Distillation operator vs chemical etch operator

The differences between distillation operators and chemical etch 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 chemical etch operator. Additionally, a chemical etch operator has an average salary of $48,263, 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 chemical etch operator are etching, , and .

Distillation operator vs chemical etch operator overview

	Distillation Operator	Chemical Etch Operator
Yearly salary	$39,855	$48,263
Hourly rate	$19.16	$23.20
Growth rate	7%	-
Number of jobs	30,452	28,144
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 26%	High School Diploma, 57%
Average age	47	47
Years of experience	6	6

Distillation operator vs chemical etch operator salary

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

	Distillation Operator	Chemical Etch Operator
Average salary	$39,855	$48,263
Salary range	Between $26,000 And $59,000	Between $29,000 And $79,000
Highest paying City	-	-
Highest paying state	-	-
Best paying company	-	-
Best paying industry	-	-

Differences between distillation operator and chemical etch operator education

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

	Distillation Operator	Chemical Etch Operator
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 26%	High School Diploma, 57%
Most common major	Graphic Design	Electrical Engineering Technology
Most common college	SUNY College of Technology at Alfred	University of Texas at Austin

Distillation operator vs chemical etch operator demographics

Here are the differences between distillation operators' and chemical etch operators' demographics:

	Distillation Operator	Chemical Etch Operator
Average age	47	47
Gender ratio	Male, 93.2% Female, 6.8%	Male, 92.9% Female, 7.1%
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 chemical etch 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.

Chemical etch operator example responsibilities.

Educate in etching chemicals, tank maintenance, computer and hoist controls.
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.

Distillation operator vs chemical etch operator skills

Common distillation operator skills

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

Common chemical etch operator skills

Etching, 100%

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Distillation Operator
Distillation Operator vs Chemical Etch Operator

Updated January 8, 2025

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