How much does a mixing operator make?
Answer: A typical mixing operator in the United States makes $48,990 a year (median, May 2025, US Bureau of Labor Statistics).
Line up 100 people; this is the one in the middle (median). about 95,000 people work in this job. About the same as the US-wide typical pay ($50,980).
If 100 people had this job
Lowest at bottom-left, highest at top-rightHover over a person to see their yearly pay
Mixing operator pay in the United States (May 2025, median and spread)
| Lower earner (10th from bottom) | Typical person (median) | Higher earner (10th from top) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|---|
| $36,790 | $48,990 | $70,200 | about 95,000 |
| State | Typical person (median) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| Minnesota | $59,270 | about 2,000 |
| New Jersey | $57,810 | about 2,000 |
| Washington | $53,800 | about 2,000 |
| Illinois | $53,560 | about 10,000 |
| Maryland | $53,480 | about 770 |
Why does pay differ?
In the U.S., pay can change with experience, skills or certificates, the type of employer, and location. More complex mixing jobs or extra responsibility may pay more; different products can call for different skills.
What if you lived in a different state?
Pay varies a lot by state in the USTop 5 and bottom 3 states, typical (median) yearly pay.
What does a mixing operator do?
Set up, operate, or tend machines to mix or blend materials, such as chemicals, tobacco, liquids, color pigments, or explosive ingredients. Excludes “Food Batchmakers” (51-3092).
What's a typical day like?
They read a work order, weigh ingredients, and load a mixer, then run it for the set time. They watch the machine, check a sample, move the finished mixture by pump or conveyor, and log the batch.
How to get this job
Most U.S. new hires have a high school diploma or GED. Employers provide on-the-job training that can last from a few days to a year; a registered apprenticeship is one route in paint-and-varnish tinting.
High school plus some training (preparation level 2 of 5)
Good for people who like building and doing and keeping things organized.
Did you know?
Some mixing operators blend explosive ingredients—not just spices, juices, or color pigments.
Similar jobs
Jobs using similar skills (O*NET)Earn more in the same field
Production jobs that pay a bit moreSources and data
Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025 (bls.gov); descriptions and related jobs from O*NET 31.0. Figures as of May 2025, full-time yearly pay (hourly × 2,080 hours). bls.gov/oes · O*NET OnLine
Pages used for the text
- www.onetonline.org/link/summary/51-9023.00
- www.mynextmove.org/profile/summary/51-9023.00
- www.bls.gov/oes/2023/may/oes519023.htm
- www.bls.gov/careeroutlook/2015/article/wage-differences.htm
Data: US BLS OEWS, May 2025 · 1 USD = 150 JPY