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The differences between compounders and process 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 process operator. Additionally, a compounder has an average salary of $38,955, which is higher than the $37,996 average annual salary of a process operator.
The top three skills for a compounder include math, basic math and GMP. The most important skills for a process operator are safety procedures, preventative maintenance, and team-oriented environment.
| Compounder | Process Operator | |
| Yearly salary | $38,955 | $37,996 |
| Hourly rate | $18.73 | $18.27 |
| Growth rate | 4% | 3% |
| Number of jobs | 1,607 | 83,478 |
| Job satisfaction | 5 | 5 |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 41% | Bachelor's Degree, 36% |
| 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.
A process operator's role is to supervise all production operations in a manufacturing plant or similar setting. To ensure the efficiency and safety of the workforce and the workload, a process operator must regularly conduct inspections on the manufacturing processes and provide an assessment of the employees' progress. There are also duties that involve producing reports and presentations, keeping and updating data, performing audits, and managing work schedules. Furthermore, it is essential to maintain a healthy and safe environment for everyone, all while adhering and implementing the policies and regulations of the company.
Compounders and process operators have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Compounder | Process Operator | |
| Average salary | $38,955 | $37,996 |
| Salary range | Between $28,000 And $53,000 | Between $29,000 And $48,000 |
| Highest paying City | Lakewood, NJ | Grand Forks, ND |
| Highest paying state | Wyoming | Wyoming |
| Best paying company | Reckitt Benckiser | BWX Technologies |
| Best paying industry | Manufacturing | Manufacturing |
There are a few differences between a compounder and a process operator in terms of educational background:
| Compounder | Process Operator | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 41% | Bachelor's Degree, 36% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between compounders' and process operators' demographics:
| Compounder | Process Operator | |
| Average age | 46 | 46 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 91.2% Female, 8.8% | Male, 70.1% Female, 29.9% |
| 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, 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 | 6% | 6% |