What Does a Handle Machine Operator Do?

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.

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Handle Machine Operator Responsibilities

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

Operate CNC to manufacture table tops, end tables, desks, and other products.
Produce machined parts by programming, setting up and operation a computer numerical control CNC machine.
Document lens specifications according to FDA regulations.
Record statistics on ISO documentation, and coordinate with machine technicians and electrical technicians to keep machines operating at maximum efficiency.
Overlook daily operations of single/twin screw extruders and packaging of finish product.

Handle Machine Operator Job Description

Perhaps the hardest question to answer when deciding on a career as a handle machine operator is "should I become a handle machine operator?" You might find this info to be helpful. When compared to other jobs, handle machine operator careers are projected to have a growth rate described as "as fast as average" at 4% from 2018 through 2028. This is in accordance with the Bureau of Labor Statistics. What's more, is that the projected number of opportunities that are predicted to become available for a handle machine operator by 2028 is 32,600.

On average, the handle machine operator annual salary is $29,598 per year, which translates to $14.23 an hour. Generally speaking, handle machine operators earn anywhere from $23,000 to $36,000 a year, which means that the top-earning handle machine operators make $10,000 more than the ones at the lower end of the spectrum.

As is the case with most jobs, it takes work to become a handle machine operator. Sometimes people change their minds about their career after working in the profession. That's why we looked into some other professions that might help you find your next opportunity. These professions include a production operator, pack out operator, forklift operator, and cell operator.

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12 Handle Machine Operator Resume Examples

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Kathleen Fox Handle Machine Operator Contact Information Monroe, NC (690) 555-5485 kfox@example.com Skills Heavy Equipment Customer Orders SPC Drill Press Perfect Attendance Safety Standards Quality Standards Car Parts Quality Products Safety Rules Employment History Handle Machine Operator 2011 - Present Tyson Foods Monroe, NC Weigh and check poultry to ensure the conformity to standards in the production process. Moved pallets and staged products using pallet jacks or forklift. Production Line Operator 2008 - 2011 Aerotek Charlotte, NC Perform receiving quality checks on inbound materials and apply modern statistical process controls to track supplier performance. Assist line associates with packing and loading goods * Operated assembly line meat slicer Assisted the assembly line efficiently. Operate power pumps and auxiliary equipment to produce flow of oil or gas from wells in oil field. Press Machine Operator 2005 - 2008 Staffmark Holdings Cincinnati, OH Perform quality checks on products and parts Package finished products for shipment Maintain a clean work area Followed batch sheet accurately measures and adds ingredients to spice mixtures which blend and feed to the production line. Operated machinery and equipment (plasma tables, metal brakes, drill press, etc. Education High School Diploma 2005 - 2005


Mary Freeman Handle Machine Operator Contact Info Saint Paul, MN (380) 555-4430 mfreeman@example.com Skills Line ClearanceForkliftsHand LinesODCar PartsCompany GoalsProduction ReportsScrew MachinesHand ToolsCalibrate Employment History Handle Machine Operator 2020 - Present 3M Saint Paul, MN Followed all receiving safety procedures. Directed labor to complete daily operations while prioritizing multiple jobs in order to meet deadlines. Supervised fabrication area, fabricated and welded aluminum enclosures, gave presentations at stock holder meetings. Trimmer Operator 2017 - 2020 3M Saint Paul, MN Validated that only high quality products were produced and shipped by the deadline. Observe and comply with all safety procedures. Determined conditions hindering course of work on assembly line. Grinding Machine Operator (Part-Time) 2016 - 2017 Ortho Clinical Diagnostics Rochester, NY Machine Operator/Production worker/Inspector in Clean room facility Use tweezers, microscopes to help inspect product Comply with all health and safety procedures, utilize computer system to track and locate production units. Used hand tools and precision instruments.Entered commands or adjusted controls. Education Associate's Degree Mechanical Engineering 2015 - 2017 Rochester Institute of Technology Rochester, NY


Billy Hudson Handle Machine Operator Monroe, LA (780) 555-3761 bhudson@example.com Experience Handle Machine Operator2020 - Present Berry Co•Monroe, LA Followed all safety rules and position standard operating procedures. Performed quality checks hourly to insure a good product. Lining Machine Operator2019 - 2020 Randstad USA•Alpharetta, GA Stack boxes and place in designated area for shipping, using an rf scanner. Worked on production assembly line. Utilize forklift and electric pallet jack to move material to finished area to be shipped. Loaded and unloaded processing equipment and conveyance used to receive raw materials and to ship finished products. Perform high quality tasks while trimming excess plastic from parts Load and operate CNC lathe and milling machines, setup and operate manual lathe and milling machines. Warehouse Picker2017 - 2019 The Coca-Cola Company•Atlanta, GA Transport raw materials, full goods and/or finished goods to designated area. Operated pallet jack in order to lift full pallets of merchandise Transported pallets to delivery trucks to be shipped Restocked shelves Provide customer service answering call and placing orders. Skills QCVerbal InstructionsAutomotive PartsMachine PartsCustomer OrdersCar PartsProduct ItemsProduction SchedulesForkliftsProduct Selection Education High School Diploma 2017 - 2017

