Distillation operator vs blending plant operator

The differences between distillation operators and blending plant operators can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 4-6 years to become both a distillation operator and a blending plant operator. Additionally, a blending plant operator has an average salary of $41,080, which is higher than the $39,855 average annual salary of a distillation operator.

The top three skills for a distillation operator include distillation, hazardous waste and process equipment. The most important skills for a blending plant operator are DOT, OSHA, and .

Distillation operator vs blending plant operator overview

	Distillation Operator	Blending Plant Operator
Yearly salary	$39,855	$41,080
Hourly rate	$19.16	$19.75
Growth rate	7%	-7%
Number of jobs	30,452	38,851
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 26%	Bachelor's Degree, 33%
Average age	47	47
Years of experience	6	6

Distillation operator vs blending plant operator salary

Distillation operators and blending plant operators have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Distillation Operator	Blending Plant Operator
Average salary	$39,855	$41,080
Salary range	Between $26,000 And $59,000	Between $31,000 And $54,000
Highest paying City	-	-
Highest paying state	-	-
Best paying company	-	-
Best paying industry	-	-

Differences between distillation operator and blending plant operator education

There are a few differences between a distillation operator and a blending plant operator in terms of educational background:

	Distillation Operator	Blending Plant Operator
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 26%	Bachelor's Degree, 33%
Most common major	Graphic Design	Business
Most common college	SUNY College of Technology at Alfred	Stanford University

Distillation operator vs blending plant operator demographics

Here are the differences between distillation operators' and blending plant operators' demographics:

	Distillation Operator	Blending Plant Operator
Average age	47	47
Gender ratio	Male, 93.2% Female, 6.8%	Male, 93.8% Female, 6.3%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 9.6% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 21.1% Asian, 4.3% White, 59.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%	Black or African American, 7.1% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 14.3% Asian, 4.1% White, 69.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%
LGBT Percentage	11%	11%

Differences between distillation operator and blending plant operator duties and responsibilities

Distillation operator example responsibilities.

Help lead the rehabilitation of an idle distillation tower and bring it back to a fully functional operation.
Operate a cold gas distillation column converting waste gas into usable material by separating materials and reacting with caustic.
Conduct routine operating inspections of the unit, troubleshoot operational problems and respond to area emergencies or to changing operational situations.
Perform Lockout/tagout procedures to ensure ADM and contractors safety.
Conduct rig movements during drilling operations.

Blending plant operator example responsibilities.

Maintain buildings HVAC / lighting automation systems and make adjustments as needed for tenant's comfort and to manage energy consumption.
Conduct routine operating inspections of the unit, troubleshoot operational problems and respond to area emergencies or to changing operational situations.
Operate tools, including hoists, saws and drills.

Distillation operator vs blending plant operator skills

Common distillation operator skills

Distillation, 63%
Hazardous Waste, 11%
Process Equipment, 7%
GC, 4%
RAN, 4%
PLC, 4%

Common blending plant operator skills

DOT, 56%
OSHA, 44%

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Distillation Operator
Distillation Operator vs Blending Plant Operator

Updated January 8, 2025

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