt or impurities. This often includes operating equipment for 'pickling' metals, which uses chemicals to clean surfaces. You'll work as part of a team in environments that can be noisy, requiring you to wear safety gear like shoes, glasses, gloves, and hearing protection. This job suits those who are attentive, good communicators, problem-solvers, and enjoy working hands-on with machinery.

Industrial CleaningChemical ProcessingEquipment OperationProduction OperationsManufacturingSupply ChainProcess TechnologySkilled TradeProduction

A Day in the Life

You arrive at 6:45 AM, clock in at the time clock, and head to the locker room. You don your personal protective equipment: steel-toed boots, safety glasses, earplugs, and heavy-duty gloves. The constant hum of machinery is already present as you walk onto the factory floor. Your shift starts by checking the previous shift's logbook for any notes on the "Metal Brightener 5000" pickling line. You review the day’s production schedule displayed on the wall, noting the next batch of steel components.

Skills employers are looking for in 2027

Software and technologies flagged by O*NET as Hot or In-Demand for this role.

Hot technologies

Microsoft Excel Microsoft Word

Job Outlook 2025-2035

Projected growth

+3.4%

US average: +3.5%

Job openings

1,700

per year (US)

Jobs today

16,200

in 2025 → 16,800 (2035)

Typical entry education

High school diploma or equivalent

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections; O*NET Bright Outlook.

Work Environment

How this work is typically performed, based on O*NET work context data.

Email & digital communication

Low

Working in a team

High

Contact with others

High

Freedom to make decisions

Moderate

Time pressure

High

Time spent sitting

Low

Working outdoors

Moderate

Indoor, climate-controlled

Moderate

Dealing with customers

Low

Level of competition

Low

Source: O*NET Work Context (v31.0)

Future Perspective

Stable Job Market

This career is projected to remain stable, with about 1,700 openings each year through 2035. The median annual wage for this role is $43,530. With experience, you can advance into supervisory roles, or specialize in industrial maintenance or quality control.

Career ladder

Often before this role

Production Laborer
Assistant Machine Operator
General Maintenance Worker

Cleaning, Washing, and Metal Pickling Equipment Operators and Tenders

Where it can lead

Production Supervisor
Industrial Maintenance Technician
Quality Control Inspector

Impact of AI on this Job

In the next 5-10 years, AI will significantly automate cleaning, washing, and metal pickling processes, optimizing chemical usage and equipment settings for greater efficiency and safety. Operators will likely shift from direct tending to supervising AI-driven systems, managing data, and performing predictive maintenance. This transformation will demand a re-skilling of the workforce, focusing on advanced technical oversight rather than routine operational tasks.

Salary

$43,530

Median annual wage, BLS 2025

Required Education

Bachelor's Degree

Minimum educational requirement for this position