Mid-Level

Raw Scales Operator

The raw-product scale is the working tool — at canneries, processing plants, or food-manufacturing operations, raw scales operators weigh inbound raw materials (produce, meat, dairy, grain) for batch tracking and supplier settlement.

Career Level
Junior
Mid
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Director
VP
Executive
Work Personality
C
R
I
E
A
S
Conventionalorganizing, detail-oriented
Realistichands-on, practical
Based on Holland Code framework
Job markets for Raw Scales Operators
Employment concentration · ~177 areas
Based on employment in related occupations
Mapped SOC categories:
BLS Occupational Employment Statistics
What it's like

What it's like to be a Raw Scales Operator

The raw-material scale at the receiving area is the day's anchor — totes, bins, or cases of raw material crossing the scale, weights captured for each lot, supplier-or-batch identification recorded for downstream traceability. You're often between the receiving dock and the processing line. Lot weights captured accurately and traceability documentation matching anchor the visible measures.

Where it gets demanding is the food-safety traceability discipline — every lot needs identification for potential recall, every weight feeds yield calculations, and the operator maintains documentation at production pace. Variance across employers is real: at major food processors raw scales operators work within structured HACCP and food-safety programs; at smaller canneries and processors the role combines weighing with broader receiving work.

It fits people who are detail-precise, food-safety-disciplined, and tolerant of food-production environments. The trade-off is the production-pace concentration and shift schedules typical of food operations. Food-industry credentials anchor advancement.

RelationshipsAbove avg
SupportModerate
IndependenceLower
Working ConditionsLower
AchievementLower
RecognitionLower
O*NET Work Values survey
✦ Editorial — written by Truest from industry research and career patterns
Career Paths

Where this role sits in the broader career landscape — and where it can take you.

$239K$179K$119K$60K$0KLower paying387 metro areas, sorted by salary level
All experience levels1
This level's estimated range
INDUSTRIES PAYING ABOVE AVERAGE
1 BLS OEWS May 2024 covers all Raw Scales Operators (SOC 43-5111.00), not just this title · BEA RPP 2023
* Top salaries exceed this figure. BLS caps reported wages at ~$240K to protect individual privacy in high-earning roles.
Exploring the Raw Scales Operator career path? Truest helps you figure out if it's the right fit — and plan your path forward.
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✦ Editorial — career progression and interview guidance based on industry patterns
The Broader Landscape

Roles like this one sit within a broader occupational category. The numbers below reflect that full landscape — helpful for context, but your specific experience will depend on level, specialty, and where you work.

$35K–$60K
Salary Range
10th – 90th percentile
50K
U.S. Employment
-4.8%
10yr Growth
5K
Annual Openings

How this category is changing

$64K$61K$59K$56K$53K201920202021202220232024$53K$64K
BLS OEWS May 2024 · BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034

Skills & Requirements

Critical ThinkingReading ComprehensionSpeakingMonitoringQuality Control AnalysisService OrientationCoordinationSocial PerceptivenessActive ListeningComplex Problem Solving
O*NET OnLine · Bureau of Labor Statistics
43-5111.00

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Federal data: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics (May 2024) · BLS Employment Projections · O*NET OnLine
Truest editorial: Fit check, role profile, things that vary, advancement analysis, lateral moves, interview questions.