All careers › Cleaning, Washing, and Metal Pickling Equipment Operators and Tenders
Cleaning, washing and metal pickling equipment operator: pay, outlook and how to get in
- $33,790lowest 10% earn less
- $37,31025th percentile
- $43,530median
- $49,32075th percentile
- $58,570top 10% earn more
Cleaning, Washing, and Metal Pickling Equipment Operators and Tenders had a median pay of $43,530 a year in May 2025[1]. BLS lists a high school diploma as the typical entry education and projects jobs to grow 3.4% from 2025 to 2035[2][3].
- Job growth, 2025–35
- +3.4%[3]
- Openings per year
- 1,700[6]
- Typical entry education
- High school diploma or equivalent[2]
How much do these equipment operators make?
The BLS category is Cleaning, Washing, and Metal Pickling Equipment Operators and Tenders. Workers report titles such as Sanitation Worker, Sanitation Technician and Parts Cleaner[7]. In May 2025, the median wage was $43,530 a year, or $20.93 an hour[1]. Half of workers earned more and half earned less[1]. The average was $44,600 a year, or $21.44 an hour[8].
The median for all occupations was $50,980 a year[5]. The median for this job was below that[1][5].
Here is the range across the pay scale:
| Point | Annual wage | Hourly wage |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile[4][9] | $33,790 | $16.25 |
| 25th percentile[4][9] | $37,310 | $17.94 |
| Median[1] | $43,530 | $20.93 |
| 75th percentile[4][9] | $49,320 | $23.71 |
| 90th percentile[4][9] | $58,570 | $28.16 |
A percentile is a boundary. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $33,790[4][10]. BLS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary[10].
These figures cover full-time and part-time workers paid a wage or salary. They leave out the self-employed, bonuses that are not tied to production, and the cost of benefits[11]. About 14,760 people held these wage and salary jobs[12].
Pay by state and city
Maine had the highest published state median, at $64,610, but it had only 40 jobs[13]. Wisconsin came next at $54,290 with 310 jobs, then Oregon at $49,130 with 70 jobs[13]. Idaho had the lowest published median, at $33,660[13]. Many states have small job counts, so single-state medians rest on few workers[13].
California had the most jobs, with 2,450[14]. Texas had 1,380, Ohio 1,010, Indiana 830 and Michigan 820[14].
Among metro areas with at least 100 jobs, Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA had the highest median at $56,100[15]. Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA followed at $53,400, then Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY at $48,930[15]. Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA had the most jobs, at 700, with a median of $45,060[16].
Show median pay in 39 states
| State | Median per year | Jobs |
|---|---|---|
| Maine[13] | $64,610 | 40 |
| Wisconsin | $54,290 | 310 |
| Oregon | $49,130 | 70 |
| North Dakota | $48,240 | 60 |
| Pennsylvania | $48,000 | 370 |
| New Hampshire | $47,510 | 120 |
| Iowa | $46,970 | 430 |
| New York | $46,290 | 710 |
| Nebraska | $45,690 | 400 |
| Washington | $45,600 | 180 |
| Ohio | $45,470 | 1,010 |
| Virginia | $45,330 | 140 |
| California | $45,150 | 2,450 |
| South Dakota | $44,770 | 60 |
| Michigan | $44,400 | 820 |
| Indiana | $43,820 | 830 |
| Illinois | $43,740 | 70 |
| New Jersey | $43,600 | 590 |
| Massachusetts | $43,210 | 380 |
| Minnesota | $42,600 | 70 |
| Tennessee | $41,110 | 120 |
| Oklahoma | $40,950 | 450 |
| Missouri | $40,510 | 200 |
| Utah | $39,970 | 120 |
| South Carolina | $39,240 | 320 |
| Connecticut | $39,140 | 170 |
| Georgia | $38,430 | 600 |
| Kansas | $38,340 | 50 |
| North Carolina | $38,340 | 260 |
| Arizona | $37,900 | 370 |
| Arkansas | $37,490 | 90 |
| Texas | $37,040 | 1,380 |
| Florida | $36,830 | 170 |
| Nevada | $36,490 | 110 |
| Kentucky | $35,850 | 310 |
| New Mexico | $35,600 | 60 |
| Alabama | $35,090 | 140 |
| Mississippi | $34,280 | 90 |
| Idaho | $33,660 | n/a |
How to get into this job
BLS lists a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical education for entry. It lists no work experience and moderate-term on-the-job training[2].
- First: finish high school or an equivalent[2].
- Next: expect to learn the job at work. The training listed is moderate-term, and our facts do not say how long that lasts[2].
O*NET places the job in a group that needs very little to some preparation. Some occupations in that group need little or no experience, while others ask for several months to a year[17].
What these operators do
These workers run or tend machines that wash or clean products to remove impurities. Products include barrels, glass items, tin plate, food, pulp, coal, plastic and rubber[18]. Tasks reported to O*NET include:
- Adding set amounts of chemicals to equipment on schedule to keep solutions at the right level[19].
- Watching machines, gauges and thermometers and adjusting controls to hold set conditions[19].
- Setting temperature and cycle length, and starting conveyors, pumps and agitators[19].
- Draining, cleaning and refilling machines or tanks at set intervals[19].
