How To Become A Junior Operator: What It Is and Career Path

What is a junior operator and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

3 min read

A junior operator is a general term for a professional that operates a specific machine or system. They work under senior operators and managers, and they are generally responsible for providing assistance and performing a combination of repetitive and non-repetitive tasks.

The typical responsibilities of a junior operator involve assisting with machine installation, basic maintenance, and repairs. They also operate machines on a limited basis, and they may be under the close supervision of a senior operator. Furthermore, junior operators may be responsible for performing periodic inspections of machines and reporting any anomalies when detected.

The minimum qualifications for this role are a high school diploma or GED, completion of a relevant apprenticeship or training program, and prior experience with machine operation and maintenance. Furthermore, applicants must have the physical strength, endurance, stamina, and manual dexterity required to perform their duties efficiently and safely. The average hourly rate of a junior operator is around $14 to $17 per hour. Since this is an entry-level role, many junior operators move on to become senior operators and supervisors, which have higher earning potentials.

ScoreJunior OperatorUS Average

Salary

2.9

Avg. Salary $37,735

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

9.2

Growth rate 7%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

7.6

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 2.22%

Asian 1.22%

Black or African American 9.84%

Hispanic or Latino 22.09%

Unknown 4.19%

White 60.44%

Gender

female 15.82%

male 84.18%

Age - 39

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 39

Stress level

9.2

Stress level is very high

7.1 - high

Complexity level

9.8

Complexity level is advanced

7 - challenging

Work life balance

0.4

Work life balance is

6.4 - fair

Key steps to become a junior operator

Explore junior operator education requirements

Most common junior operator degrees

High School Diploma

35.2 %

Bachelor's

32.6 %

Associate

19.3 %

Start to develop specific junior operator skills

Skills	Percentages
Frac	12.56%
Safety Rules	12.08%
Pallets	11.87%
DOT	11.84%
Fall Protection	9.11%

Complete relevant junior operator training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 1-3 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New junior operators learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a junior operator based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real junior operator resumes.

Research junior operator duties and responsibilities

Manage and maintain GPS and other equipment.
Operate heavy machinery such as bobcat equipment and also operate and pave asphalt perform demolition work.
Perform daily slickline work on company own properties throughout Oklahoma and Texas.

Prepare your junior operator resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your junior operator resume.

You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a junior operator resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

Choose from 10+ customizable junior operator resume templates

Build a professional junior operator resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your junior operator resume.