Also called: Pasteurizer Operator, Dairy Plant Operator, Cheese Plant Operator
Runs the pasteurizers, separators and fillers that turn raw milk from farms into bottled milk, yogurt, butter and cheese.
A tanker of fresh milk arrives at 5 a.m. and you test it, then pump it through the pasteurizer and separator. You clean everything to strict standards between runs. A licensed pasteurizer operator is legally required in many states.
Estimated.
Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.
High school diploma, about 0 years after high school. High school plus a state pasteurizer license in many states.
Ways in: On-the-job training, Certification. Training cost: Get paid while you train.
Growing about average. Steady.
Medium risk for 10 years. Dairy plants are highly automated with clean-in-place systems; licensed operators still monitor and test.
Age 18+. One way to start: Apply at a dairy plant as a helper; the plant prepares you for the state pasteurizer exam First: State pasteurizer operator license in many states (short course and exam)
Classes: Chemistry, Agriculture class.
Official data: O*NET occupation 51-9012.
Career Universe is an early version. Pay, training and AI-risk figures are estimates to start your own research, not verified facts. The research was written with AI research assistants, checked by validation scripts and spot-checked by hand. Check anything important with schools, employers and official sources. How the numbers work.