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Milk reception operator

Also called milk worker, milking operator, milk dairy worker

Milk reception operators use devices that ensure the correct qualitative and quantitative reception of the raw milk. They perform initial cleaning operations, storage and distribution of raw material to the different processing factory units.

Will there be jobs?Limited prospects15 jobs to fill by 2035 for every 100 people doing this work today.Food processing, woodworking, garment and other craft and related trades workersWhat does it pay?Below averageFrom about €1,000 (Bulgaria) to €4,800 (Denmark) a month, depending on the country.Estimate · Food processing, woodworking, garment and other craft and related trades workersWhat do I need to study?Upper secondary or vocational6 in 10 finished upper secondary or vocational training. 7 in 10 train through vocational routes.Food processing, woodworking, garment and other craft and related trades workersWill AI change it?Very littleLevel 1 of 6. AI could take on part of some tasks, but none fully.Dairy products makers · ILO

What you'd do

Dairy products makers · ILO
  • Boiling or pasteurizing milk to achieve specified butter fat content
  • Separating cream from milk and churning cream into butter
  • Dumping measured amounts of starter and other ingredients into milk
  • Curdling milk, heating curd until it reaches desired firmness, draining curd and placing cheese into moulds to press it into shape
  • Salting cheese and piercing or smearing cheese with cultured wash to develop mould growth
  • Placing and turning cheese blocks on shelves to cure cheese
  • Monitoring product quality before packaging by inspecting, taking samples and adjusting treatment conditions when necessary
  • Recording amounts of ingredients used, test results, and time cycles
Apply requirements concerning manufacturing of food and beveragesApply GMPApply HACCPFollow hygienic procedures during food processingAnalyse characteristics of food products at reception+ 14 more essential skills

Will there be jobs?

Limited prospects

Fewer jobs than in most work will need filling by 2035.

People working as food processing, woodworking, garment and other craft and related trades workers in the EU
4.07m3.96m3.58m 201520232035

Solid: measured. Dashed: forecast.

Jobs to fill, 2026–2035
910,000 replacing leavers 332,000 jobs disappear
Jobs to fill per 100 people working now
Food processing, woodworking, garment and other craft and related trades workers15
All jobs29
Right now
7 of 27 countries report a shortage of dairy products makers, 2 a surplus.
Dairy products makers · EURES

What does it pay?

Below average

Pay depends a lot on the country: from about €1,000 a month (Bulgaria) to €4,800 (Denmark), before tax.

Pick a country at the top of the page to see typical pay there, for people under 30, and compared with all jobs.

Among craft and related trades workers in the EU, women earn 26% less per hour than men. Craft and related trades workers · Eurostat

What do I need to study?

Upper secondary or vocational

Upper secondary or vocational training in food processing is the usual route.

Highest qualification of food processing, woodworking, garment and other craft and related trades workers (EU, 2025)
Degree 11%Vocational 53%General secondary 10%Basic schooling 26%
Fields that teach it
Food processing · Occupational health and safety
Vocational route, EU
7 in 10 trainees in this field

Pick a country at the top of the page to see where to study and the official course finders.

Will AI change it?

Very little

AI could take on part of some tasks, but none fully.

How exposed is this job? ILO scale
Very low
Low
Some tasks
Moderate
Significant
High

Average task score 0.22 on a scale from 0 (AI can't do it) to 1 (AI could do it fully).

See the score for each of the 8 tasks
Recording amounts of ingredients used, test results, and time cycles0.61
Monitoring product quality before packaging by inspecting, taking samples and adjusting treatment conditions when necessary0.31
Boiling or pasteurizing milk to achieve specified butter fat content0.14
Curdling milk, heating curd until it reaches desired firmness, draining curd and placing cheese into moulds to press it into shape0.14
Dumping measured amounts of starter and other ingredients into milk0.14
Placing and turning cheese blocks on shelves to cure cheese0.14
Separating cream from milk and churning cream into butter0.12
Salting cheese and piercing or smearing cheese with cultured wash to develop mould growth0.11

Based on what AI could technically do when assessed in 2025. It is not a forecast for a future year, and not a forecast of job losses. Scores for dairy products makers. Source: ILO (2025), adapted (credits).