- Writing gauge readings, materials used and processing times in production logs[19].
- Checking machines for malfunctions[19].
- Taking samples or testing solutions for qualities such as acidity[19].
- Cleaning and oiling machine parts with hand tools and grease guns[19].
Job outlook
BLS projects employment to grow 3.4% from 2025 to 2035, from about 16,200 to 16,800 jobs[3]. Employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5%[20]. These counts include self-employed workers[3]. In 2025, 6.2% of these workers were self-employed[21].
BLS expects about 1,700 openings a year on average[6]. Openings include jobs left open when workers retire or switch to other occupations, as well as new jobs[6]. Each year, 3.5% of workers leave the labor force and 6.3% move to a different occupation[22].
Is it a good fit?
The median pay was below the all-occupations median, though the 90th percentile reached $58,570[1][5][4]. The typical entry education is a high school diploma, with moderate-term training on the job[2]. Growth is close to the rate for all occupations, on a small base of jobs[3][20][12]. The tasks center on running machines, watching gauges and keeping logs[19].
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a sanitation worker in this field make an hour?
- The median hourly wage for Cleaning, Washing, and Metal Pickling Equipment Operators and Tenders was $20.93 in May 2025[1]. The 10th percentile was $16.25 and the 90th was $28.16[9].
- What education do you need for this job?
- BLS lists a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry education, with no work experience[2].
Facts and sources
- BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Cleaning, Washing, and Metal Pickling Equipment Operators and Tenders in the US was $43,530 per year and $20.93 per hour. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS Employment Projections, typical path into Cleaning, Washing, and Metal Pickling Equipment Operators and Tenders: education needed for entry: High school diploma or equivalent; work experience in a related occupation: None; typical on-the-job training: Moderate-term on-the-job training. BLS Employment Projections
- BLS Employment Projections: employment of Cleaning, Washing, and Metal Pickling Equipment Operators and Tenders is projected to grow 3.4% from 2025 to 2035, from about 16,200 to 16,800 jobs (a change of +500). These counts include self-employed workers. BLS Employment Projections
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Cleaning, Washing, and Metal Pickling Equipment Operators and Tenders: 10th percentile $33,790, 25th percentile $37,310, 75th percentile $49,320, 90th percentile $58,570. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in the US was $50,980. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS Employment Projections: about 1,700 openings for Cleaning, Washing, and Metal Pickling Equipment Operators and Tenders are projected each year, on average, from 2025 to 2035. Openings include jobs that open when workers retire or move to other occupations, not only new jobs. BLS Employment Projections
- O*NET 51-9192.00 sample job titles reported by workers: Anodizer, Clean in Places Operator (CIP Operator), Filler Operator, Parts Cleaner, Sanitation Technician, Sanitation Worker, Sanitizer, Tub Wash Operator. O*NET OnLine
- BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Cleaning, Washing, and Metal Pickling Equipment Operators and Tenders was $44,600 per year and $21.44 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Cleaning, Washing, and Metal Pickling Equipment Operators and Tenders: 10th percentile $16.25, 25th percentile $17.94, 75th percentile $23.71, 90th percentile $28.16. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS FAQ: a percentile wage is a boundary. The median (50th percentile) separates the highest-paid 50% from the lowest-paid 50% of workers in the occupation. OEWS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS FAQ: OEWS covers part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. It does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers or unpaid family workers. OEWS wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 14,760 people were employed as Cleaning, Washing, and Metal Pickling Equipment Operators and Tenders in the US (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Median annual wage for Cleaning, Washing, and Metal Pickling Equipment Operators and Tenders in every state with published data, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, states with the most Cleaning, Washing, and Metal Pickling Equipment Operators and Tenders jobs: California 2,450; Texas 1,380; Ohio 1,010; Indiana 830; Michigan 820. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the highest median annual wage for Cleaning, Washing, and Metal Pickling Equipment Operators and Tenders (areas with at least 100 jobs): Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA $56,100; Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA $53,400; Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY $48,930; Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD $47,570; Gainesville, GA $47,110; San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $46,390; Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN $46,130; Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI $45,980. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the most Cleaning, Washing, and Metal Pickling Equipment Operators and Tenders jobs: Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 700 (median $45,060); New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ 640 (median $41,850); Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX 350 (median $41,270); Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX 350 (median $37,670); Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ 320 (median $37,500); Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA 240 (median $35,740). BLS OEWS, May 2025
- O*NET 51-9192.00: Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed. Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training. O*NET OnLine
- O*NET description of Cleaning, Washing, and Metal Pickling Equipment Operators and Tenders. O*NET OnLine
- O*NET task list for Cleaning, Washing, and Metal Pickling Equipment Operators and Tenders. O*NET OnLine
- BLS Employment Projections: employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035. BLS Employment Projections
- BLS Employment Projections: 6.2% of Cleaning, Washing, and Metal Pickling Equipment Operators and Tenders were self-employed in 2025. BLS Employment Projections
- BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 annual average for Cleaning, Washing, and Metal Pickling Equipment Operators and Tenders: 3.5% of workers leave the labor force each year and 6.3% move to a different occupation. BLS Employment Projections
- Related occupations (O*NET) with BLS pay, growth and entry education. O*NET OnLine
This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerFacts has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.