Career Overview
Set up and operate equipment that mixes or blends ingredients used in the manufacturing of food products. Includes candy makers and cheese makers.
Also Known As
- Batching Operator
- Blender
- Mixer
- Mixer Operator
Alternate Job Titles
- Almond Paste Mixer
- Back of House Team Member
- Batch Blender
- Batch Maker
- Batch Mixer
- Batcher
- Batching Operator
- Batter Mixer
- Biscuit Maker
- Blend Operator
- Blender
- Blender Operator
- Blending Machine Operator
- Blow Up Operator
- Bologna Maker
What You'll Do
In this role, your typical responsibilities include:
- Record production and test data for each food product batch, such as the ingredients used, temperature, test results, and time cycle.
- Clean and sterilize vats and factory processing areas.
- Set up, operate, and tend equipment that cooks, mixes, blends, or processes ingredients in the manufacturing of food products, according to formulas or recipes.
- Mix or blend ingredients, according to recipes, using a paddle or an agitator, or by controlling vats that heat and mix ingredients.
- Follow recipes to produce food products of specified flavor, texture, clarity, bouquet, or color.
- Give directions to other workers who are assisting in the batchmaking process.
- Select and measure or weigh ingredients, using English or metric measures and balance scales.
Knowledge You'll Use
You'll need solid knowledge in these areas:
- Public Safety and Security
- Food Production
- Production and Processing
- Education and Training
Key Abilities
This career requires key abilities in:
- Information Ordering
- Near Vision
- Oral Comprehension
- Problem Sensitivity
- Written Comprehension
- Control Precision
- Speech Recognition
- Auditory Attention
- Oral Expression
- Selective Attention
Work Style
People who excel in this career typically demonstrate:
- Dependability
- Attention to Detail
- Cautiousness
- Integrity
- Stress Tolerance
What Matters in This Career
This career tends to satisfy these work values:
- Support
- Relationships
- Working Conditions
- Achievement
- Independence
Education & Preparation
Typical Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
Related Work Experience Needed: Over 1 month, up to and including 3 months
On-the-Job Training: Over 1 month, up to and including 3 months
Education Details: Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
Experience Required: 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.
Technology You'll Use
Popular Technologies & Software
- Microsoft Office software
Tools & Equipment
- Agitators
- Balance scales
- Ball mills
- Beaters
- Candy cookers
- Candy stoves
- Centrifugal clarifiers
- Cheese cutters
- Cheese finishing tables
- Cheese presses
- Cheese vats
- Chocolate melters
- Commercial cream separators
- Commercial induction cookers
- Commercial use homogenizers
Work Environment
- Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Spend Time Standing
- Pace Determined by Speed of Equipment
- Importance of Being Exact or Accurate
Salary & Job Market
| Salary Percentile | Annual Wage |
|---|---|
| Entry-Level (10th percentile) | $30,850 |
| Median | $40,790 |
| Top Earners (90th percentile) | $57,800 |
Workers Employed Nationally: 171,660
Related Careers
If you're interested in this career, you might also consider:
Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders
Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
Median Salary: $40,550
Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders
Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
Median Salary: $42,730
Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
Median Salary: $47,680
Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
Median Salary: $49,500
Bakers
Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
Median Salary: $36,650
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Occupational data sourced from the O*NET OnLine database, developed by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration. Wage data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), 2024.

