Control operator vs chemical operator

The differences between control operators and chemical operators can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 1-2 years to become a control operator, becoming a chemical operator takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a control operator has an average salary of $42,885, which is higher than the $40,526 average annual salary of a chemical operator.

The top three skills for a control operator include customer service, safety procedures and payroll. The most important skills for a chemical operator are safety procedures, math, and process equipment.

Control operator vs chemical operator overview

	Control Operator	Chemical Operator
Yearly salary	$42,885	$40,526
Hourly rate	$20.62	$19.48
Growth rate	-8%	4%
Number of jobs	64,435	36,522
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 58%	High School Diploma, 35%
Average age	43	47
Years of experience	2	6

What does a control operator do?

The duties of a control operator depend on their line of work or industry of employment. Typically, it includes adhering to a set of protocols, controlling machines and equipment, identifying the needs of daily operations, and performing regular maintenance checks, conducting repairs when necessary. There are also instances where they must produce progress reports, address and resolve issues, and implement solutions. Furthermore, as a control operator, it is essential to maintain an active communication line with fellow employees, coordinating every step of the way for a safe and efficient workflow.

What does a chemical operator do?

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.

Control operator vs chemical operator salary

Control operators and chemical operators have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Control Operator	Chemical Operator
Average salary	$42,885	$40,526
Salary range	Between $33,000 And $55,000	Between $31,000 And $51,000
Highest paying City	Hoffman Estates, IL	New York, NY
Highest paying state	Illinois	New York
Best paying company	Battelle	Westinghouse Appliances Australia
Best paying industry	Energy	Pharmaceutical

Differences between control operator and chemical operator education

There are a few differences between a control operator and a chemical operator in terms of educational background:

	Control Operator	Chemical Operator
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 58%	High School Diploma, 35%
Most common major	Accounting	Business
Most common college	University of Pennsylvania	Stanford University

Control operator vs chemical operator demographics

Here are the differences between control operators' and chemical operators' demographics:

	Control Operator	Chemical Operator
Average age	43	47
Gender ratio	Male, 76.8% Female, 23.2%	Male, 91.1% Female, 8.9%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 4.8% Unknown, 5.4% Hispanic or Latino, 14.5% Asian, 6.0% White, 68.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9%	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%
LGBT Percentage	6%	11%

Differences between control operator and chemical operator duties and responsibilities

Control operator example responsibilities.

Manage day to day processing of accounts receivable and payable using QuickBooks, producing reports as needed.
Manage all financial activities including financial reporting, general accounting, budgeting, cost accounting, A/R, A/P.
Manage, analyze, and prepare period- and year-end documentation, ensuring generally accept accounting principles (GAAP) adherence.
Manage logistics to increase shipping efficiency and reduce transportation costs.
Manage business unit income statements, product-line contribution margin reporting and absorption analysis.
Coordinate and manage annual physical inventory as well as inventory valuation in accordance with Canadian GAAP.

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Chemical operator example responsibilities.

Manage multiple large volume fermentation tanks simultaneously.
Add dye to chemical to be mix.
Mix chemicals together to make a base for dye.
License by the NRC for operation of facility reactor.
Provide the QC lab with batch samples as instructed by formula cards for quality disposition.
Use Hmi's to control the product being make and sending it to storage tanks.

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Control operator vs chemical operator skills

Common control operator skills

Customer Service, 11%
Safety Procedures, 7%
Payroll, 6%
Financial Reports, 4%
CPA, 4%
Logistics, 4%

Common chemical operator skills

Safety Procedures, 8%
Math, 5%
Process Equipment, 5%
Basic Math, 4%
Minor Maintenance, 4%
Troubleshoot, 4%

Control Operator vs. similar jobs

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Updated January 8, 2025

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