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The differences between engine room operators and assistant operators can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both an engine room operator and an assistant operator. Additionally, an assistant operator has an average salary of $37,607, which is higher than the $37,546 average annual salary of an engine room operator.
The top three skills for an engine room operator include troubleshoot, math and safety procedures. The most important skills for an assistant operator are customer service, ladders, and safety procedures.
| Engine Room Operator | Assistant Operator | |
| Yearly salary | $37,546 | $37,607 |
| Hourly rate | $18.05 | $18.08 |
| Growth rate | 4% | -8% |
| Number of jobs | 61,977 | 88,093 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 38% | Bachelor's Degree, 38% |
| Average age | 50 | 50 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
An Engine Room Operator is one who operates and monitors the engines of a ship. This person is responsible for inspecting the engine, managing its operation, and reporting immediately any problems and requests for repairs, troubleshoots, and upgrades for the engine. The maintenance inside the engine room is essential for the continued operation of the ship. Included in the responsibilities is ensuring the engine area's safety and its personnel from any problems, such as fires, preventable mishaps, and accidents.
The duties of an assistant operator depend on one's industry of employment or the kind of machine that they are operating. Typically, their tasks may revolve around coordinating with operators and other staff, handling and managing documents, understanding blueprints, and adhering to the directives of operators and supervisors. Furthermore, as an assistant operator, it is essential to perform support tasks, such as preparing tools and conducting regular maintenance checks to ensure the efficiency of machines and maintain a safe work environment.
Engine room operators and assistant operators have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Engine Room Operator | Assistant Operator | |
| Average salary | $37,546 | $37,607 |
| Salary range | Between $28,000 And $49,000 | Between $28,000 And $50,000 |
| Highest paying City | - | San Jose, CA |
| Highest paying state | - | Connecticut |
| Best paying company | - | Massachusetts General Hospital |
| Best paying industry | - | Energy |
There are a few differences between an engine room operator and an assistant operator in terms of educational background:
| Engine Room Operator | Assistant Operator | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 38% | Bachelor's Degree, 38% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | Western Carolina University |
Here are the differences between engine room operators' and assistant operators' demographics:
| Engine Room Operator | Assistant Operator | |
| Average age | 50 | 50 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 55.7% Female, 44.3% | Male, 76.8% Female, 23.2% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 10.0% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 18.3% Asian, 7.7% White, 59.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% | Black or African American, 9.2% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 16.1% Asian, 3.8% White, 66.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% |
| LGBT Percentage | 4% | 6% |