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The differences between fabrication technicians and line operators can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a fabrication technician has an average salary of $35,582, which is higher than the $34,520 average annual salary of a line operator.
The top three skills for a fabrication technician include hand tools, math and customer service. The most important skills for a line operator are preventative maintenance, PPE, and basic math.
| Fabrication Technician | Line Operator | |
| Yearly salary | $35,582 | $34,520 |
| Hourly rate | $17.11 | $16.60 |
| Growth rate | 14% | 7% |
| Number of jobs | 109,734 | 137,127 |
| Job satisfaction | 5 | - |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 29% | High School Diploma, 49% |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Years of experience | - | - |
Fabrication technicians are skilled employees who are responsible for using specialized equipment to assemble components for a variety of products or finished products. These technicians are required to perform inspections on the tools and mechanical equipment as well as provide maintenance and repair. They are required to complete the assembly of equipment by following the engineering drawings and specifications. Fabrication technicians must also follow established safety procedures when maintaining work areas and troubleshooting problems with machinery.
A line operator is responsible for assisting in warehouse and factory operations, usually assigned on doing heavy works for the production. Line operators' duties include operating manufacturing machines and equipment, placing products on the appropriate shelves, checking supplies and inventories, loading orders for shipments, inspecting products for any defects, labeling products accurately, adhering to the safety procedures to prevent product contamination, and observing sanitary regulations. A line operator must have comprehensive knowledge of the mechanical industry, as well as the ability to multi-task, especially on meeting deadlines and processing customers' orders.
Fabrication technicians and line operators have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Fabrication Technician | Line Operator | |
| Average salary | $35,582 | $34,520 |
| Salary range | Between $26,000 And $47,000 | Between $27,000 And $43,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Jose, CA | Grand Forks, ND |
| Highest paying state | North Dakota | North Dakota |
| Best paying company | Westinghouse Appliances Australia | BD |
| Best paying industry | Finance | Manufacturing |
There are a few differences between a fabrication technician and a line operator in terms of educational background:
| Fabrication Technician | Line Operator | |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 29% | High School Diploma, 49% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between fabrication technicians' and line operators' demographics:
| Fabrication Technician | Line Operator | |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 85.1% Female, 14.9% | Male, 67.6% Female, 32.4% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 12.9% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 17.5% Asian, 9.6% White, 55.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% | Black or African American, 11.9% Unknown, 3.4% Hispanic or Latino, 15.4% Asian, 7.0% White, 61.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 5% | 5% |