Control operator vs control room operator

The differences between control operators and control room operators can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a control room operator has an average salary of $43,733, which is higher than the $42,885 average annual salary of a control operator.

The top three skills for a control operator include customer service, safety procedures and payroll. The most important skills for a control room operator are control room operations, plant operations, and safety procedures.

Control operator vs control room operator overview

	Control Operator	Control Room Operator
Yearly salary	$42,885	$43,733
Hourly rate	$20.62	$21.03
Growth rate	-8%	-15%
Number of jobs	64,435	89,096
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 58%	Bachelor's Degree, 36%
Average age	43	46
Years of experience	2	-

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 control room operator do?

A control room operator is an individual who works in the control room of a power plant to monitor the operations of the plant as well as ensures that everything is properly working. By using computer controls, control room operators must monitor and maintain plant equipment and indicators for proper operation. They must perform maintenance on various plant equipment to help improve reliability while monitoring the temperature to control plant heat. Control room operators must also serve as the control point for all individuals who enter the toxic areas of the facility.

Control operator vs control room operator salary

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

	Control Operator	Control Room Operator
Average salary	$42,885	$43,733
Salary range	Between $33,000 And $55,000	Between $30,000 And $62,000
Highest paying City	Hoffman Estates, IL	Commerce City, CO
Highest paying state	Illinois	Alaska
Best paying company	Battelle	California Resources
Best paying industry	Energy	Energy

Differences between control operator and control room operator education

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

	Control Operator	Control Room Operator
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 58%	Bachelor's Degree, 36%
Most common major	Accounting	Business
Most common college	University of Pennsylvania	-

Control operator vs control room operator demographics

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

	Control Operator	Control Room Operator
Average age	43	46
Gender ratio	Male, 76.8% Female, 23.2%	Male, 85.2% Female, 14.8%
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, 5.8% Unknown, 5.5% Hispanic or Latino, 7.9% Asian, 1.5% White, 77.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 2.4%
LGBT Percentage	6%	5%

Differences between control operator and control room 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.

Control room operator example responsibilities.

Lead and manage the redesign of system SCADA schematic's, revise system load calculations and regional load shedding programs.
Manage and perform preventive maintenance, electrical repairs, millwright work, and MSHA safety functions.
Perform inspections of area by accessing ladders and stairwells.
Run coating machine Pre-QC boards before sending to QC.
Serve a lead producer; direct crew to ensure show run smoothly.
Operate support utilities, including cascade HVAC, power distribution, and emergency generators.

Control operator vs control room operator skills

Common control operator skills

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

Common control room operator skills

Control Room Operations, 8%
Plant Operations, 7%
Safety Procedures, 7%
Plant Equipment, 6%
Ladders, 6%
Emergency Situations, 6%

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Production and Manufacturing Industry
Control Operator
Control Operator vs Control Room Operator

Updated January 8, 2025

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