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Brewer vs lead operator

The differences between brewers and lead operators can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both a brewer and a lead operator. Additionally, a lead operator has an average salary of $88,429, which is higher than the $38,123 average annual salary of a brewer.

The top three skills for a brewer include brewery, cleanliness and craft beer. The most important skills for a lead operator are customer service, HR, and process improvement.

Brewer vs lead operator overview

BrewerLead Operator
Yearly salary$38,123$88,429
Hourly rate$18.33$42.51
Growth rate-7%
Number of jobs1,40987,338
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 64%Bachelor's Degree, 45%
Average age4646
Years of experience22

What does a brewer do?

A brewer specializes in making beers. Even if the extent of their duties vary upon the beer they make or their company of employment, it usually includes selecting and processing beer ingredients, tasting samples, studying reviews and assessments, and developing marketing plans for the finished products. In some companies, a brewer may have managerial tasks, such as planning procedures, setting goals and objectives, conducting research and analyses, delegating responsibilities among staff, and monitoring processes, resolving issues and concerns if any arise.

What does a lead operator do?

Lead operators are responsible for the direction and supervision of the day-to-day activities in facilities. As machine operators, they control machines and take charge of industrial operations. They handle and move objects, monitor processes, and inspect materials, structures, and equipment. Also, they may serve as mentors for the new production employees concerning occupational health and safety. They must be skilled in safety procedures, heavy equipment, preventive maintenance, and other things related to machine operations.

Brewer vs lead operator salary

Brewers and lead operators have different pay scales, as shown below.

BrewerLead Operator
Average salary$38,123$88,429
Salary rangeBetween $29,000 And $48,000Between $54,000 And $142,000
Highest paying CitySan Francisco, CASan Francisco, CA
Highest paying stateWyomingNew Jersey
Best paying companyFeather Falls CasinoMeta
Best paying industryManufacturingTechnology

Differences between brewer and lead operator education

There are a few differences between a brewer and a lead operator in terms of educational background:

BrewerLead Operator
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 64%Bachelor's Degree, 45%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common collegeStanford UniversityStanford University

Brewer vs lead operator demographics

Here are the differences between brewers' and lead operators' demographics:

BrewerLead Operator
Average age4646
Gender ratioMale, 89.0% Female, 11.0%Male, 73.5% Female, 26.5%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 9.9% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 14.4% Asian, 5.4% White, 65.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%Black or African American, 12.3% Unknown, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino, 18.7% Asian, 4.6% White, 59.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%
LGBT Percentage6%6%

Differences between brewer and lead operator duties and responsibilities

Brewer example responsibilities.

  • Manage the production of 3 seasonal and 6 regular brews in a 7 bbl brew house system.
  • Manage time and attendance as well as operator adherence to company policy within in an organization that is ISO compliant.
  • Operate and manage a working production brewery including scheduling, ordering supplies and ingredients, and maintaining accurate product inventory.
  • Assist in the HACCP of machinery to meet and exceed global food safety standards.
  • dry hops, cold breaks, O2 rousting, etc . )
  • Insure HACCP and SSOP procedures are followed.
    • Show more

Lead operator example responsibilities.

  • Plan, organize, and lead Kaizen activities as well as managed the cost reduction activities from idea to implementation.
  • Contact potential REO listing brokers achieving the highest return call rate.
  • Create UAT scripts and utilize statistical process controls to manage loan process quality and ensure consistency.
  • Achieve goals in various metrics, from sales to plan, payroll, additional services, print center.
  • Manage and organize incoming records and publications for use on SharePoint.
  • Need method to proactively manage the business improving cross-functional collaboration & KPI visibility.
    • Show more

Brewer vs lead operator skills

Common brewer skills
  • Brewery, 25%
  • Cleanliness, 10%
  • Craft Beer, 10%
  • Harvest, 5%
  • Fermenters, 4%
  • Troubleshoot, 4%
Common lead operator skills
  • Customer Service, 18%
  • HR, 10%
  • Process Improvement, 6%
  • Project Management, 6%
  • Continuous Improvement, 6%
  • Safety Procedures, 4%

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Updated January 8, 2025

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