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Whey Separator Operator Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Hilmar Cheese Company

Filtration Operator

Hilmar, CA · On-site

$25.84 - $30.26/hr

A Typical Day The Filtration Operator is primarily responsible for operation of the liquid process ... Operation of the Separators to insure good fat separation and the proper fat percentage in the Whey ...

Hilmar Cheese Company

Filtration Operator (Nights)

Dalhart, TX · On-site

$15.75 - $19/hr

A Typical Day The Filtration Operator is primarily responsible for operation of the liquid process ... Operation of the Separators to insure good fat separation and the proper fat percentage in the Whey ...

Emmi Roth USA

Train Pasteurizer Apprentices and Pasteurizer Operators * Troubleshoot problems with equipment ... Separate and filter whey * Clean the HTST equipment * Communicate with Head Cheesemaker, Quality ...

Emmi Roth

Pasteurizer Operator - 3rd Shift

Monroe, WI · On-site

Train Pasteurizer Apprentices and Pasteurizer Operators * Troubleshoot problems with equipment ... Separate and filter whey * Clean the HTST equipment * Communicate with Head Cheesemaker, Quality ...

Guida's Dairy

Cheesemaker-Licensed

Monroe, WI · On-site

Pasteurize and separate milk to obtain prescribed butterfat content. JOB DUTIES AND ... whey lines as needed and instructed Collect and issue ingredients on SAP Perform change over on ...

Dairiconcepts, L.P.

Cheesemaker-Licensed

Monroe, WI · On-site

Pasteurize and separate milk to obtain prescribed butterfat content. JOB DUTIES AND ... whey lines as needed and instructed Collect and issue ingredients on SAP Perform change over on ...

Guida's Dairy

Cheesemaker-Licensed

Monroe, WI · On-site

Pasteurize and separate milk to obtain prescribed butterfat content. JOB DUTIES AND ... whey lines as needed and instructed Collect and issue ingredients on SAP Perform change over on ...

Dairiconcepts, L.P.

Cheesemaker-Licensed

Monroe, WI · On-site

Pasteurize and separate milk to obtain prescribed butterfat content. JOB DUTIES AND ... whey lines as needed and instructed Collect and issue ingredients on SAP Perform change over on ...

La Vaquita Cheese

Cheesemaker-Licensed

Monroe, WI · On-site

$14.25 - $16.75/hr

Pasteurize and separate milk to obtain prescribed butterfat content. Job Duties and ... curd and whey lines as needed and instructed · Collect and issue ingredients on SAP · Perform ...

La Vaquita Cheese

Cheesemaker-Licensed

Monroe, WI · On-site

Pasteurize and separate milk to obtain prescribed butterfat content. JOB DUTIES AND ... whey lines as needed and instructed • Collect and issue ingredients on SAP • Perform change ...

Dairiconcepts, L.P.

Cheesemaker-2nd shift

Monroe, WI · On-site

$12.50 - $17/hr

... Pasteurizer Operator. Candidates without one of these will NOT be given consideration. This ... Pasteurize and separate milk to obtain prescribed butterfat content. We Offer: * Competitive Wages

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Whey Separator Operator information

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How much do whey separator operator jobs pay per hour?

As of Sep 13, 2026, the average hourly pay for whey separator operator in the United States is $21.76, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $18.75 and $23.32 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does a whey separator operator do?

A Whey Separator Operator is responsible for operating and maintaining machinery that separates whey from curds during the cheese-making process. This role involves monitoring equipment, adjusting controls, and ensuring that the separation process meets quality and safety standards. Operators also routinely inspect the machinery for proper functioning and perform minor repairs or cleaning as needed. Their work is essential in producing high-quality dairy products efficiently and safely.

What skills and qualifications are needed to be a whey separator operator?

To thrive as a Whey Separator Operator, you need a solid understanding of dairy processing, mechanical aptitude, and experience with food safety protocols, often supported by a high school diploma or equivalent. Familiarity with industrial centrifuges, pasteurization systems, and quality control instruments is typically required. Attention to detail, problem-solving skills, and effective teamwork are essential soft skills for this role. These abilities ensure efficient, safe, and high-quality whey separation, which is critical for meeting production standards and regulatory compliance.

What challenges do whey separator operators face and how can they be addressed?

Whey Separator Operators often face challenges such as maintaining optimal machine performance, minimizing downtime, and ensuring product quality. These challenges can be addressed by conducting regular equipment inspections, promptly resolving minor mechanical issues, and closely monitoring process parameters like temperature, flow rate, and separation efficiency. Effective communication with maintenance teams and adhering to safety and hygiene protocols are also crucial for smooth operations. Staying proactive and detail-oriented helps operators maintain high-quality standards and reduce production interruptions.

