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The differences between chemical operators and batch plant operators can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 4-6 years to become both a chemical operator and a batch plant operator. Additionally, a batch plant operator has an average salary of $41,126, which is higher than the $40,526 average annual salary of a chemical operator.
The top three skills for a chemical operator include safety procedures, math and process equipment. The most important skills for a batch plant operator are asphalt, plant equipment, and front end loader.
| Chemical Operator | Batch Plant Operator | |
| Yearly salary | $40,526 | $41,126 |
| Hourly rate | $19.48 | $19.77 |
| Growth rate | 4% | -7% |
| Number of jobs | 36,522 | 45,697 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 5 |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 35% | High School Diploma, 46% |
| Average age | 47 | 47 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 6 |
A chemical operator is responsible for maintaining heavy machines and equipment for chemical processing operations. Chemical operators inspect machinery for any malfunctions, perform immediate repairs, and replace defective components as needed to ensure the equipment's safety and efficiency. They carefully handle chemicals, observe the mixing process, and support process development by assisting on strategic procedures to maximize productivity and plan initiatives. A chemical operator must adhere to the safety protocols of the production, especially on storing chemicals, recording information to the database, and operating machines.
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.
Chemical operators and batch plant operators have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Chemical Operator | Batch Plant Operator | |
| Average salary | $40,526 | $41,126 |
| Salary range | Between $31,000 And $51,000 | Between $31,000 And $54,000 |
| Highest paying City | New York, NY | - |
| Highest paying state | New York | - |
| Best paying company | Westinghouse Appliances Australia | - |
| Best paying industry | Pharmaceutical | - |
There are a few differences between a chemical operator and a batch plant operator in terms of educational background:
| Chemical Operator | Batch Plant Operator | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 35% | High School Diploma, 46% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between chemical operators' and batch plant operators' demographics:
| Chemical Operator | Batch Plant Operator | |
| Average age | 47 | 47 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 91.1% Female, 8.9% | Male, 95.2% Female, 4.8% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 10.7% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 19.3% Asian, 4.3% White, 60.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% | 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% |
| LGBT Percentage | 11% | 11% |