Lead operator vs operation supervisor

The differences between lead operators and operation supervisors can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both a lead operator and an operation supervisor. Additionally, a lead operator has an average salary of $88,429, which is higher than the $57,279 average annual salary of an operation supervisor.

The top three skills for a lead operator include customer service, HR and process improvement. The most important skills for an operation supervisor are logistics, safety procedures, and OSHA.

Lead operator vs operation supervisor overview

	Lead Operator	Operation Supervisor
Yearly salary	$88,429	$57,279
Hourly rate	$42.51	$27.54
Growth rate	7%	6%
Number of jobs	87,338	94,116
Job satisfaction	-	5
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 45%	Bachelor's Degree, 57%
Average age	46	46
Years of experience	2	2

What does a lead operator do?

Lead operators are responsible for the direction and supervision of the day-to-day activities in facilities. As machine operators, they control machines and take charge of industrial operations. They handle and move objects, monitor processes, and inspect materials, structures, and equipment. Also, they may serve as mentors for the new production employees concerning occupational health and safety. They must be skilled in safety procedures, heavy equipment, preventive maintenance, and other things related to machine operations.

What does an operation supervisor do?

Operations supervisors manage a specific operations-related team or department. They ensure that all the agreed-upon key performance indicators are being met. They also address any performance challenges and strategize on how to improve different areas in the team. They communicate team goals and balance the organization's requirements with the team's profile. Operations supervisors also manage the employees under their department. They hire for vacancies and train new employees. They also ensure that employees are properly coached for improvement. Operations supervisors are expected to be strategic, personable, and good communicators.

Lead operator vs operation supervisor salary

Lead operators and operation supervisors have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Lead Operator	Operation Supervisor
Average salary	$88,429	$57,279
Salary range	Between $54,000 And $142,000	Between $37,000 And $87,000
Highest paying City	San Francisco, CA	Kansas City, KS
Highest paying state	New Jersey	Louisiana
Best paying company	Meta	Ropes & Gray
Best paying industry	Technology	Finance

Differences between lead operator and operation supervisor education

There are a few differences between a lead operator and an operation supervisor in terms of educational background:

	Lead Operator	Operation Supervisor
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 45%	Bachelor's Degree, 57%
Most common major	Business	Business
Most common college	Stanford University	Stanford University

Lead operator vs operation supervisor demographics

Here are the differences between lead operators' and operation supervisors' demographics:

	Lead Operator	Operation Supervisor
Average age	46	46
Gender ratio	Male, 73.5% Female, 26.5%	Male, 70.8% Female, 29.2%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 12.3% Unknown, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino, 18.7% Asian, 4.6% White, 59.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%	Black or African American, 12.3% Unknown, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino, 18.5% Asian, 4.6% White, 59.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%
LGBT Percentage	6%	6%

Differences between lead operator and operation supervisor duties and responsibilities

Lead operator example responsibilities.

Plan, organize, and lead Kaizen activities as well as managed the cost reduction activities from idea to implementation.
Contact potential REO listing brokers achieving the highest return call rate.
Create UAT scripts and utilize statistical process controls to manage loan process quality and ensure consistency.
Achieve goals in various metrics, from sales to plan, payroll, additional services, print center.
Manage and organize incoming records and publications for use on SharePoint.
Need method to proactively manage the business improving cross-functional collaboration & KPI visibility.

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Operation supervisor example responsibilities.

Manage labor and operating expenses to meet budget goals by utilizing KRONOS.
Manage the safety, quality, productivity, OEE, yields, & continuous improvement.
Manage the proper preparation of equipment for mechanical work as well as proper utilization of LOTO system.
Serve as member of HAZMAT team and manage all training, orientation and safety programs for entire facility.
Manage all inbound and outbound of product/inventory, and keep accurate counts in AS400 P.K.M.S warehouse management software.
Manage daily activities of up to 15 staff and up to 50 students at youth rehabilitation boarding facility.

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Lead operator vs operation supervisor skills

Common lead operator skills

Customer Service, 18%
HR, 10%
Process Improvement, 6%
Project Management, 6%
Continuous Improvement, 6%
Safety Procedures, 4%

Common operation supervisor skills

Logistics, 7%
Safety Procedures, 7%
OSHA, 6%
Payroll, 5%
Customer Satisfaction, 5%
Continuous Improvement, 4%

Lead Operator vs. similar jobs

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Updated January 8, 2025

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