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The differences between asphalt plant operators and plant operators can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a plant operator has an average salary of $42,697, which is higher than the $41,574 average annual salary of an asphalt plant operator.
The top three skills for an asphalt plant operator include asphalt, plant equipment and loaders. The most important skills for a plant operator are plant equipment, plant operations, and preventative maintenance.
| Asphalt Plant Operator | Plant Operator | |
| Yearly salary | $41,574 | $42,697 |
| Hourly rate | $19.99 | $20.53 |
| Growth rate | -7% | -7% |
| Number of jobs | 38,762 | 43,388 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 63% | High School Diploma, 34% |
| Average age | 47 | 47 |
| Years of experience | - | 12 |
Asphalt plant operators work on construction projects that involve placing raw and liquid asphalt materials where it is needed. They supervise the activities in an asphalt producing plant. And aside from having a background in asphalt manufacturing, they also need to be detail-oriented and have leadership skills to help them perform the job better. They gather raw materials like sand and stones in a machine to be crushed and sorted in order to make asphalt. Once the asphalt is ready, they make sure that the products going out of the plant have the correct temperature, quantity, and are on time for delivery.
A plant operator's primary role is to supervise and oversee operations in an industrial setting. They are responsible for controlling machinery and equipment, coordinating with fellow officers, monitoring the quality of progress among a particular unit or department, and maintaining daily operations records. A plant operator may also respond to inquiries and issues, perform basic troubleshooting, and provide corrective measures. Furthermore, a plant operator must conduct regular inspection and maintenance to ensure a safe work environment for everyone, all while implementing the plant's safety policies and regulations.
Asphalt plant operators and plant operators have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Asphalt Plant Operator | Plant Operator | |
| Average salary | $41,574 | $42,697 |
| Salary range | Between $31,000 And $55,000 | Between $32,000 And $56,000 |
| Highest paying City | - | Sacramento, CA |
| Highest paying state | - | Idaho |
| Best paying company | - | NW Natural |
| Best paying industry | - | Finance |
There are a few differences between an asphalt plant operator and a plant operator in terms of educational background:
| Asphalt Plant Operator | Plant Operator | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 63% | High School Diploma, 34% |
| Most common major | Automotive Technology | Business |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute |
Here are the differences between asphalt plant operators' and plant operators' demographics:
| Asphalt Plant Operator | Plant Operator | |
| Average age | 47 | 47 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 97.5% Female, 2.5% | Male, 93.5% Female, 6.5% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 8.7% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 21.5% Asian, 4.3% White, 59.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% | 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 | 11% | 5% |