Furnace operator vs punch press operator

The differences between furnace operators and punch press operators can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a punch press operator has an average salary of $37,977, 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 a punch press operator are calipers, turret punch press, and micrometers.

Furnace operator vs punch press operator overview

	Furnace Operator	Punch Press Operator
Yearly salary	$35,972	$37,977
Hourly rate	$17.29	$18.26
Growth rate	-5%	-5%
Number of jobs	58,975	49,830
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 55%	High School Diploma, 52%
Average age	44	46
Years of experience	-	2

Furnace operator vs punch press operator salary

Furnace operators and punch press operators have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Furnace Operator	Punch Press Operator
Average salary	$35,972	$37,977
Salary range	Between $29,000 And $44,000	Between $29,000 And $48,000
Highest paying City	Rochester, NY	Brooklyn Park, MN
Highest paying state	New York	Minnesota
Best paying company	BWX Technologies	Fortune Brands Home & Security
Best paying industry	Technology	Manufacturing

Differences between furnace operator and punch press operator education

There are a few differences between a furnace operator and a punch press operator in terms of educational background:

	Furnace Operator	Punch Press Operator
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 55%	High School Diploma, 52%
Most common major	Business	General Studies
Most common college	-	-

Furnace operator vs punch press operator demographics

Here are the differences between furnace operators' and punch press operators' demographics:

	Furnace Operator	Punch Press Operator
Average age	44	46
Gender ratio	Male, 92.6% Female, 7.4%	Male, 80.7% Female, 19.3%
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, 7.9% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 13.4% Asian, 1.7% White, 71.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%
LGBT Percentage	7%	3%

Differences between furnace operator and punch press operator duties and responsibilities

Furnace operator example responsibilities.

Lead and coordinate team in all aspects of operation in an aluminum blast furnace.
Manage the master calendar and schedule resources such as communication equipment, weapons, transportation and ammunition forecast and delivery.
Operate ABB robotic cell by loading parts on fixtures to be weld together.
Maintain safety measures and PPE.
Complete minor touch ups with MIG welders.
Spray arc welding utilizing gas shield MIG.

Punch press operator example responsibilities.

Calculate dimensions or tolerances, using instruments such as micrometers or veneer calipers.
Die room equipment Gerber profile 408 cnc router table.
Set up and run all aspects of the stamping process
Possess the ability to effectively utilize advance shop math and computer skills.
Operate forklifts, pallet jacks and hoists to move stock and product.
Grind out burrs and sharp edges, using portable grinders, speed lathes, and polishing jacks.

Furnace operator vs punch press operator skills

Common furnace operator skills

Math, 9%
Basic Math, 9%
Cranes, 9%
Preventative Maintenance, 9%
Safety Procedures, 5%
Brazing, 5%

Common punch press operator skills

Calipers, 14%
Turret Punch Press, 10%
Micrometers, 8%
Math, 7%
Punch Press Machine, 6%
Machine Operation, 5%

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Production and Manufacturing Industry
Furnace Operator
Furnace Operator vs Punch Press Operator

Updated January 8, 2025

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