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The differences between compounders 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 compounder and a lead operator. Additionally, a lead operator has an average salary of $88,429, which is higher than the $38,955 average annual salary of a compounder.
The top three skills for a compounder include math, basic math and GMP. The most important skills for a lead operator are customer service, HR, and process improvement.
| Compounder | Lead Operator | |
| Yearly salary | $38,955 | $88,429 |
| Hourly rate | $18.73 | $42.51 |
| Growth rate | 4% | 7% |
| Number of jobs | 1,607 | 87,338 |
| Job satisfaction | 5 | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 41% | Bachelor's Degree, 45% |
| Average age | 46 | 46 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
Compounders are the other term of pharmacists who provide assistance to doctors. They prepare customized medicine with the doctor and know the doses, side effects, and storage conditions of a drug. These people must be aware of what medicines the doctors are prescribing to their patients. They assist doctors to combine various medicines according to the prescription. Part of their task is to create customized medicines based on height, weight, and medical needs. They can create ointment, tablets, and cream based on the doctor's prescription.
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.
Compounders and lead operators have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Compounder | Lead Operator | |
| Average salary | $38,955 | $88,429 |
| Salary range | Between $28,000 And $53,000 | Between $54,000 And $142,000 |
| Highest paying City | Lakewood, NJ | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Wyoming | New Jersey |
| Best paying company | Reckitt Benckiser | Meta |
| Best paying industry | Manufacturing | Technology |
There are a few differences between a compounder and a lead operator in terms of educational background:
| Compounder | Lead Operator | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 41% | Bachelor's Degree, 45% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between compounders' and lead operators' demographics:
| Compounder | Lead Operator | |
| Average age | 46 | 46 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 91.2% Female, 8.8% | Male, 73.5% Female, 26.5% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 11.3% Unknown, 4.0% Hispanic or Latino, 20.6% Asian, 4.4% White, 59.0% 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 Percentage | 6% | 6% |