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The differences between assistant operators and extrusion operators can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, an assistant operator has an average salary of $37,607, which is higher than the $36,571 average annual salary of an extrusion operator.
The top three skills for an assistant operator include customer service, ladders and safety procedures. The most important skills for an extrusion operator are extrusion, hand tools, and math.
| Assistant Operator | Extrusion Operator | |
| Yearly salary | $37,607 | $36,571 |
| Hourly rate | $18.08 | $17.58 |
| Growth rate | -8% | -5% |
| Number of jobs | 88,093 | 58,622 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 38% | High School Diploma, 53% |
| Average age | 50 | 43 |
| Years of experience | 2 | - |
The duties of an assistant operator depend on one's industry of employment or the kind of machine that they are operating. Typically, their tasks may revolve around coordinating with operators and other staff, handling and managing documents, understanding blueprints, and adhering to the directives of operators and supervisors. Furthermore, as an assistant operator, it is essential to perform support tasks, such as preparing tools and conducting regular maintenance checks to ensure the efficiency of machines and maintain a safe work environment.
An extrusion operator is also sometimes called a drawing machine operator. They control and monitor machines that shape thermoplastic materials for industries such as aerospace manufacturing, general plastics manufacturing, and automobile and auto parts manufacturing. An extrusion operator sets up and operates a machine following established procedures, guidelines, and customer requirement. Mechanical skills are the very foundation of being an extrusion operator. An extrusion operator also needs physical strength, stamina, computer skills, and critical thinking skills.
Assistant operators and extrusion operators have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Assistant Operator | Extrusion Operator | |
| Average salary | $37,607 | $36,571 |
| Salary range | Between $28,000 And $50,000 | Between $29,000 And $45,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Jose, CA | Minnetonka, MN |
| Highest paying state | Connecticut | Connecticut |
| Best paying company | Massachusetts General Hospital | BD |
| Best paying industry | Energy | Automotive |
There are a few differences between an assistant operator and an extrusion operator in terms of educational background:
| Assistant Operator | Extrusion Operator | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 38% | High School Diploma, 53% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | Western Carolina University | - |
Here are the differences between assistant operators' and extrusion operators' demographics:
| Assistant Operator | Extrusion Operator | |
| Average age | 50 | 43 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 76.8% Female, 23.2% | Male, 88.6% Female, 11.4% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 9.2% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 16.1% Asian, 3.8% White, 66.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% | Black or African American, 9.7% Unknown, 2.8% Hispanic or Latino, 12.1% Asian, 2.3% White, 72.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 3% |