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The differences between furnace operators and extrusion operators can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, an extrusion operator has an average salary of $36,571, 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 extrusion operator are extrusion, hand tools, and math.
| Furnace Operator | Extrusion Operator | |
| Yearly salary | $35,972 | $36,571 |
| Hourly rate | $17.29 | $17.58 |
| Growth rate | -5% | -5% |
| Number of jobs | 58,975 | 58,622 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 55% | High School Diploma, 53% |
| Average age | 44 | 43 |
| Years of experience | - | - |
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.
An extrusion operator is also sometimes called a drawing machine operator. They control and monitor machines that shape thermoplastic materials for industries such as aerospace manufacturing, general plastics manufacturing, and automobile and auto parts manufacturing. An extrusion operator sets up and operates a machine following established procedures, guidelines, and customer requirement. Mechanical skills are the very foundation of being an extrusion operator. An extrusion operator also needs physical strength, stamina, computer skills, and critical thinking skills.
Furnace operators and extrusion operators have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Furnace Operator | Extrusion Operator | |
| Average salary | $35,972 | $36,571 |
| Salary range | Between $29,000 And $44,000 | Between $29,000 And $45,000 |
| Highest paying City | Rochester, NY | Minnetonka, MN |
| Highest paying state | New York | Connecticut |
| Best paying company | BWX Technologies | BD |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Automotive |
There are a few differences between a furnace operator and an extrusion operator in terms of educational background:
| Furnace Operator | Extrusion Operator | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 55% | High School Diploma, 53% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between furnace operators' and extrusion operators' demographics:
| Furnace Operator | Extrusion Operator | |
| Average age | 44 | 43 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 92.6% Female, 7.4% | Male, 88.6% Female, 11.4% |
| 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, 9.7% Unknown, 2.8% Hispanic or Latino, 12.1% Asian, 2.3% White, 72.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 7% | 3% |