Factory worker vs production line worker

The differences between factory workers and production line workers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a factory worker has an average salary of $29,343, which is higher than the $28,844 average annual salary of a production line worker.

The top three skills for a factory worker include line assembly, production process and safety regulations. The most important skills for a production line worker are assembly line, pallet jack, and safety guidelines.

Factory worker vs production line worker overview

	Factory Worker	Production Line Worker
Yearly salary	$29,343	$28,844
Hourly rate	$14.11	$13.87
Growth rate	-	-
Number of jobs	106,768	123,921
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 51%	High School Diploma, 54%
Average age	38	38
Years of experience	-	-

What does a factory worker do?

A factory worker is responsible for manufacturing products using appropriate machinery and equipment. Factory workers' duties include processing the products based on the required quantity and specifications, labeling and safely packaging the merchandise, ensuring that the items are free of any defects before distribution, monitoring the supply inventories, reporting defected machines and equipment, and maintaining the cleanliness of the production area. A factory worker must have excellent time-management skills to produce high-quality products within a specific time frame.

What does a production line worker do?

A production worker is responsible for operating equipment and machinery to support the production process with the highest efficiency and maximum operational performance. Production workers regularly inspect the condition of the machinery, reporting any defects and malfunctions which affect the production process for immediate repairs or replacement. They also conduct quality checks for finished products before release to ensure customer satisfaction and avoid any delays on shipment. A production worker must always adhere to safety standards and protocols set by the management to prevent hazards in the production area.

Factory worker vs production line worker salary

Factory workers and production line workers have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Factory Worker	Production Line Worker
Average salary	$29,343	$28,844
Salary range	Between $22,000 And $38,000	Between $23,000 And $35,000
Highest paying City	Seattle, WA	Seattle, WA
Highest paying state	Washington	Washington
Best paying company	UPS	Anomatic
Best paying industry	Automotive	Automotive

Differences between factory worker and production line worker education

There are a few differences between a factory worker and a production line worker in terms of educational background:

	Factory Worker	Production Line Worker
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 51%	High School Diploma, 54%
Most common major	Business	Business
Most common college	-	-

Factory worker vs production line worker demographics

Here are the differences between factory workers' and production line workers' demographics:

	Factory Worker	Production Line Worker
Average age	38	38
Gender ratio	Male, 56.9% Female, 43.1%	Male, 57.8% Female, 42.2%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 9.9% Unknown, 3.7% Hispanic or Latino, 13.9% Asian, 5.5% White, 66.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%	Black or African American, 12.1% Unknown, 4.0% Hispanic or Latino, 16.4% Asian, 4.5% White, 62.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.0%
LGBT Percentage	9%	9%

Differences between factory worker and production line worker duties and responsibilities

Factory worker example responsibilities.

Assemble automotive windows for Honda and Toyota
Assemble HVAC systems & furnaces.
Perform landscaping, HVAC, assemble tanning beds, and other duties as assigned.
Assemble parts to mowers as line move, keep parts ready to assemble and cardboard and trash clear away.
Maintain seasonal grounds work, lawn mowing, trimming shrubs flowerbeds, spraying pesticides, and other landscaping elements.
Keep production areas in compliance with sanitation standards set by HACCP, FDA, USDA, and customer's requirements.

Production line worker example responsibilities.

Manage and instruct workers in the art of food preparation as culinary team leader.
Inspect food and area to be up to code with FDA.
Build all size windows for different companies.
Wear appropriate PPE for the job being perform.
Maintain sanitized workspaces, remaining compliant with local, state and FDA guidelines.
Train new employees the procedures and protocol of the company and USDA guidelines.

Factory worker vs production line worker skills

Common factory worker skills

Line Assembly, 25%
Production Process, 19%
Safety Regulations, 18%
Pallet Jack, 8%
Temp Service, 5%
Quality Checks, 5%

Common production line worker skills

Assembly Line, 22%
Pallet Jack, 12%
Safety Guidelines, 12%
Machine Operators, 7%
Quality Checks, 6%
Safety Procedures, 5%

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Production and Manufacturing Industry
Factory Worker
Factory Worker vs Production Line Worker

Updated January 8, 2025

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