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The differences between labour operators and grader 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 a grader operator. Additionally, a grader operator has an average salary of $46,011, which is higher than the $34,180 average annual salary of a labour operator.
The top three skills for a labour operator include safety regulations, CDL and dump truck. The most important skills for a grader operator are asphalt, CDL, and OSHA.
| Labour Operator | Grader Operator | |
| Yearly salary | $34,180 | $46,011 |
| Hourly rate | $16.43 | $22.12 |
| Growth rate | 5% | 5% |
| Number of jobs | 61,894 | 35,424 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 56% | High School Diploma, 49% |
| 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.
A grader operator's main task is to operate a grader machine and any other heavy machinery that prepares roads for paving. He/She operates a grader that's self-propelled in spreading gravel, dirt, or stone when constructing roads. A grader operator maintains the grader machine, adheres to all safety practices, and inspects the machine daily. He/She also ensures the security of the machine and that it's well maintained. As a grader operator, your job may also involve carrying out routine checks on the machine to look out for worn parts, leaks, blades, etc.
Labour operators and grader operators have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Labour Operator | Grader Operator | |
| Average salary | $34,180 | $46,011 |
| Salary range | Between $26,000 And $43,000 | Between $35,000 And $60,000 |
| Highest paying City | Oakland, CA | - |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | - |
| Best paying company | Sierra Pacific Industries | - |
| Best paying industry | Education | - |
There are a few differences between a labour operator and a grader operator in terms of educational background:
| Labour Operator | Grader Operator | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 56% | High School Diploma, 49% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between labour operators' and grader operators' demographics:
| Labour Operator | Grader Operator | |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 89.7% Female, 10.3% | Male, 79.9% Female, 20.1% |
| 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, 8.2% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 16.8% Asian, 0.9% White, 67.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.9% |
| LGBT Percentage | 2% | 2% |