Production
Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
Also called: Batchmaker, Blender, Blending Technician (Blending Tech), Ink Blender
US median pay
$48,990
per year, 2025
Job growth 2025–35
-6.1%
declining
Openings a year (US)
7,900
97,300 employed
Typical entry education
High school diploma or equivalent
Preparation 2/5 · Some preparation
What this job is
Set up, operate, or tend machines to mix or blend materials, such as chemicals, tobacco, liquids, color pigments, or explosive ingredients.
What they do day to day
- Weigh or measure materials, ingredients, or products to ensure conformance to requirements.
- Read work orders to determine production specifications or information.
- Observe production or monitor equipment to ensure safe and efficient operation.
- Mix or blend ingredients by starting machines and mixing for specified times.
- Stop mixing or blending machines when specified product qualities are obtained and open valves and start pumps to transfer mixtures.
- Compound or process ingredients or dyes, according to formulas.
- Examine materials, ingredients, or products visually or with hands to ensure conformance to established standards.
- Operate or tend machines to mix or blend any of a wide variety of materials, such as spices, dough batter, tobacco, fruit juices, chemicals, livestock feed, food products, color pigments, or explosive ingredients.
- Dump or pour specified amounts of materials into machinery or equipment.
- Record operational or production data on specified forms.
Skills and knowledge that matter most
Skills
- Operations Monitoring3.6/5
- Operation and Control3.6/5
- Troubleshooting3.1/5
- Time Management3.1/5
- Repairing3.1/5
- Quality Control Analysis3.1/5
- Equipment Maintenance3.1/5
- Judgment and Decision Making3.0/5
Knowledge
- Production and Processing4.3/5
- English Language3.0/5
- Mechanical2.8/5
- Public Safety and Security2.7/5
- Mathematics2.6/5
- Chemistry2.6/5
Importance rated by people working in the job (1 = not important, 5 = extremely important).
Education and preparation
Preparation level 2 of 5 — Some preparation. Usually a high school diploma; some previous work experience or training helps.
Typical entry education (BLS): High school diploma or equivalent.
Highest education of people in this job:
- High school diploma80%
- Post-secondary certificate12%
Who this job suits
Mostly Realistic
Hands-on work with tools, machines, plants or animals
Conventional
Organising data, details and procedures
Based on the Holland (RIASEC) interest profile for this occupation.