Plant and System Operators

How to become a Biofuels Processing Technician

Official title: Biofuels Processing Technicians

Also called: Biofuels Processing Technician, Board Operator, Chemical Operator, Ethanol Operator, Mash Preparatory Operator, Process Operator, Process Technician, Production Operator

Calculate, measure, load, mix, and process refined feedstock with additives in fermentation or reaction process vessels and monitor production process. Perform, and keep records of, plant maintenance, repairs, and safety inspections.

Main tasks

Monitor batch, continuous flow, or hybrid biofuels production processes.
Operate valves, pumps, engines, or generators to control and adjust biofuels production.
Monitor and record biofuels processing data.
Collect biofuels samples and perform routine laboratory tests or analyses to assess biofuels quality.
Operate equipment, such as a centrifuge, to extract biofuels products and secondary by-products or reusable fractions.
Process refined feedstock with additives in fermentation or reaction process vessels.
Operate chemical processing equipment for the production of biofuels.
Monitor and record flow meter performance.

How to become one

Typical education to start: High school diploma or equivalent

Pay · Outlook · AI and this job

Median pay: $62,470 a year The middle half earn $48,900 to $78,480.
About 14,300 people work in this job now, and about 14,600 are projected by 2035. (+2.3%)
People use generative AI for relatively little of this work so far. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as low.

Questions people ask

How much does a Biofuels Processing Technician earn in the US?

Median full-time pay is $62,470 a year (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). The middle half earn $48,900 to $78,480.

Is a Biofuels Processing Technician a growing career in the US?

Yes. Employment is projected to grow 2% by 2035, from about 14,300 to about 14,600 people (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics).

Do you need a degree to become a Biofuels Processing Technician?

Usually not. Only 15% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Will AI change the work of a Biofuels Processing Technician?

People use generative AI for relatively little of this work so far. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as low.

Sources

Microsoft Research: Working with AI: AI applicability by occupation (2025-12-22 (built on O*NET 29.0)), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Employment Projections (2025-35 (released 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03

Updated 2026-10-03

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.