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The differences between equipment operators/labour and 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/labour and an operator. Additionally, an operator has an average salary of $37,928, which is higher than the $33,959 average annual salary of an equipment operator/labour.
The top three skills for an equipment operator/labour include backhoe, loaders and dump truck. The most important skills for an operator are safety procedures, CDL, and emergency calls.
| Equipment Operator/Labour | Operator | |
| Yearly salary | $33,959 | $37,928 |
| Hourly rate | $16.33 | $18.23 |
| Growth rate | 5% | 7% |
| Number of jobs | 60,770 | 159,077 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 57% | High School Diploma, 40% |
| Average age | 45 | 43 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
Heavy equipment operators control and drive construction equipment. The operators operate heavy equipment, including backhoes, bulldozers, and lift. They are in charge of placing or moving materials and other equipment. Their job covers the inspection, cleanup, lubrication, and refilling of equipment. They should have experience in operating machines. Among the skills necessary for this job include attention to detail, physical strength, knowledge of production procedure, and analytical skills. They should be able to read schematics, manuals, and blueprints.
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.
Equipment operators/labour and operators have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Equipment Operator/Labour | Operator | |
| Average salary | $33,959 | $37,928 |
| Salary range | Between $26,000 And $43,000 | Between $27,000 And $53,000 |
| Highest paying City | Hartford, CT | San Jose, CA |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | North Dakota |
| Best paying company | MDU Resources | Microsoft |
| Best paying industry | Education | Technology |
There are a few differences between an equipment operator/labour and an operator in terms of educational background:
| Equipment Operator/Labour | Operator | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 57% | High School Diploma, 40% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between equipment operators/labour' and operators' demographics:
| Equipment Operator/Labour | Operator | |
| Average age | 45 | 43 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 94.3% Female, 5.7% | Male, 73.0% Female, 27.0% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 8.0% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 16.2% Asian, 0.9% White, 68.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.9% | Black or African American, 16.2% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 18.6% Asian, 2.5% White, 57.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 2% | 4% |