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What is a cat operator and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
2 min read
There is more than meets the eye when it comes to being a cat operator. For example, did you know that they make an average of $17.26 an hour? That's $35,910 a year! Between 2018 and 2028, the career is expected to grow 7% and produce 56,900 job opportunities across the U.S.
ScoreCat OperatorUS Average
Salary
2.8

Avg. Salary $35,910

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level
8.3

Growth rate 7%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity
9.0
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.85%

Asian 2.63%

Black or African American 13.56%

Hispanic or Latino 17.95%

Unknown 4.47%

White 60.55%

Gender

female 6.22%

male 93.78%

Age - 44
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 44
Stress level
8.3

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity level
8.8

Complexity level is advanced

7 - challenging

Work life balance
3.8

Work life balance is poor

6.4 - fair

Cat operator career paths

Key steps to become a cat operator

  1. Explore cat operator education requirements

    Most common cat operator degrees

    High School Diploma

    50.0 %

    Bachelor's

    24.3 %

    Associate

    13.5 %
  2. Start to develop specific cat operator skills

    SkillsPercentages
    CDL61.63%
    DIG38.37%
  3. Complete relevant cat operator training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of 1-3 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New cat operators learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a cat operator based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real cat operator resumes.
  4. Research cat operator duties and responsibilities

    • Use automate systems and RF units to pull, put away and load customer product, in addition to managing inventory
    • Dig out around certains areas that hold too much snow and spread it out accordingly.
    • Provide leadership by establishing clear expectations and demonstrating high standards of work practices and safety conscious behavior.
    • Perform inventory accuracy transactions into MARC, load trailers, organize pallets into the warehouse and receive packaging materials.
  5. Prepare your cat operator resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your cat operator resume.

    You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a cat operator resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

    Choose from 10+ customizable cat operator resume templates

    Build a professional cat operator resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your cat operator resume.
    Cat Operator Resume
    Cat Operator Resume
    Cat Operator Resume
    Cat Operator Resume
    Cat Operator Resume
    Cat Operator Resume
    Cat Operator Resume
    Cat Operator Resume
    Cat Operator Resume
  6. Apply for cat operator jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a cat operator job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

How did you land your first cat operator job

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Average cat operator salary

The average cat operator salary in the United States is $35,910 per year or $17 per hour. Cat operator salaries range between $27,000 and $46,000 per year.

Average cat operator salary
$35,910 Yearly
$17.26 hourly

What am I worth?

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How do cat operators rate their job?

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Cat operator reviews

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A zippia user wrote a review on Aug 2022
Pros

It saves time and makes work easier and enhance greater output


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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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