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Food Batchmakers
Set up and operate equipment that mixes or blends ingredients used in the manufacturing of food products. Includes candy makers and cheese makers.
Other titles employers use
Batching Operator · Blender · Brewing Technician · Compounder · Dosier Operator · Dough Scaler · Mix Technician · Mixer
Inside the work
What you would actually do.
6 responsibilities that define the role, before job titles and workplaces change the details.
- 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.
Who it suits
Would this work hold your attention?
This career often appeals to people drawn to practical and organizing work.
- Practical
- Building, repairing, using tools, or working outdoors
- Organizing
- Creating order, checking details, and keeping work accurate
Skills and strengths
What you would get good at.
Compare the skills the work relies on, the subjects behind it, and the abilities that make it easier to learn.
Core skills
- Operations Monitoring
- Reading Comprehension
- Critical Thinking
- Active Listening
- Speaking
- Coordination
Subjects to know
- Public Safety and Security
- Food Production
- Production and Processing
- Education and Training
- English Language
Useful strengths
- Information Ordering
- Near Vision
- Oral Comprehension
- Written Comprehension
- Problem Sensitivity
Working day
Picture yourself doing it.
These measures show how much of the day involves people, movement, conversation, and hands-on work.
| Measure | Out of 5 | What that means here |
|---|---|---|
| Close to other people | 3.9 | Shared rooms, but not shoulder to shoulder |
| On your feet | 4.4 | Standing or moving for most of it |
| Talking face to face | 4.5 | Continuous — the job is conversations |
| Working with your hands | 4.2 | Handling tools, instruments or materials |
Preparation
How people prepare for this work.
Employers usually ask for a high school diploma. Other routes may also lead into the field.
- High school or less 52%
- A certificate or some college 48%
Tools of the work
Technology you may use.
- Office suite software
- Inventory management software
- Enterprise resource planning ERP software
Opportunity near you
See where this work is growing.
Choose a state to compare the size of the field, annual openings, and expected hiring change.
- People doing this work
- 18,360
- Job openings each year
- 2,770
- Expected hiring change, 2022–2032
- 9.9%
Compare every available state
| State | People doing it | Job openings each year | Expected change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wisconsin | 18,360 | 2,770 | 9.9% |
| California | 14,200 | 2,140 | 10.9% |
| Illinois | 11,660 | 1,750 | 7.5% |
| Texas | 10,600 | 1,610 | 16.1% |
| Pennsylvania | 8,640 | 1,300 | 7.2% |
| Ohio | 8,380 | 1,250 | 5.4% |
| Indiana | 7,010 | 1,060 | 10.0% |
| Minnesota | 6,600 | 990 | 7.7% |
| Florida | 6,480 | 980 | 11.7% |
| Washington | 6,230 | 1,060 | 19.8% |
| New York | 5,470 | 0 | −4.2% |
| Iowa | 5,430 | 820 | 8.2% |
| Michigan | 4,780 | 720 | 7.7% |
| New Jersey | 4,390 | 660 | 11.4% |
| Oregon | 4,330 | 650 | 8.8% |
| Colorado | 4,130 | 630 | 16.0% |
| Missouri | 3,860 | 580 | 7.2% |
| Utah | 3,750 | 570 | 23.8% |
| Georgia | 3,690 | 560 | 10.5% |
| Tennessee | 3,500 | 530 | 14.8% |
| Kentucky | 3,190 | 480 | 8.9% |
| North Carolina | 3,060 | 460 | 14.6% |
| Arkansas | 2,680 | 410 | 13.1% |
| Virginia | 2,680 | 410 | 10.3% |
| Arizona | 2,540 | 390 | 32.3% |
| Idaho | 2,510 | 380 | 16.2% |
| Kansas | 2,430 | 370 | 11.0% |
| Massachusetts | 2,040 | 310 | 9.1% |
| Connecticut | 1,740 | 270 | 15.2% |
| Maryland | 1,490 | 230 | 16.4% |
| Alabama | 1,320 | 200 | 5.6% |
| Puerto Rico | 1,140 | 170 | 10.7% |
| Vermont | 1,130 | 170 | 4.6% |
| Nevada | 1,010 | 160 | 26.3% |
| Oklahoma | 980 | 150 | 7.7% |
| South Dakota | 970 | 150 | 11.5% |
| New Mexico | 910 | 140 | 19.7% |
| Nebraska | 760 | 120 | 13.4% |
| West Virginia | 750 | 110 | 4.2% |
| South Carolina | 710 | 110 | 7.6% |
| Rhode Island | 510 | 80 | 18.6% |
| New Hampshire | 460 | 70 | 9.5% |
| Mississippi | 400 | 60 | 11.1% |
| Delaware | 370 | 60 | 19.4% |
| Maine | 300 | 50 | −3.2% |
| North Dakota | 300 | 50 | — |
| Alaska | 260 | 40 | 13.0% |
| Louisiana | 170 | 20 | 13.3% |
| Montana | 150 | 20 | 25.0% |
| Wyoming | 100 | 20 | 11.1% |
| District of Columbia | 40 | 10 | — |
Career to college
Build a path toward this work.
Start with a related major, then compare colleges where students complete that field.
Where to study
Colleges with strong activity in these fields.
Start with program size, admission, and likely cost. Open a college for the full picture.
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo
- Degrees each year
- 81
- Admit rate
- 30%
- Annual cost after aid
- $10,000
University of California-Davis
- Degrees each year
- 80
- Admit rate
- 42%
- Annual cost after aid
- $12,000
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
- Degrees each year
- 72
- Admit rate
- 44%
- Annual cost after aid
- $8,000
Clemson University
- Degrees each year
- 60
- Admit rate
- 38%
- Annual cost after aid
- $19,000
California State University-Fresno
- Degrees each year
- 48
- Admit rate
- 96%
- Annual cost after aid
- $7,000
Mississippi State University
- Degrees each year
- 43
- Admit rate
- 76%
- Annual cost after aid
- $19,000
Kansas State University
- Degrees each year
- 38
- Admit rate
- 79%
- Annual cost after aid
- $15,000
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
- Degrees each year
- 38
- Admit rate
- 77%
- Annual cost after aid
- $15,000