Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The differences between furnace operators and laser operators can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a furnace operator has an average salary of $35,972, which is higher than the $34,813 average annual salary of a laser operator.
The top three skills for a furnace operator include math, basic math and cranes. The most important skills for a laser operator are laser cutting, calipers, and laser machine.
| Furnace Operator | Laser Operator | |
| Yearly salary | $35,972 | $34,813 |
| Hourly rate | $17.29 | $16.74 |
| Growth rate | -5% | -8% |
| Number of jobs | 58,975 | 56,479 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 55% | High School Diploma, 42% |
| Average age | 44 | 43 |
| 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.
A Laser Operator is responsible for operating the machine and devices used for laser purposes. They do the engraving and cutting of the metal or plastic parts of the laser device. They set up and adjust the machine lens to meet the correct specification. They also ensure that there will be no issues before and after operating the laser device by routinely checking the equipment. They also need to monitor and do an inventory of instruments and tools required if there are operations or whenever they are required.
Furnace operators and laser operators have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Furnace Operator | Laser Operator | |
| Average salary | $35,972 | $34,813 |
| Salary range | Between $29,000 And $44,000 | Between $27,000 And $44,000 |
| Highest paying City | Rochester, NY | Oregon City, OR |
| Highest paying state | New York | Oregon |
| Best paying company | BWX Technologies | Kloeckner Metals |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Technology |
There are a few differences between a furnace operator and a laser operator in terms of educational background:
| Furnace Operator | Laser Operator | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 55% | High School Diploma, 42% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between furnace operators' and laser operators' demographics:
| Furnace Operator | Laser Operator | |
| Average age | 44 | 43 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 92.6% Female, 7.4% | Male, 82.1% Female, 17.9% |
| 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, 4.8% Unknown, 5.4% Hispanic or Latino, 14.6% Asian, 6.0% White, 68.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9% |
| LGBT Percentage | 7% | 6% |