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The differences between equipment operators and crane operators can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both an equipment operator and a crane operator. Additionally, a crane operator has an average salary of $54,275, which is higher than the $31,739 average annual salary of an equipment operator.
The top three skills for an equipment operator include CDL, loaders and asphalt. The most important skills for a crane operator are cranes, NCCCO, and CDL.
| Equipment Operator | Crane Operator | |
| Yearly salary | $31,739 | $54,275 |
| Hourly rate | $15.26 | $26.09 |
| Growth rate | 5% | 7% |
| Number of jobs | 62,473 | 34,918 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 4.67 |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 46% | High School Diploma, 56% |
| Average age | 45 | 47 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
Equipment operators are employees who are assigned to work on specific company equipment. They are skilled workers trained to handle all aspects of the particular equipment, from basic operating to repairing. They use the equipment and ensure that safety standards are being followed. Aside from managing the equipment, they are also in charge of repairs and maintenance. They are responsible for ensuring that the machine works properly, troubleshooting if there are challenges encountered, and repairing any problems. Equipment operators are reliable, trustworthy, and attentive.
A crane operator's work involves the control of draglines or cranes to lift, move, position or place machinery, equipment, and other large objects at industrial or construction sites, ports, surface mines, railway yards, and other similar locations. Their tasks and duties include conducting crane maintenance such as lubricating and cleaning, inspecting cranes, and assembling tower cranes. Some of them work with all three cranes, namely the boom trucks, mobile cranes, and tower cranes, while others prefer to specialize.
Equipment operators and crane operators have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Equipment Operator | Crane Operator | |
| Average salary | $31,739 | $54,275 |
| Salary range | Between $24,000 And $40,000 | Between $35,000 And $83,000 |
| Highest paying City | Indianapolis, IN | Vancouver, WA |
| Highest paying state | Connecticut | Washington |
| Best paying company | Nelsen Partners | Katerra |
| Best paying industry | Energy | Energy |
There are a few differences between an equipment operator and a crane operator in terms of educational background:
| Equipment Operator | Crane Operator | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 46% | High School Diploma, 56% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between equipment operators' and crane operators' demographics:
| Equipment Operator | Crane Operator | |
| Average age | 45 | 47 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 93.0% Female, 7.0% | Male, 95.5% Female, 4.5% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 7.4% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 18.9% Asian, 0.9% White, 66.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.9% | Black or African American, 10.5% Unknown, 3.6% Hispanic or Latino, 18.3% Asian, 0.7% White, 65.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.5% |
| LGBT Percentage | 2% | 2% |