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Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
Runs the equipment that makes chemicals, fuels and other products in big plants and pipelines.
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Operators watch control screens and walk the plant, checking gauges, valves, pumps, tanks and mixers. They take samples, adjust temperatures and flows, and shut things down safely when something goes wrong. The group includes chemical and gas plant operators, refinery and biofuels workers, pump and compressor station operators, and people who run separating and filtering machines. Plants run day and night, so many operators work rotating shifts.
Open the chemical plant operator guide
The guide checks the courses against your plan, with things to try each year. Free account needed.
High school courses that build toward it
- Pre-Algebra · Math
Builds math, which this job uses.
- Food Science · Career and Technical
Builds how things are made, which this job uses.
- Chemistry · Science
Builds chemistry, which this job uses.
- Computer Science Principles · Computer Science
Builds computers and electronics, which this job uses.
- English 10 · English
Builds reading and writing, which this job uses.
- Physical Education · Health and PE
Builds teaching and training, which this job uses.
Ranked by how much the job relies on what each course teaches, from O*NET's knowledge ratings. Your school's own courses and the counselor have the final word.
Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders on O*NET OnLine · O*NET 31.0 (U.S. Department of Labor, CC BY 4.0); BLS Employment Projections 2025.