What Does a General Machine Operator Do?

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General Machine Operator Responsibilities

Here are examples of responsibilities from real general machine operator resumes representing typical tasks they are likely to perform in their roles.

Lift work pieces to machines using hoists.
Control & troubleshoot automate extrusion line adjusting speed & feed, monitoring temperature, & finish material specification per customers order.
Overlook daily operations of single/twin screw extruders and packaging of finish product.

General Machine Operator Job Description

When it comes to understanding what a general machine operator does, you may be wondering, "should I become a general machine operator?" The data included in this section may help you decide. Compared to other jobs, general machine operators have a growth rate described as "as fast as average" at 4% between the years 2018 - 2028, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. In fact, the number of general machine operator opportunities that are predicted to open up by 2028 is 32,600.

General machine operators average about $15.58 an hour, which makes the general machine operator annual salary $32,414. Additionally, general machine operators are known to earn anywhere from $26,000 to $39,000 a year. This means that the top-earning general machine operators make $12,000 more than the lowest earning ones.

It's hard work to become a general machine operator, but even the most dedicated employees consider switching careers from time to time. Whether you're interested in a more challenging position or just looking for a fresh start, we've compiled extensive information on becoming a mill operator, machine operator/forklift operator, saw operator, and relief operator.

Learn More About General Machine Operator Job Descriptions

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5 General Machine Operator Resume Examples

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Gary Ramirez General Machine Operator Contact Information Charlotte, NC (390) 555-2597 gramirez@example.com Skills Quality Checks Fiber Glass Automotive Parts SPC Poultry Products Meat Products Daily Production Assembly Line Usda RAN Employment History General Machine Operator 2012 - Present Shutterfly Charlotte, NC Use a computer automated system to find customer orders and print. Checked for imperfections in products through computer use, trained new employees, and put in daily quality checks. Certified Xerox iGen4 Digital Press Operator. Forming Roll Operator 2011 - 2012 Aerotek Charlotte, NC Assisted with printing and press machine Operated a digital CNC controlled brake press, worked from blue prints and utilized measuring devices Perform quality checks on products and parts Assemble units according to S.O.P Review work to ensure assembly is performed perfectly Inspected and measured work pieces using measuring instruments, such as gauges or micrometers for conformance to specifications. Deboner 2009 - 2011 Pilgrim's Pride Sumter, SC Used knife to debone thight meat for production Cut, sliced and trimmed poultry meat by use of knives, cleavers and meat saws. Use knives, cleavers, meat saws, band saws, or other equipment to perform meat cutting and trimming. Education High School Diploma 2009 - 2009


Ralph Brooks General Machine Operator Contact Info New York, NY (680) 555-5797 rbrooks@example.com Skills Tape MeasureCustomer ServiceTroubleshootWarehouse EnvironmentAssembly LineCNCPPEFood PreparationCompany GoalsMachine Operators Employment History General Machine Operator 2019 - Present Adecco Staffing, USA New York, NY Installed transmission bolts and solenoids using air gun and used press machine to install transmission rings. Operate mold presses, testers, and machines used in the production process. Inspected Plastic parts for defects. Operated printing equipment to provide high quality and timely products with specific responsibility of one or more pieces of equipment. Maintain machine operation in order to meet production requirements. General Helper 2017 - 2019 Tyson Foods Pine Bluff, AR Monitored and adjusted production processes or equipment for quality and productivity. Check chicken tenders, weight checking, and FP chicken nuggets Accomplishments Cutlery, PPE, Sanitation, Pick boxes up and stack them on pallets off the assembly line. Knife jobs on assembly line, boxing and bagging product, Worked in cold area cutting and packaging meat Interpreted for non-English speaking employees in communication with administration and during training General Machine Operator 2016 - 2017 Tyson Foods Pine Bluff, AR Wear required PPE as needed. Receive, check and store raw materials. Machine Operator ~ maintained ingredient level in a machine that coated the products moving on the assembly line. Education High School Diploma 2016 - 2016


Ralph Brooks General Machine Operator New York, NY (680) 555-5797 rbrooks@example.com Experience General Machine Operator2019 - Present Adecco Staffing, USA•New York, NY Installed transmission bolts and solenoids using air gun and used press machine to install transmission rings. Operate mold presses, testers, and machines used in the production process. Inspected Plastic parts for defects. Operated printing equipment to provide high quality and timely products with specific responsibility of one or more pieces of equipment. Maintain machine operation in order to meet production requirements. General Helper2017 - 2019 Tyson Foods•Pine Bluff, AR Monitored and adjusted production processes or equipment for quality and productivity. Check chicken tenders, weight checking, and FP chicken nuggets Accomplishments Cutlery, PPE, Sanitation, Pick boxes up and stack them on pallets off the assembly line. Knife jobs on assembly line, boxing and bagging product, Worked in cold area cutting and packaging meat Interpreted for non-English speaking employees in communication with administration and during training General Machine Operator2016 - 2017 Tyson Foods•Pine Bluff, AR Wear required PPE as needed. Receive, check and store raw materials. Machine Operator ~ maintained ingredient level in a machine that coated the products moving on the assembly line. Skills Tape MeasureCustomer ServiceTroubleshootWarehouse EnvironmentAssembly LineCNCPPEFood PreparationCompany GoalsMachine Operators Education High School Diploma 2016 - 2016

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General Machine Operator Skills and Personality Traits

We calculated that 12% of General Machine Operators are proficient in Math, CNC, and Safety Procedures. They’re also known for soft skills such as Communication skills, Coordination, and Visual ability.

