Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The differences between handle machine operators and relief operators can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a relief operator has an average salary of $42,693, which is higher than the $29,598 average annual salary of a handle machine operator.
The top three skills for a handle machine operator include forklifts, cranes and production lines. The most important skills for a relief operator are food safety, CIP, and PPE.
| Handle Machine Operator | Relief Operator | |
| Yearly salary | $29,598 | $42,693 |
| Hourly rate | $14.23 | $20.53 |
| Growth rate | 7% | 7% |
| Number of jobs | 110,258 | 64,469 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 57% | High School Diploma, 46% |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Years of experience | - | - |
A handle machine operator is responsible for operating production machines, conducting preventive maintenance, and ensuring optimal performance to prevent delays in orders or project deliverables. Handle machine operators analyze schematics and blueprints, inspect components for inconsistencies, replace defective parts, and upgrade systems as needed for higher operational efficiency. They also create resolution records for reference and manage maintenance standards to prevent downtimes. A handle machine operator must have excellent mechanical skills, especially on identifying machine problems and following specifications.
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.
Handle machine operators and relief operators have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Handle Machine Operator | Relief Operator | |
| Average salary | $29,598 | $42,693 |
| Salary range | Between $23,000 And $36,000 | Between $36,000 And $50,000 |
| Highest paying City | Redwood City, CA | Hutchinson, KS |
| Highest paying state | Pennsylvania | Kansas |
| Best paying company | Land O'Lakes | Nestlé |
| Best paying industry | Manufacturing | Energy |
There are a few differences between a handle machine operator and a relief operator in terms of educational background:
| Handle Machine Operator | Relief Operator | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 57% | High School Diploma, 46% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between handle machine operators' and relief operators' demographics:
| Handle Machine Operator | Relief Operator | |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 79.6% Female, 20.4% | Male, 78.2% Female, 21.8% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 12.1% Unknown, 3.4% Hispanic or Latino, 15.8% Asian, 7.1% White, 60.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.2% | Black or African American, 12.0% Unknown, 3.4% Hispanic or Latino, 15.6% Asian, 6.6% White, 61.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 5% | 5% |