Incinerator operator vs water jet operator

The differences between incinerator operators and water jet operators can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 1-2 years to become an incinerator operator, becoming a water jet operator takes usually requires 6-12 months. Additionally, an incinerator operator has an average salary of $40,114, which is higher than the $35,007 average annual salary of a water jet operator.

The top three skills for an incinerator operator include OSHA, hand tools and incinerators. The most important skills for a water jet operator are cnc machines, calipers, and hand tools.

Incinerator operator vs water jet operator overview

	Incinerator Operator	Water Jet Operator
Yearly salary	$40,114	$35,007
Hourly rate	$19.29	$16.83
Growth rate	4%	-7%
Number of jobs	31,897	53,663
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 56%	High School Diploma, 44%
Average age	50	47
Years of experience	2	12

Incinerator operator vs water jet operator salary

Incinerator operators and water jet operators have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Incinerator Operator	Water Jet Operator
Average salary	$40,114	$35,007
Salary range	Between $28,000 And $57,000	Between $28,000 And $43,000
Highest paying City	-	-
Highest paying state	-	-
Best paying company	-	-
Best paying industry	-	-

Differences between incinerator operator and water jet operator education

There are a few differences between an incinerator operator and a water jet operator in terms of educational background:

	Incinerator Operator	Water Jet Operator
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 56%	High School Diploma, 44%
Most common major	Business	Business
Most common college	Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute	Duke University

Incinerator operator vs water jet operator demographics

Here are the differences between incinerator operators' and water jet operators' demographics:

	Incinerator Operator	Water Jet Operator
Average age	50	47
Gender ratio	Male, 92.5% Female, 7.5%	Male, 91.2% Female, 8.8%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 12.5% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 16.8% Asian, 7.9% White, 58.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%	Black or African American, 7.7% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 12.5% Asian, 1.8% White, 71.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 2.3%
LGBT Percentage	4%	5%

Differences between incinerator operator and water jet operator duties and responsibilities

Incinerator operator example responsibilities.

Maintain buildings HVAC / lighting automation systems and make adjustments as needed for tenant's comfort and to manage energy consumption.
Ensure proper PPE are maintained and utilize by all personnel.
Ensure all waste are properly handle and dispose of per OSHA and AFOSH standards.
Advance to increasingly responsible positions, culminating in management role with oversight for a full-service building management.
Advance to increasingly responsible positions, culminating in management role with oversight for a full-service building management.

Water jet operator example responsibilities.

Used Omax machine to cut parts to fill orders, handle material, certify as a forklift operator.
Update and sign-off on job tickets at the conclusion of each job.Skills UsedDirect mail experience or knowledge of USPS regulations.
Perform preventative maintenance and troubleshooting of Omax machine.
Operate heavy machinery such as bobcat equipment and also operate and pave asphalt perform demolition work.
Dye setting and machine set up.

Incinerator operator vs water jet operator skills

Common incinerator operator skills

OSHA, 51%
Hand Tools, 18%
Incinerators, 16%
Safety Procedures, 7%
Medical Waste, 5%
Liquid Waste, 2%

Common water jet operator skills

CNC Machines, 17%
Calipers, 15%
Hand Tools, 15%
Tape Measure, 11%
Cranes, 11%
General Maintenance, 6%

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Incinerator Operator
Incinerator Operator vs Water Jet Operator

Updated January 8, 2025

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