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The differences between instrument operators and operators can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, an instrument operator has an average salary of $43,179, which is higher than the $37,928 average annual salary of an operator.
The top three skills for an instrument operator include GPS, survey equipment and data collection. The most important skills for an operator are safety procedures, CDL, and emergency calls.
| Instrument Operator | Operator | |
| Yearly salary | $43,179 | $37,928 |
| Hourly rate | $20.76 | $18.23 |
| Growth rate | 4% | 7% |
| Number of jobs | 29,503 | 159,077 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 42% | High School Diploma, 40% |
| Average age | 44 | 43 |
| Years of experience | - | 4 |
Instrument operators assist a construction or surveying crew in the assessment of topography. The operators provide assistance in clearing obstructions from any instrument. They take GPS shots while operating the crew as party chief. These professionals work under the supervision of surveyors and licensed engineers performing GPS and boundary surveys. They can be considered as specialists in tree tagging, environmental protection, and personal property surveying. The scope of their duties also includes data collection, construction surveys, and civil engineering.
Operators are skilled workers who are in charge of working on an industrial machine or a specific aspect of the manufacturing business. They are trained to operate machines, learning how to use them. They are also responsible for the maintenance and repair of the machine, and they should be able to troubleshoot problems and provide remedies to them. They must be knowledgeable about the different parts of the machine and how to mitigate any challenges that may arise. Operators should be alert, detail-oriented, and familiar with safety and health guidelines.
Instrument operators and operators have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Instrument Operator | Operator | |
| Average salary | $43,179 | $37,928 |
| Salary range | Between $29,000 And $62,000 | Between $27,000 And $53,000 |
| Highest paying City | - | San Jose, CA |
| Highest paying state | - | North Dakota |
| Best paying company | - | Microsoft |
| Best paying industry | - | Technology |
There are a few differences between an instrument operator and an operator in terms of educational background:
| Instrument Operator | Operator | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 42% | High School Diploma, 40% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between instrument operators' and operators' demographics:
| Instrument Operator | Operator | |
| Average age | 44 | 43 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 93.0% Female, 7.0% | Male, 73.0% Female, 27.0% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 4.6% Unknown, 3.7% Hispanic or Latino, 13.2% Asian, 3.2% White, 74.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1% | Black or African American, 16.2% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 18.6% Asian, 2.5% White, 57.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 5% | 4% |