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The differences between finisher operators and pack machine operators can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a finisher operator has an average salary of $35,406, which is higher than the $35,157 average annual salary of a pack machine operator.
The top three skills for a finisher operator include hand tools, math and quality checks. The most important skills for a pack machine operator are basic math, defective products, and team-oriented environment.
| Finisher Operator | Pack Machine Operator | |
| Yearly salary | $35,406 | $35,157 |
| Hourly rate | $17.02 | $16.90 |
| Growth rate | 7% | 7% |
| Number of jobs | 77,850 | 68,876 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 45% | High School Diploma, 54% |
| 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 pack machine operator is an employee who is responsible for operating and maintaining packaging machines to prepare industrial and consumer products for storage or shipment. Pack machine operators observe machine operations to ensure quality and conformity of filled or packaged products are up to standards. They monitor the production line to avoid problems such as pile-ups or jams while removing defective products and packaging material. Pack machine operators must also conduct maintenance of the packaging machines on a weekly to monthly basis.
Finisher operators and pack machine operators have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Finisher Operator | Pack Machine Operator | |
| Average salary | $35,406 | $35,157 |
| Salary range | Between $28,000 And $44,000 | Between $28,000 And $43,000 |
| Highest paying City | Horsham, PA | Minneapolis, MN |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | North Dakota |
| Best paying company | Elanco | Reser's Fine Foods |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Manufacturing |
There are a few differences between a finisher operator and a pack machine operator in terms of educational background:
| Finisher Operator | Pack Machine Operator | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 45% | High School Diploma, 54% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between finisher operators' and pack machine operators' demographics:
| Finisher Operator | Pack Machine Operator | |
| Average age | 43 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 69.4% Female, 30.6% | Male, 53.6% Female, 46.4% |
| 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, 12.2% Unknown, 3.4% Hispanic or Latino, 16.3% Asian, 7.4% White, 59.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 4% | 5% |