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The differences between finisher operators and mill operators can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a finisher operator and a mill operator. Additionally, a mill operator has an average salary of $39,045, 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 mill operator are CNC, OSHA, and math.
| Finisher Operator | Mill Operator | |
| Yearly salary | $35,406 | $39,045 |
| Hourly rate | $17.02 | $18.77 |
| Growth rate | 7% | 7% |
| Number of jobs | 77,850 | 64,574 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 45% | High School Diploma, 49% |
| Average age | 43 | 43 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 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.
Mill operators are skilled employees who are responsible for operating and maintaining milling machines that grind materials such as rocks or chemicals at a milling facility. These operators must gather raw materials for production and assist with the inventory of all materials. They must operate a wide variety of equipment such as power saws, sanders, drill press, and basic hand tools while performing regular maintenance and troubleshooting on the milling machines. Mill operators must also attend safety meetings that are held weekly and monthly to ensure machine operators are following safety procedures.
Finisher operators and mill operators have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Finisher Operator | Mill Operator | |
| Average salary | $35,406 | $39,045 |
| Salary range | Between $28,000 And $44,000 | Between $31,000 And $48,000 |
| Highest paying City | Horsham, PA | San Jose, CA |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | Alaska |
| Best paying company | Elanco | Freeport-McMoRan |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Construction |
There are a few differences between a finisher operator and a mill operator in terms of educational background:
| Finisher Operator | Mill Operator | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 45% | High School Diploma, 49% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between finisher operators' and mill operators' demographics:
| Finisher Operator | Mill Operator | |
| Average age | 43 | 43 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 69.4% Female, 30.6% | Male, 92.5% Female, 7.5% |
| 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, 14.4% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 16.0% Asian, 2.4% White, 62.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 4% | 4% |