Coater operator vs process operator

The differences between coater operators and process operators can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 2-4 years to become a coater operator, becoming a process operator takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, a process operator has an average salary of $37,996, which is higher than the $36,659 average annual salary of a coater operator.

The top three skills for a coater operator include math, safety procedures and basic math. The most important skills for a process operator are safety procedures, preventative maintenance, and team-oriented environment.

Coater operator vs process operator overview

	Coater Operator	Process Operator
Yearly salary	$36,659	$37,996
Hourly rate	$17.62	$18.27
Growth rate	2%	3%
Number of jobs	60,454	83,478
Job satisfaction	-	5
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 47%	Bachelor's Degree, 36%
Average age	42	46
Years of experience	4	2

Coater operator vs process operator salary

Coater operators and process operators have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Coater Operator	Process Operator
Average salary	$36,659	$37,996
Salary range	Between $30,000 And $44,000	Between $29,000 And $48,000
Highest paying City	Nashua, NH	Grand Forks, ND
Highest paying state	Oregon	Wyoming
Best paying company	Sanmina	BWX Technologies
Best paying industry	Technology	Manufacturing

Differences between coater operator and process operator education

There are a few differences between a coater operator and a process operator in terms of educational background:

	Coater Operator	Process Operator
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 47%	Bachelor's Degree, 36%
Most common major	Business	Business
Most common college	-	Stanford University

Coater operator vs process operator demographics

Here are the differences between coater operators' and process operators' demographics:

	Coater Operator	Process Operator
Average age	42	46
Gender ratio	Male, 82.2% Female, 17.8%	Male, 70.1% Female, 29.9%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 11.4% Unknown, 4.0% Hispanic or Latino, 20.9% Asian, 3.4% White, 59.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%	Black or African American, 11.7% Unknown, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino, 20.3% Asian, 4.5% White, 58.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%
LGBT Percentage	4%	6%

Differences between coater operator and process operator duties and responsibilities

Coater operator example responsibilities.

Work in clean room under strict ISO Certified/GMP conditions.
Measure completed work to verify conformance to specifications using micrometers and calipers.
Perform repair and preventive maintenance on machinery including cleaning, oiling and adjusting.

Process operator example responsibilities.

Manage distillation process to determine product specification compliance, and prepare unit for shutdown or turnaround process.
Climb ladders to inspect manholes, check temps, sometimes gather samples for lab analysis.
Demonstrate ability to perform basic math (add, subtract, multiply, divide, ratios, weights & measures).
Control product temperatures and monitor gauges.
Review FHA files for completeness and compliance.
Use of ladders, stairs, heavy lifting and temperature extremes.

Coater operator vs process operator skills

Common coater operator skills

Math, 10%
Safety Procedures, 9%
Basic Math, 8%
Production Schedules, 8%
Hand Tools, 7%
Quality Standards, 6%

Common process operator skills

Safety Procedures, 8%
Preventative Maintenance, 7%
Team-Oriented Environment, 7%
Ladders, 5%
Customer Service, 4%
Data Entry, 4%