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The differences between labour operators and equipment operators can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a labour operator and an equipment operator. Additionally, a labour operator has an average salary of $34,180, which is higher than the $31,739 average annual salary of an equipment operator.
The top three skills for a labour operator include safety regulations, CDL and dump truck. The most important skills for an equipment operator are CDL, loaders, and asphalt.
| Labour Operator | Equipment Operator | |
| Yearly salary | $34,180 | $31,739 |
| Hourly rate | $16.43 | $15.26 |
| Growth rate | 5% | 5% |
| Number of jobs | 61,894 | 62,473 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 56% | High School Diploma, 46% |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
Labor operators typically drive, maneuver the heavy machinery used to construct buildings, bridges, roads, and other structures. Their tasks and duties include cleaning and maintaining construction equipment, reporting faulty mechanism to supervisors, driving and operating equipment, and ensuring that the standards for safety are met. They often work with different kinds of construction equipment and may maneuver loading and excavation machinery. They also operate and maintain other power construction equipment such as air compressors and pumps at their working sites.
Equipment operators are employees who are assigned to work on specific company equipment. They are skilled workers trained to handle all aspects of the particular equipment, from basic operating to repairing. They use the equipment and ensure that safety standards are being followed. Aside from managing the equipment, they are also in charge of repairs and maintenance. They are responsible for ensuring that the machine works properly, troubleshooting if there are challenges encountered, and repairing any problems. Equipment operators are reliable, trustworthy, and attentive.
Labour operators and equipment operators have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Labour Operator | Equipment Operator | |
| Average salary | $34,180 | $31,739 |
| Salary range | Between $26,000 And $43,000 | Between $24,000 And $40,000 |
| Highest paying City | Oakland, CA | Indianapolis, IN |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | Connecticut |
| Best paying company | Sierra Pacific Industries | Nelsen Partners |
| Best paying industry | Education | Energy |
There are a few differences between a labour operator and an equipment operator in terms of educational background:
| Labour Operator | Equipment Operator | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 56% | High School Diploma, 46% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between labour operators' and equipment operators' demographics:
| Labour Operator | Equipment Operator | |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 89.7% Female, 10.3% | Male, 93.0% Female, 7.0% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 8.8% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 15.9% Asian, 1.0% White, 68.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.9% | Black or African American, 7.4% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 18.9% Asian, 0.9% White, 66.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.9% |
| LGBT Percentage | 2% | 2% |