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The differences between batch plant operators and equipment operators can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 4-6 years to become a batch plant operator, becoming an equipment operator takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a batch plant operator has an average salary of $41,126, which is higher than the $31,739 average annual salary of an equipment operator.
The top three skills for a batch plant operator include asphalt, plant equipment and front end loader. The most important skills for an equipment operator are CDL, loaders, and asphalt.
| Batch Plant Operator | Equipment Operator | |
| Yearly salary | $41,126 | $31,739 |
| Hourly rate | $19.77 | $15.26 |
| Growth rate | -7% | 5% |
| Number of jobs | 45,697 | 62,473 |
| Job satisfaction | 5 | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 46% | High School Diploma, 46% |
| Average age | 47 | 45 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 4 |
A batch plant operator is in charge of overseeing factory activities and procedures, ensuring the batch adheres to the clients' orders and goes along with the company's standards and regulations. They primarily conduct quality assurance tests to inspect mixtures, recommend solutions to improve the mixtures' quality, produce progress reports, and maintain records. A batch plant operator also has the authority to set goals and guidelines, manage schedules, supervise and delegate responsibilities among staff, liaise with internal and external parties, and handle delivery slips.
Equipment operators are employees who are assigned to work on specific company equipment. They are skilled workers trained to handle all aspects of the particular equipment, from basic operating to repairing. They use the equipment and ensure that safety standards are being followed. Aside from managing the equipment, they are also in charge of repairs and maintenance. They are responsible for ensuring that the machine works properly, troubleshooting if there are challenges encountered, and repairing any problems. Equipment operators are reliable, trustworthy, and attentive.
Batch plant operators and equipment operators have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Batch Plant Operator | Equipment Operator | |
| Average salary | $41,126 | $31,739 |
| Salary range | Between $31,000 And $54,000 | Between $24,000 And $40,000 |
| Highest paying City | - | Indianapolis, IN |
| Highest paying state | - | Connecticut |
| Best paying company | - | Nelsen Partners |
| Best paying industry | - | Energy |
There are a few differences between a batch plant operator and an equipment operator in terms of educational background:
| Batch Plant Operator | Equipment Operator | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 46% | High School Diploma, 46% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | Stanford University | - |
Here are the differences between batch plant operators' and equipment operators' demographics:
| Batch Plant Operator | Equipment Operator | |
| Average age | 47 | 45 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 95.2% Female, 4.8% | Male, 93.0% Female, 7.0% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 9.9% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 20.7% Asian, 4.3% White, 59.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% | Black or African American, 7.4% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 18.9% Asian, 0.9% White, 66.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.9% |
| LGBT Percentage | 11% | 2% |