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Handle Machine Operator Skills and Personality Traits

We calculated that 13% of Handle Machine Operators are proficient in Forklifts, Cranes, and Production Lines. They’re also known for soft skills such as Communication skills, Coordination, and Visual ability.

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

Forklifts, 13%
Operated various machines/equipment From cranes to forklifts
Cranes, 13%
Secured lifting attachments to materials and conveyed load to destination, using hand-operated crane or hoist.
Production Lines, 13%
Supply necessary raw material and components to the production lines in a large pharmaceutical manufacturing facility.
Safety Procedures, 10%
Follow safety procedures and regulations disposing of materials.
Customer Orders, 8%
Uploaded product deliveries, staged products based on customer orders and assisted with organizing and maintaining existing inventory.
Electric Pallet Jack, 6%
Operated various material handling equipment including electric pallet jack and tow- motor.

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"forklifts," "cranes," and "production lines" aren't the only skills we found handle machine operators list on their resumes. In fact, there's a whole list of handle machine operator responsibilities that we found, including:

Communication skills can be considered to be the most important personality trait for a handle machine operator to have. According to a handle machine operator resume, "material moving machine operators signal and direct workers to load and unload material" handle machine operators are able to use communication skills in the following example we gathered from a resume: "job required a variety of skills including general math and communication with management. "

Another commonly found skill for being able to perform handle machine operator duties is the following: coordination. According to a handle 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 handle 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"

Visual ability is also an important skill for handle machine operators to have. This example of how handle machine operators use this skill comes from a handle machine operator resume, "material moving machine operators must be able to see clearly where they are driving or what they are moving" Read this excerpt from a resume to understand how vital it is to their everyday roles and responsibilities, "conducted visual inspection of finished and goods in production to ensure that quality standards are met. "

See the full list of handle machine operator skills.

The handle machine operators who went onto college to earn a more in-depth education generally studied business and general studies, while a small population of handle machine operators studied criminal justice and automotive technology.

Once you've obtained the level of education you're comfortable with, you might start applying to companies to become a handle machine operator. We've found that most handle machine operator resumes include experience from Alro Steel, Adhesives Research, and Allina Health. Of recent, Alro Steel had 23 positions open for handle machine operators. Meanwhile, there are 2 job openings at Adhesives Research and 2 at Allina Health.

If you're interested in companies where handle machine operators make the most money, you'll want to apply for positions at Land O'Lakes, Alro Steel, and Adhesives Research. We found that at Land O'Lakes, the average handle machine operator salary is $40,539. Whereas at Alro Steel, handle machine operators earn roughly $39,068. And at Adhesives Research, they make an average salary of $35,100.

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

Some other companies you might be interested in as a handle machine operator include ManpowerGroup, Kelly Services, and Johnson Controls. These three companies were found to hire the most handle machine operators from the top 100 U.S. educational institutions.

The industries that handle machine operators fulfill the most roles in are the manufacturing and professional industries. But the highest handle machine operator annual salary is in the manufacturing industry, averaging $34,314. In the automotive industry they make $32,612 and average about $30,642 in the transportation industry. In conclusion, handle machine operators who work in the manufacturing industry earn a 8.8% higher salary than handle machine operators in the retail industry.

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

Alro Steel23 Handle Machine Operators Jobs
JPMorgan Chase & Co.2 Handle Machine Operators Jobs
Allina Health2 Handle Machine Operators Jobs

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What Production Operators Do

A production operator is responsible for handling and monitoring manufacturing machines in a factory or similar establishment, ensuring that everything is running smoothly and according to schedule. Aside from assisting with the processing and packaging of goods, a production operator must also conduct necessary inspections to the machine or equipment that they are using to make sure that it is in good condition and is safe to use. Should there be any issues or concerns regarding safety, it is essential to notify a supervisor right away.

We looked at the average handle machine operator annual salary and compared it with the average of a production operator. Generally speaking, production operators receive $5,587 higher pay than handle machine operators per year.

While their salaries may differ, one common ground between handle machine operators and production operators are a few of the skills required in each craft. In both careers, employees bring forth skills like production lines, safety procedures, and customer orders.