What are popular job titles related to Whey Separator Operator jobs?

For Whey Separator Operator jobs, the most frequently searched job titles are:

Infographic showing various Whey Separator Operator job openings in the United States as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 35% Full Time, 63% Part Time, 1% Contract, and 1% Nights. Highlights an 99% Physical, and 1% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $45,269 per year, or $21.8 per hour.

Filtration Operator

Hilmar, CA • On-site

Hilmar Cheese Company
See more jobs at Hilmar Cheese Companyexternal

$25.84 - $30.26/hr

Full-time

Posted 11 days ago

Job description

At Hilmar Cheese Company we improve lives around the world through wholesome dairy products. Since our founding in 1984, Hilmar Cheese Company has been committed to innovation and sustainability. Our state-of-the art production facilities convert an abundance of locally sourced high-quality milk into a variety of nutritious cheeses, whey protein and lactose. The Cheese and Ingredients that we produce create a wide variety of retail and food service products from sliced and shredded cheeses, to protein supplements and infant formula. We are a trusted partner to premier food and beverage brands in more than fifty countries helping bring their vision into reality.

Throughout our decades of success and growth we have remained committed to our mission and values and these principles unite our people and guide all that we do.

A Typical Day

The Filtration Operator is primarily responsible for operation of the liquid process and associated equipment.

Job Responsibilities
  • Operation of the Separators to insure good fat separation and the proper fat percentage in the Whey Cream.
  • Operation of the whey H.T.S.T.'s in accordance with State and Federal Guidelines.  Operation inclusive of:  maintaining correct flow, temperature and chart changing.
  • Pasteurizers License must be obtained within 12 months.
  • Operation of the filtration equipment (UF's, DF's, and MF).  Operation inclusive of:  Constant monitoring and adjusting of protein, solids, and flow rates by conducting hourly checks and sampling according to check sheet.  
  • Ability to learn and operate computer related controls.
  • Maintain and monitor all QC and production programs per HCC standards.
  • Ongoing Improvement of knowledge and understanding of all liquid process equipment and protein in general.
  • Monitoring of all additives to the whey and retentate streams to insure the proper functionality of the various products.
  • Responsible for maintaining equipment and work environment cleanliness.
  • Responsible for proper product handling to insure minimum product loss.
  • Responsible for understanding and conducting CIP's and other cleaning steps according to plant procedures.
  • Responsible for following GMP guidelines and all company policies as outlined in the employee handbook.
  • Active participation and ownership in your training and development program and associated activities, classes and events, which will be held before, during, after shifts and during scheduled days off.  
  • Help coach and train teammates and participate in on the job, buddy training.
  • Place high priority on food safety and sanitation by understanding and executing HCC's food safety and sanitation policies and procedures. This includes communicating any food safety incident, observation, or opportunity to your leadership team or teammates as well as participating in food safety and sanitation root cause analysis and improvement activities when required. 
  • Prioritize safety above all other job duties by having a safety first approach at all times. This includes reporting any safety issues, observations, opportunities to your teams and follow up. 
     
What You Will Need
  • English skills must be proficient to understand, read, write and speak English
  • Must be able to work weekends, holidays and rotating shifts (day/swing/graveyard)
  • Ability to lift up to 60lbs
  • Basic computer skills
What Will Put You Ahead
  • High School diploma or GED from an accredited institution
  • SAP experience
  • Dairy manufacturing experience
  • Active/past member of departmental safety team
  • Understanding of membrane filtration system operations
  • Skilled in any Protein Level 1 or 2 positions
Physical Demands & Work Environment

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee will be required to:

  • Stand, walk, use hands to finger, handle or feel and reach with hands and arms, climb or balance, stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl and talk or hear.
  • Stand and walk almost the entire workday.
  • Employees must be physically capable of working in any of the job tasks within the cheese plant.
  • Required to work at heights and in fairly small areas.
  • Pushing, pulling, reaching, bending, stooping, squatting, kneeling, handling and grasping, twisting/turning, repetitive bending.

Food safety is a companywide responsibility and each employee must know their role in the manufacture and distribution of safe, wholesome, and high quality products.

This description is a general statement and does not include other duties as assigned

Hilmar Cheese Company, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer/EEO. We participate in E-Verify.

English Information | Spanish Information

Salary Range: USD ($25.84 - $30.26) ANN 

The final compensation offered within this range will depend on factors including the applicant's education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities, as well as internal equity and alignment with market data.

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