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What is a drum operator and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
2 min read
There is more than meets the eye when it comes to being a drum operator. For example, did you know that they make an average of $18.12 an hour? That's $37,684 a year! Between 2018 and 2028, the career is expected to grow 7% and produce 56,900 job opportunities across the U.S.
ScoreDrum OperatorUS Average
Salary
2.9

Avg. Salary $37,684

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level
6.8

Growth rate 7%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity
7.2
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 1.15%

Asian 6.68%

Black or African American 9.93%

Hispanic or Latino 24.13%

Unknown 3.24%

White 54.88%

Gender

female 4.85%

male 95.15%

Age - 48
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 48
Stress level
6.8

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity level
7.5

Complexity level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work life balance
5.6

Work life balance is fair

6.4 - fair

Key steps to become a drum operator

  1. Explore drum operator education requirements

    Most common drum operator degrees

    High School Diploma

    45.5 %

    Associate

    21.2 %

    Diploma

    12.1 %
  2. Start to develop specific drum operator skills

    SkillsPercentages
    Quality Products90.15%
    Quality Checks5.51%
    Computer System4.35%
  3. Complete relevant drum operator training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of 1-3 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New drum operators learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a drum operator based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real drum operator resumes.
  4. Research drum operator duties and responsibilities

    • Use automate systems and RF units to pull, put away and load customer product, in addition to managing inventory
    • Maintain a clean and safe work environment by way of proper PPE's and prompt clean up of any chemical spills.
    • Perform specialized production line and quality control duties in a professional production environment specializing in plastic extrusion.
    • Operate rotory feed dryer to convert wetcake and corn syrup to animal feed.
  5. Prepare your drum operator resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your drum operator resume.

    You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a drum operator resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

    Choose from 10+ customizable drum operator resume templates

    Build a professional drum operator resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your drum operator resume.
    Drum Operator Resume
    Drum Operator Resume
    Drum Operator Resume
    Drum Operator Resume
    Drum Operator Resume
    Drum Operator Resume
    Drum Operator Resume
    Drum Operator Resume
    Drum Operator Resume
  6. Apply for drum operator jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a drum operator job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

How did you land your first drum operator job

Zippi

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Average drum operator salary

The average drum operator salary in the United States is $37,684 per year or $18 per hour. Drum operator salaries range between $29,000 and $47,000 per year.

Average drum operator salary
$37,684 Yearly
$18.12 hourly

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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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