What does an elevator operator do?
An elevator operator is responsible for transporting people through different floors of an establishment by operating the buttons or lever of an elevator. Elevator operators must also know the building's directory to assist the guests of their inquiries and concerns, sending them to the right floor of the appropriate department and personnel. They also work closely with the maintenance team, conducting preventive measures to ensure the safety and security of the elevator and immediately call for repairs on any defects.
Elevator operator responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real elevator operator resumes:
- Evaluate, run and dry grain including inventory and tracking.
- Operate a harvest shuttle elevator at the start of the almond season
- Cross training has been provide for operating a diesel locomotive and bobcat.
- Maintain cleanliness to work environment by sweeping, mopping and wiping down surfaces.
- Experience unloading trucks, fixing legs and conveyers, using dryers, and other things
- Load all commodities to spec for end user at best capabilities of the facility.
- Check the conditions of the rail car to ensure cleanliness and correct security measures are implemented.
- Operate heavy machinery such as locomotives, front end loaders, skidsteers, semi tractor trailers.
- Record the safety audits that are performed on hoists and print wheel movers per OSHA requirements.
- Operate elevators, become proficient in computer technologies and heavy machinery, operate JCB and skid loaders.
- State certify grain grader and run all scales and computer systems for inbound and out bound shipments.
- Perform transport services for project material and passengers in and around the job site using hoisting machinery.
- Work with other employees (harvest help, elevator operators from other branch's, and upper management).
- Load and unload trailers using hydraulic pallet jacks, electric pallet jacks, forklift, and stand up reach truck.
- Operate freight truck scales, augers, belts, and silos with storage capacity of 42 million pounds of commodity.
Elevator operator skills and personality traits
We calculated that 17% of Elevator Operators are proficient in Customer Service, Harvest, and Governmental Regulations. They’re also known for soft skills such as Communication skills, Coordination, and Mechanical skills.
We break down the percentage of Elevator Operators that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Customer Service, 17%
Displayed excellent customer service to customers who needed maintenance for elevators.
- Harvest, 16%
Load and unload trucks during and before harvest.
- Governmental Regulations, 10%
Operate safely within Cargill policy, procedures, and governmental regulations and fully participate in Cargill Safety programs.
- General Appearance, 8%
Maintain the general appearance of the facility to include elevators, grounds, buildings, etc.
- Grain Elevator, 7%
Operated grain elevator, loaded/unloaded trucks, operated grain machinery
- Safety Procedures, 6%
Assisted patrons entering and exiting rides, monitored activities to ensure adherence to safety procedures, shut-down and emergency evacuation procedures.
Most elevator operators use their skills in "customer service," "harvest," and "governmental regulations" to do their jobs. You can find more detail on essential elevator operator responsibilities here:
Communication skills. The most essential soft skill for an elevator operator to carry out their responsibilities is communication skills. This skill is important for the role because "material moving machine operators signal and direct workers to load and unload material." Additionally, an elevator operator resume shows how their duties depend on communication skills: "maintained communication with customer service and dispatch regarding deliveries. "
Coordination. Another soft skill that's essential for fulfilling elevator operator duties is coordination. The role rewards competence in this skill because "material moving machine operators must have steady hands and feet to guide and control heavy machinery precisely." According to an elevator operator resume, here's how elevator operators can utilize coordination in their job responsibilities: "meet productivity goals & quality standards- communicate in english, both verbal and written- good hand-eye coordination- attention to detail"
Mechanical skills. elevator operators are also known for mechanical skills, which are critical to their duties. You can see how this skill relates to elevator operator responsibilities, because "material moving machine operators make minor adjustments to their machines and perform basic maintenance on them." An elevator operator resume example shows how mechanical skills is used in the workplace: "adjust, clean, lubricate the mechanical components of a laser ensuring quality standards are met. "
Visual ability. For certain elevator operator responsibilities to be completed, the job requires competence in "visual ability." The day-to-day duties of an elevator operator rely on this skill, as "material moving machine operators must be able to see clearly where they are driving or what they are moving." For example, this snippet was taken directly from a resume about how this skill applies to what elevator operators do: "have experience with cat 966 and cat 980 front end loaders.scrap cuttervisually inspect oxygen and propane lines for damage or leaks. "
The three companies that hire the most elevator operators are:
- Anheuser-Busch12 elevator operators jobs
- Bunge8 elevator operators jobs
- ADM6 elevator operators jobs
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Compare different elevator operators
Elevator operator vs. Conveyor system dispatcher
Operators are skilled workers who are in charge of working on an industrial machine or a specific aspect of the manufacturing business. They are trained to operate machines, learning how to use them. They are also responsible for the maintenance and repair of the machine, and they should be able to troubleshoot problems and provide remedies to them. They must be knowledgeable about the different parts of the machine and how to mitigate any challenges that may arise. Operators should be alert, detail-oriented, and familiar with safety and health guidelines.
There are some key differences in the responsibilities of each position. For example, elevator operator responsibilities require skills like "customer service," "harvest," "governmental regulations," and "reclaiming." Meanwhile a typical conveyor system dispatcher has skills in areas such as "cad," "alarm systems," "nerc," and "customer demand." This difference in skills reveals the differences in what each career does.
On average, conveyor system dispatchers reach similar levels of education than elevator operators. Conveyor system dispatchers are 1.0% more likely to earn a Master's Degree and 0.2% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Elevator operator vs. Packing line operator
In addition to the difference in salary, there are some other key differences worth noting. For example, elevator operator responsibilities are more likely to require skills like "customer service," "harvest," "governmental regulations," and "reclaiming." Meanwhile, a packing line operator has duties that require skills in areas such as "pallets," "quality standards," "production processes," and "quality checks." These differences highlight just how different the day-to-day in each role looks.
On average, packing line operators earn a lower salary than elevator operators. Some industries support higher salaries in each profession. Interestingly enough, packing line operators earn the most pay in the health care industry with an average salary of $35,389. Whereas elevator operators have higher pay in the manufacturing industry, with an average salary of $38,973.Average education levels between the two professions vary. Packing line operators tend to reach similar levels of education than elevator operators. In fact, they're 0.8% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.2% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Elevator operator vs. Bin tripper operator
The required skills of the two careers differ considerably. For example, elevator operators are more likely to have skills like "customer service," "harvest," "governmental regulations," and "reclaiming." But a bin tripper operator is more likely to have skills like "storage bins," "safety standards," "production lines," and "oilfield operation."
Most bin tripper operators achieve a similar degree level compared to elevator operators. For example, they're 2.1% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.2% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Elevator operator vs. Operator
Even though a few skill sets overlap between elevator operators and operators, there are some differences that are important to note. For one, an elevator operator might have more use for skills like "customer service," "harvest," "governmental regulations," and "reclaiming." Meanwhile, some responsibilities of operators require skills like "cdl," "emergency calls," "preventative maintenance," and "quality checks. "
In general, operators earn the most working in the technology industry, with an average salary of $41,321. The highest-paying industry for an elevator operator is the manufacturing industry.In general, operators hold similar degree levels compared to elevator operators. Operators are 0.2% less likely to earn their Master's Degree and 0.0% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Types of elevator operator
Updated January 8, 2025