We break down the percentage of General Machine Operators that have these skills listed on their resume here:

Math, 12%
Produced and maintained accurate documentation for production reports using math and computer skills.
CNC, 10%
Operated and programmed CNC Milling, Plasma Arc and Flame cutting CNC Machinery.
Safety Procedures, 10%
Maintained a clean and safe work environment by practicing safety procedures.
Troubleshoot, 9%
Maintain machinery integrity and troubleshoot equipment issues Skills :.
Production Process, 8%
Worked on or ran 8 different machines, gained understanding of the lumber production process as a whole.
Machine Operation, 6%
Perform machine operations per specified parameters and Standard Operating Procedures.

Choose From 10+ Customizable General Machine Operator Resume templates

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"math," "cnc," and "safety procedures" aren't the only skills we found general machine operators list on their resumes. In fact, there's a whole list of general machine operator responsibilities that we found, including:

Communication skills can be considered to be the most important personality trait for a general machine operator to have. According to a general machine operator resume, "material moving machine operators signal and direct workers to load and unload material" general machine operators are able to use communication skills in the following example we gathered from a resume: "generate samples for quality control, break relief employees, follow gmp's, and implement team dynamics with communication. "

Another commonly found skill for being able to perform general machine operator duties is the following: coordination. According to a general machine operator resume, "material moving machine operators should have steady hands and feet to guide and control heavy machinery precisely." Check out this example of how general machine operators use coordination: "operated production machinery utilized good communication skill to interact well with co-workers possess good hand-eye coordination ability to perform repetitive tasks"

General machine operators are also known for visual ability, which can be critical when it comes to performing their duties. An example of why this skill is important is shown by this snippet that we found in a general machine operator resume: "material moving machine operators must be able to see clearly where they are driving or what they are moving" We also found this resume example that details how this skill is put to the test: "performed visual inspections on sensitive production lines. "

See the full list of general machine operator skills.

Those general machine operators who do attend college, typically earn either a business degree or a general studies degree. Less commonly earned degrees for general machine operators include a criminal justice degree or a automotive technology degree.

Once you're ready to become a general machine operator, you should explore the companies that typically hire general machine operators. According to general machine operator resumes that we searched through, general machine operators are hired the most by Garney Holding Company, Cargill, and Orchid Orthopedic Solutions. Currently, Garney Holding Company has 8 general machine operator job openings, while there are 7 at Cargill and 6 at Orchid Orthopedic Solutions.

If you're interested in companies where general machine operators make the most money, you'll want to apply for positions at Reckitt Benckiser, DuPont, and Cargill. We found that at Reckitt Benckiser, the average general machine operator salary is $40,951. Whereas at DuPont, general machine operators earn roughly $40,516. And at Cargill, they make an average salary of $40,179.

View more details on general machine operator salaries across the United States.

If you earned a degree from the top 100 educational institutions in the United States, you might want to take a look at ManpowerGroup, Kelly Services, and Johnson Controls. These three companies have hired a significant number of general machine operators from these institutions.

The industries that general machine operators fulfill the most roles in are the professional and manufacturing industries. But the highest general machine operator annual salary is in the finance industry, averaging $35,435. In the manufacturing industry they make $35,376 and average about $34,164 in the automotive industry. In conclusion, general machine operators who work in the finance industry earn a 16.7% higher salary than general machine operators in the retail industry.

The three companies that hire the most prestigious general machine operators are:

Garney Holding Company8 General Machine Operators Jobs
Cargill7 General Machine Operators Jobs
Orchid Orthopedic Solutions6 General Machine Operators Jobs

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What Mill Operators Do

Mill operators are skilled employees who are responsible for operating and maintaining milling machines that grind materials such as rocks or chemicals at a milling facility. These operators must gather raw materials for production and assist with the inventory of all materials. They must operate a wide variety of equipment such as power saws, sanders, drill press, and basic hand tools while performing regular maintenance and troubleshooting on the milling machines. Mill operators must also attend safety meetings that are held weekly and monthly to ensure machine operators are following safety procedures.

We looked at the average general machine operator annual salary and compared it with the average of a mill operator. Generally speaking, mill operators receive $6,631 higher pay than general machine operators per year.

