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The differences between furnace operators and assistant operators can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, an assistant operator has an average salary of $37,607, which is higher than the $35,972 average annual salary of a furnace operator.
The top three skills for a furnace operator include math, basic math and cranes. The most important skills for an assistant operator are customer service, ladders, and safety procedures.
| Furnace Operator | Assistant Operator | |
| Yearly salary | $35,972 | $37,607 |
| Hourly rate | $17.29 | $18.08 |
| Growth rate | -5% | -8% |
| Number of jobs | 58,975 | 88,093 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 55% | Bachelor's Degree, 38% |
| Average age | 44 | 50 |
| Years of experience | - | 2 |
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.
The duties of an assistant operator depend on one's industry of employment or the kind of machine that they are operating. Typically, their tasks may revolve around coordinating with operators and other staff, handling and managing documents, understanding blueprints, and adhering to the directives of operators and supervisors. Furthermore, as an assistant operator, it is essential to perform support tasks, such as preparing tools and conducting regular maintenance checks to ensure the efficiency of machines and maintain a safe work environment.
Furnace operators and assistant operators have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Furnace Operator | Assistant Operator | |
| Average salary | $35,972 | $37,607 |
| Salary range | Between $29,000 And $44,000 | Between $28,000 And $50,000 |
| Highest paying City | Rochester, NY | San Jose, CA |
| Highest paying state | New York | Connecticut |
| Best paying company | BWX Technologies | Massachusetts General Hospital |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Energy |
There are a few differences between a furnace operator and an assistant operator in terms of educational background:
| Furnace Operator | Assistant Operator | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 55% | Bachelor's Degree, 38% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | Western Carolina University |
Here are the differences between furnace operators' and assistant operators' demographics:
| Furnace Operator | Assistant Operator | |
| Average age | 44 | 50 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 92.6% Female, 7.4% | Male, 76.8% Female, 23.2% |
| Race ratio | 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% | Black or African American, 9.2% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 16.1% Asian, 3.8% White, 66.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% |
| LGBT Percentage | 7% | 6% |