Acid plant helper vs plant operator

The differences between acid plant helpers and plant operators can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 4-6 years to become an acid plant helper, becoming a plant operator takes usually requires 6-12 months. Additionally, a plant operator has an average salary of $42,697, which is higher than the $37,504 average annual salary of an acid plant helper.

The top three skills for an acid plant helper include routine maintenance, plant equipment and cranes. The most important skills for a plant operator are plant equipment, plant operations, and preventative maintenance.

Acid plant helper vs plant operator overview

	Acid Plant Helper	Plant Operator
Yearly salary	$37,504	$42,697
Hourly rate	$18.03	$20.53
Growth rate	5%	-7%
Number of jobs	22,011	43,388
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Associate Degree, 33%	High School Diploma, 34%
Average age	42	47
Years of experience	6	12

Acid plant helper vs plant operator salary

Acid plant helpers and plant operators have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Acid Plant Helper	Plant Operator
Average salary	$37,504	$42,697
Salary range	Between $28,000 And $48,000	Between $32,000 And $56,000
Highest paying City	-	Sacramento, CA
Highest paying state	-	Idaho
Best paying company	-	NW Natural
Best paying industry	-	Finance

Differences between acid plant helper and plant operator education

There are a few differences between an acid plant helper and a plant operator in terms of educational background:

	Acid Plant Helper	Plant Operator
Most common degree	Associate Degree, 33%	High School Diploma, 34%
Most common major	Business	Business
Most common college	-	Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

Acid plant helper vs plant operator demographics

Here are the differences between acid plant helpers' and plant operators' demographics:

	Acid Plant Helper	Plant Operator
Average age	42	47
Gender ratio	Male, 87.8% Female, 12.2%	Male, 93.5% Female, 6.5%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 12.1% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 14.4% Asian, 1.7% White, 66.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6%	Black or African American, 7.8% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 12.7% Asian, 1.8% White, 70.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 2.5%
LGBT Percentage	8%	5%

Differences between acid plant helper and plant operator duties and responsibilities

Acid plant helper example responsibilities.

Manage and perform preventive maintenance, electrical repairs, millwright work, and MSHA safety functions.
Operate skidsteers and front end loaders moving scrap throughout put the plant.
Experience equipment operator of fork lifts, man lifts, utility tractors with loaders, lawn mowers.
Weld stainless steel carwash parts in accordance with clients' specifications (TIG and MIG welding).
Review and approve permits ensuring``LOTO's"are correct and in compliance with lock out/ tag out plan.
Perform hourly quality control tests with titration equipment, regularly used pneumatic power tools.

Plant operator example responsibilities.

Manage and operate the DCS system or control board.
Manage and perform preventive maintenance, electrical repairs, millwright work, and MSHA safety functions.
Maintain buildings HVAC / lighting automation systems and make adjustments as needed for tenant's comfort and to manage energy consumption.
Used basic math skills to calculate the weight of the ammonia by the price it are per ton.
Operate compressors, scrubbers, pipeline, pumps, coolers, and evaporators to liquefy or compress gas.
Maintain and repair all equipment involve in plant processes to keep within OSHA safety standards and EPA environmental codes.

Acid plant helper vs plant operator skills

Common acid plant helper skills

Routine Maintenance, 49%
Plant Equipment, 23%
Cranes, 8%
Bobcat, 7%
Loaders, 6%
End Loaders, 3%

Common plant operator skills

Plant Equipment, 7%
Plant Operations, 6%
Preventative Maintenance, 5%
Boilers, 5%
Minor Maintenance, 4%
Ladders, 4%