Even though general machine operators and mill operators have vast differences in their careers, a few of the skills required to do both jobs are similar. For example, both careers require math, cnc, and safety procedures in the day-to-day roles.

As far as similarities go, this is where it ends because a general machine operator responsibility requires skills such as "safety regulations," "product specifications," "assembly line," and "pallet jack." Whereas a mill operator is skilled in "osha," "calipers," "hand tools," and "basic math." So if you're looking for what truly separates the two careers, you've found it.

Mill operators really shine in the construction industry with an average salary of $41,320. Whereas general machine operators tend to make the most money in the finance industry with an average salary of $35,435.

Mill operators tend to reach similar levels of education than general machine operators. In fact, mill operators are 0.0% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.1% more likely to have a Doctoral Degree.

What Are The Duties Of a Machine Operator/Forklift Operator?

A machine operator/forklift operator is responsible for operating industrial trucks to move merchandise around the warehouse facilities and other assigned areas. Machine operators/forklift operators also assist with inventory tasks by scanning orders and ensuring the correct merchandise for shipment. They manage the stability of the vehicles, ensuring its efficiency and optimization during operations, performing engine repairs for any inconsistencies to avoid delays on deliveries. A machine operator/forklift operator should strictly follow the safety protocols of the business, as well as have knowledge of the mechanical industry.

Now we're going to look at the machine operator/forklift operator profession. On average, machine operator/forklift operators earn a $38 higher salary than general machine operators a year.

A similarity between the two careers of general machine operators and machine operator/forklift operators are a few of the skills associated with both roles. We used resumes from both professions to find that both use skills like "cnc," "safety procedures," and "troubleshoot. "

But both careers also use different skills, according to real general machine operator resumes. While general machine operator responsibilities can utilize skills like "math," "production equipment," "safety regulations," and "product specifications," some machine operator/forklift operators use skills like "safety standards," "drive forklift," "load trucks," and "electric pallet jack."

It's been discovered that machine operator/forklift operators earn higher salaries compared to general machine operators, but we wanted to find out where machine operator/forklift operators earned the most pay. The answer? The automotive industry. The average salary in the industry is $36,711. Additionally, general machine operators earn the highest paychecks in the finance with an average salary of $35,435.

On the topic of education, machine operator/forklift operators earn similar levels of education than general machine operators. In general, they're 0.1% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.1% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

How a Saw Operator Compares

Saw operators are responsible for setting up and operating power saws to slot, cut, and trim metallic and non-metallic materials. They are the ones who choose and install blades on machinery using hand-tools and verify dimensions of finished material using measuring devices. They may perform additional tasks such as loading saws and monitoring sawing operations, and replacing damaged or worn saw blades. Saw operators are also responsible for recording data on production reports and assisting staff with the maintenance and repair of saw equipment.

The saw operator profession generally makes a lower amount of money when compared to the average salary of general machine operators. The difference in salaries is saw operators making $95 lower than general machine operators.

By looking over several general machine operators and saw operators resumes, we found that both roles utilize similar skills, such as "math," "cnc," and "safety procedures." But beyond that the careers look very different.

There are many key differences between these two careers as shown by resumes from each profession. Some of those differences include the skills required to complete responsibilities within each role. As an example of this, a general machine operator is likely to be skilled in "troubleshoot," "production process," "production equipment," and "ppe," while a typical saw operator is skilled in "hand tools," "basic math," "aluminum," and "overhead cranes."

Interestingly enough, saw operators earn the most pay in the construction industry, where they command an average salary of $36,227. As mentioned previously, general machine operators highest annual salary comes from the finance industry with an average salary of $35,435.

Saw operators typically study at similar levels compared with general machine operators. For example, they're 0.1% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.1% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

Description Of a Relief Operator

A relief operator job depends on the institution or organization. Their main jobs include examining, measuring, and weighing materials or products to verify conformance to specifications, using measuring devices such as rulers, micrometers, or scales. Their additional responsibilities include maintaining regular contact and communication with customers to resolve concerns, issues, and complaints.

Relief operators tend to earn a higher pay than general machine operators by about $10,279 per year.

While both general machine operators and relief operators complete day-to-day tasks using similar skills like safety procedures, production process, and production equipment, the two careers also vary in other skills.

Even though a few skill sets overlap, there are some differences that are important to note. For one, a general machine operator might have more use for skills like "math," "cnc," "troubleshoot," and "machine operation." Meanwhile, some relief operators might include skills like "food safety," "cip," "basic math," and "cdl" on their resume.

Relief operators earn a higher salary in the energy industry with an average of $46,955. Whereas, general machine operators earn the highest salary in the finance industry.

The average resume of relief operators showed that they earn similar levels of education to general machine operators. So much so that the likelihood of them earning a Master's Degree is 0.4% less. Additionally, they're less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree by 0.0%.

Updated October 2, 2020