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The differences between finisher operators and furnace operators can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a furnace operator has an average salary of $35,972, which is higher than the $35,406 average annual salary of a finisher operator.
The top three skills for a finisher operator include hand tools, math and quality checks. The most important skills for a furnace operator are math, basic math, and cranes.
| Finisher Operator | Furnace Operator | |
| Yearly salary | $35,406 | $35,972 |
| Hourly rate | $17.02 | $17.29 |
| Growth rate | 7% | -5% |
| Number of jobs | 77,850 | 58,975 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 45% | High School Diploma, 55% |
| Average age | 43 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 4 | - |
A finisher operator finalizes a product. They put on the final layer of paint, stitching, engraving or cloth on the product to complete it. They may also restore furniture by fixing dents or discoloration. They are responsible for making sure that their equipment does not malfunction and making minor repairs. They assist in trimming, molding, packing, and transporting the final product, and they are also responsible for final quality control.
A furnace operator records time and production data, adjusts thermostats, and observes a pyrometer to maintain the temperature between specified limits. The operators set furnace control to regulate the temperature and heating time. They measure the temperature of the products to determine the necessity for adjusting furnace temperature using thermal instruments and charts. Their duties include the removal of materials from the furnace using signals overhead crane operator and transfer it to the next station and open furnace doors. This process will allow them to admit slabs, sheet, plate, and coil to lower ingots and uncover soaking pits into them.
Finisher operators and furnace operators have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Finisher Operator | Furnace Operator | |
| Average salary | $35,406 | $35,972 |
| Salary range | Between $28,000 And $44,000 | Between $29,000 And $44,000 |
| Highest paying City | Horsham, PA | Rochester, NY |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | New York |
| Best paying company | Elanco | BWX Technologies |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Technology |
There are a few differences between a finisher operator and a furnace operator in terms of educational background:
| Finisher Operator | Furnace Operator | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 45% | High School Diploma, 55% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between finisher operators' and furnace operators' demographics:
| Finisher Operator | Furnace Operator | |
| Average age | 43 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 69.4% Female, 30.6% | Male, 92.6% Female, 7.4% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 15.0% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 16.5% Asian, 2.5% White, 60.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% | Black or African American, 10.9% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 17.0% Asian, 3.6% White, 62.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9% |
| LGBT Percentage | 4% | 7% |