Extruder operator vs manufacturing operator

The differences between extruder operators and manufacturing operators can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, an extruder operator has an average salary of $36,707, which is higher than the $34,457 average annual salary of a manufacturing operator.

The top three skills for an extruder operator include extrusion, quality checks and hand tools. The most important skills for a manufacturing operator are basic math, GMP, and math.

Extruder operator vs manufacturing operator overview

	Extruder Operator	Manufacturing Operator
Yearly salary	$36,707	$34,457
Hourly rate	$17.65	$16.57
Growth rate	-5%	2%
Number of jobs	66,729	97,656
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 52%	Bachelor's Degree, 45%
Average age	43	46
Years of experience	-	2

What does an extruder operator do?

An extruder operator's work is essential to industries such as automobile parts manufacturing and aerospace machine manufacturing. They control the machines that make and shape thermoplastic materials. They may also be responsible for training new staff to work on these machines. They also do maintenance on their tools, ensure products meet specifications, and create reports for their supervisors.

What does a manufacturing operator do?

A manufacturing operator is primarily responsible for overseeing and controlling the performance of machines and equipment, ensuring efficiency and smooth workflow. Their responsibilities revolve around monitoring production operations, conducting regular maintenance checks to ensure the accuracy and quality of machinery, performing corrective measures and adjustments as needed, and assessing the quality of finished products, all while adhering to deadlines and goals. Furthermore, it is vital to comply with the company's safety policies and regulations to maintain a safe and healthy work environment for everyone.

Extruder operator vs manufacturing operator salary

Extruder operators and manufacturing operators have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Extruder Operator	Manufacturing Operator
Average salary	$36,707	$34,457
Salary range	Between $29,000 And $45,000	Between $27,000 And $43,000
Highest paying City	Woburn, MA	Fort Collins, CO
Highest paying state	New Hampshire	Wyoming
Best paying company	Baker Hughes	DuPont
Best paying industry	Automotive	Pharmaceutical

Differences between extruder operator and manufacturing operator education

There are a few differences between an extruder operator and a manufacturing operator in terms of educational background:

	Extruder Operator	Manufacturing Operator
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 52%	Bachelor's Degree, 45%
Most common major	Business	Business
Most common college	-	Stanford University

Extruder operator vs manufacturing operator demographics

Here are the differences between extruder operators' and manufacturing operators' demographics:

	Extruder Operator	Manufacturing Operator
Average age	43	46
Gender ratio	Male, 89.6% Female, 10.4%	Male, 69.2% Female, 30.8%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 9.7% Unknown, 2.8% Hispanic or Latino, 12.1% Asian, 2.3% White, 72.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%	Black or African American, 8.8% Unknown, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino, 21.5% Asian, 4.5% White, 60.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%
LGBT Percentage	3%	6%

Differences between extruder operator and manufacturing operator duties and responsibilities

Extruder operator example responsibilities.

Manage the master calendar and schedule resources such as communication equipment, weapons, transportation and ammunition forecast and delivery.
Preform preventative maintenance, troubleshooting, and adjustment/modification of extrusion processes as necessary to maintain production standards.
Doff lines, check and QA materials.
Train other operators on SPC and process improvements.
Operate extruder, vast knowledge in ISO, quality inspection.
Inspect cable in process for resistivity and wall thickness, document on SPC charts.

Manufacturing operator example responsibilities.

Manage multiple large volume fermentation tanks simultaneously.
Manage distillation process to determine product specification compliance, and prepare unit for shutdown or turnaround process.
Prepare, coats and finishes metal and/or other surfaces.
Work inside sterile production room, class 10,000 and ISO 9000.
Experience and certify in handling chemicals with proper PPE acid gear.
Follow ISO work instructions to manufacture and convert high quality polishing pads.

Extruder operator vs manufacturing operator skills

Common extruder operator skills

Extrusion, 13%
Quality Checks, 7%
Hand Tools, 7%
Extruders, 6%
Math, 5%
Safety Standards, 5%

Common manufacturing operator skills

Basic Math, 8%
GMP, 8%
Math, 7%
Hand Tools, 6%
Lean Manufacturing, 5%
Safety Rules, 4%

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Production and Manufacturing Industry
Extruder Operator
Extruder Operator vs Manufacturing Operator

Updated January 8, 2025

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