Forming machine operator vs machine operator/forklift operator

The differences between forming machine operators and machine operator/forklift operators can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a forming machine operator has an average salary of $35,252, which is higher than the $32,452 average annual salary of a machine operator/forklift operator.

The top three skills for a forming machine operator include quality standards, safety rules and troubleshoot. The most important skills for a machine operator/forklift operator are safety standards, drive forklift, and load trucks.

Forming machine operator vs machine operator/forklift operator overview

	Forming Machine Operator	Machine Operator/Forklift Operator
Yearly salary	$35,252	$32,452
Hourly rate	$16.95	$15.60
Growth rate	7%	7%
Number of jobs	65,510	120,073
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 47%	High School Diploma, 61%
Average age	44	43
Years of experience	-	4

Forming machine operator vs machine operator/forklift operator salary

Forming machine operators and machine operator/forklift operators have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Forming Machine Operator	Machine Operator/Forklift Operator
Average salary	$35,252	$32,452
Salary range	Between $26,000 And $46,000	Between $26,000 And $39,000
Highest paying City	Allentown, PA	Renton, WA
Highest paying state	Connecticut	Alaska
Best paying company	AMETEK	TreeHouse Foods
Best paying industry	-	Automotive

Differences between forming machine operator and machine operator/forklift operator education

There are a few differences between a forming machine operator and a machine operator/forklift operator in terms of educational background:

	Forming Machine Operator	Machine Operator/Forklift Operator
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 47%	High School Diploma, 61%
Most common major	Business	Business
Most common college	-	-

Forming machine operator vs machine operator/forklift operator demographics

Here are the differences between forming machine operators' and machine operator/forklift operators' demographics:

	Forming Machine Operator	Machine Operator/Forklift Operator
Average age	44	43
Gender ratio	Male, 78.3% Female, 21.7%	Male, 89.9% Female, 10.1%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 11.3% Unknown, 3.4% Hispanic or Latino, 16.4% Asian, 7.0% White, 60.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.2%	Black or African American, 16.6% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 18.5% Asian, 2.3% White, 57.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%
LGBT Percentage	5%	4%

Differences between forming machine operator and machine operator/forklift operator duties and responsibilities

Forming machine operator example responsibilities.

Design all extrusion dies and their support tooling.
Utilize CNC machinery for shaping and routing of materials for final product.
Trouble shooting CNC programs and re writing programs to edit to meet measurement specification.
Machine parts according to customer specifications utilizing calipers.
Work with injection molding manufacturing hospital product parts -operate machines in departments of extrusion and injection molding -Experience with digital calipers.
Stack pieces onto pallet, strap and then wrap the pallet up and label with customers information for pick up date.

Machine operator/forklift operator example responsibilities.

Use automate systems and RF units to pull, put away and load customer product, in addition to managing inventory
Measure position of sheet with cores for evenly run product.
Keep inventory of products being run on a daily basis.
Support operation of rotary die cutter equipment QA testing to follow prescribe guidelines.
Operate power shovels, scrapers, backhoes, loaders, bulldozer, dump truck, forklift.
Operate machinery to perform activities such as backfilling excavations, vibrating and breaking rock and concrete and making winter roads.

Forming machine operator vs machine operator/forklift operator skills

Common forming machine operator skills

Quality Standards, 18%
Safety Rules, 10%
Troubleshoot, 7%
Tape Measure, 6%
Pallets, 6%
Cranes, 6%

Common machine operator/forklift operator skills

Safety Standards, 17%
Drive Forklift, 9%
Load Trucks, 8%
Machine Operation, 6%
CNC, 6%
Electric Pallet Jack, 6%

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Production and Manufacturing Industry
Forming Machine Operator
Forming Machine Operator vs Machine Operator/Forklift Operator

Updated January 8, 2025

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