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The differences between assembly line workers and line operators can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a line operator has an average salary of $34,520, which is higher than the $27,929 average annual salary of an assembly line worker.
The top three skills for an assembly line worker include assembly line production, safety procedures and production process. The most important skills for a line operator are preventative maintenance, PPE, and basic math.
| Assembly Line Worker | Line Operator | |
| Yearly salary | $27,929 | $34,520 |
| Hourly rate | $13.43 | $16.60 |
| Growth rate | -5% | 7% |
| Number of jobs | 88,030 | 137,127 |
| Job satisfaction | 4 | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 59% | High School Diploma, 49% |
| Average age | 38 | 44 |
| Years of experience | - | - |
Assembly line workers are factory or production floor employees who work on putting together company products. They are assigned to work on a specific part of the product. Once they are done, they should hand it over to the next person on the line. They ensure the quality of the product by doing their part consistently. They also manage the inventory of the features they handle. Assembly line workers should work conscientiously so that the assembly line will remain unbroken. They should be familiar with occupational safety and health practices to ensure that the production floor remains safe for all the workers.
A line operator is responsible for assisting in warehouse and factory operations, usually assigned on doing heavy works for the production. Line operators' duties include operating manufacturing machines and equipment, placing products on the appropriate shelves, checking supplies and inventories, loading orders for shipments, inspecting products for any defects, labeling products accurately, adhering to the safety procedures to prevent product contamination, and observing sanitary regulations. A line operator must have comprehensive knowledge of the mechanical industry, as well as the ability to multi-task, especially on meeting deadlines and processing customers' orders.
Assembly line workers and line operators have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Assembly Line Worker | Line Operator | |
| Average salary | $27,929 | $34,520 |
| Salary range | Between $22,000 And $35,000 | Between $27,000 And $43,000 |
| Highest paying City | Bellingham, WA | Grand Forks, ND |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | North Dakota |
| Best paying company | Magna International | BD |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Manufacturing |
There are a few differences between an assembly line worker and a line operator in terms of educational background:
| Assembly Line Worker | Line Operator | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 59% | High School Diploma, 49% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between assembly line workers' and line operators' demographics:
| Assembly Line Worker | Line Operator | |
| Average age | 38 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 53.9% Female, 46.1% | Male, 67.6% Female, 32.4% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 13.0% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 14.5% Asian, 4.7% White, 62.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.0% | Black or African American, 11.9% Unknown, 3.4% Hispanic or Latino, 15.4% Asian, 7.0% White, 61.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 9% | 5% |