As far as similarities go, this is where it ends because a handle machine operator responsibility requires skills such as "forklifts," "cranes," "electric pallet jack," and "load trucks." Whereas a production operator is skilled in "basic math," "math," "quality checks," and "hand tools." So if you're looking for what truly separates the two careers, you've found it.

Production operators really shine in the manufacturing industry with an average salary of $37,865. Whereas handle machine operators tend to make the most money in the manufacturing industry with an average salary of $34,314.

On average, production operators reach similar levels of education than handle machine operators. Production operators are 1.3% more likely to earn a Master's Degree and 0.1% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.

What Are The Duties Of a Pack Out Operator?

A pack out operator is a manufacturing or packaging operation employee responsible for the final packaging of goods prior to shipping. Pack out operators come in at the last stage of the manufacturing process to ensure readiness. You will primarily work with machines and ensure that the right packaging standards and procedures are adhered to. The pack out operator oversees package labeling, branding, weighing, inspection and verification, and palletizing.

Now we're going to look at the pack out operator profession. On average, pack out operators earn a $3,619 higher salary than handle machine operators a year.

Not everything about these jobs is different. Take their skills, for example. Handle machine operators and pack out operators both include similar skills like "production lines," "safety procedures," and "customer orders" on their resumes.

In addition to the difference in salary, there are some other key differences that are worth noting. For example, handle machine operator responsibilities are more likely to require skills like "forklifts," "cranes," "electric pallet jack," and "cnc." Meanwhile, a pack out operator might be skilled in areas such as "pallets," "pallet jack," "basic math," and "quality checks." These differences highlight just how different the day-to-day in each role looks.

On average, pack out operators earn a higher salary than handle machine operators. There are industries that support higher salaries in each profession respectively. Interestingly enough, pack out operators earn the most pay in the finance industry with an average salary of $34,955. Whereas, handle machine operators have higher paychecks in the manufacturing industry where they earn an average of $34,314.

On the topic of education, pack out operators earn similar levels of education than handle machine operators. In general, they're 0.1% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.1% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

How a Forklift Operator Compares

Forklift operators are skilled workers responsible for operating heavy equipment machines called forklifts. They are in charge of operating forklifts, a type of industrial or heavy equipment truck/machine that moves materials from one place to another through prongs protruding from the machine. Forklift operators are responsible for loading and unloading cargo, operating the machine to ensure that the cargo reaches its destination, and complying with safety protocols. They are also in-charge of maintenance work on the machine and reporting any challenges or issues that may be encountered. Forklift operators must be physically fit and alert at all times.

Let's now take a look at the forklift operator profession. On average, these workers make higher salaries than handle machine operators with a $4,615 difference per year.

Using handle machine operators and forklift operators resumes, we found that both professions have similar skills such as "production lines," "safety procedures," and "customer orders," but the other skills required are very different.

Some important key differences between the two careers are a few of the skills necessary to fulfill responsibilities. Some examples from handle machine operator resumes include skills like "forklifts," "cranes," "cnc," and "machine operation," whereas a forklift operator might be skilled in "pallets," "basic math," "osha," and "sit-down forklift. "

Additionally, forklift operators earn a higher salary in the automotive industry compared to other industries. In this industry, they receive an average salary of $37,519. Additionally, handle machine operators earn an average salary of $34,314 in the manufacturing industry.

Forklift operators typically study at similar levels compared with handle machine operators. For example, they're 0.0% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.0% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

Description Of a Cell Operator

A Cell Operator is someone who handles a production cell in a company or factory. This position ensures that a cell unit of the production functions properly and efficiently. The position also does other miscellaneous tasks related to production, such as inspection, sorting, and other assembly operations, depending on the type of company, business, or manufactured product. This person generally has strong organizational and problem-solving skills and has a knack for troubleshooting.

Cell operators tend to earn a higher pay than handle machine operators by about $8,268 per year.

While their salaries may vary, handle machine operators and cell operators both use similar skills to perform their jobs. Resumes from both professions include skills like "safety procedures," "quality standards," and "assembly line. "

While some skills are shared by these professions, there are some differences to note. "forklifts," "cranes," "production lines," and "customer orders" are skills that have shown up on handle machine operators resumes. Additionally, cell operator uses skills like hand tools, math, calipers, and micrometers on their resumes.

Cell operators earn a higher salary in the technology industry with an average of $41,770. Whereas, handle machine operators earn the highest salary in the manufacturing industry.

Cell operators reach similar levels of education when compared to handle machine operators. The difference is that they're 2.1% more likely to earn a Master's Degree more, and 0.3% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.

Updated October 2, 2020