Lead operator vs operator

The differences between lead operators and operators can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 1-2 years to become a lead operator, becoming an operator takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a lead operator has an average salary of $88,429, which is higher than the $37,928 average annual salary of an operator.

The top three skills for a lead operator include customer service, HR and process improvement. The most important skills for an operator are safety procedures, CDL, and emergency calls.

Lead operator vs operator overview

	Lead Operator	Operator
Yearly salary	$88,429	$37,928
Hourly rate	$42.51	$18.23
Growth rate	7%	7%
Number of jobs	87,338	159,077
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 45%	High School Diploma, 40%
Average age	46	43
Years of experience	2	4

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 operator do?

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.

Lead operator vs operator salary

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

	Lead Operator	Operator
Average salary	$88,429	$37,928
Salary range	Between $54,000 And $142,000	Between $27,000 And $53,000
Highest paying City	San Francisco, CA	San Jose, CA
Highest paying state	New Jersey	North Dakota
Best paying company	Meta	Microsoft
Best paying industry	Technology	Technology

Differences between lead operator and operator education

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

	Lead Operator	Operator
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 45%	High School Diploma, 40%
Most common major	Business	Business
Most common college	Stanford University	-

Lead operator vs operator demographics

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

	Lead Operator	Operator
Average age	46	43
Gender ratio	Male, 73.5% Female, 26.5%	Male, 73.0% Female, 27.0%
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, 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	6%	4%

Differences between lead operator and operator 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.

Show more

Operator example responsibilities.

Assist in developing the company s short and long term training plans and managing yearly ammunition allocation.
Assist and manage the extrusion process of polyester raw material in pellet or chip form to produce finish rolls of plastic.
Manage day-to-day transportation and logistics services for multinational account base.
Manage the master calendar and schedule resources such as communication equipment, weapons, transportation and ammunition forecast and delivery.
Job require basic math skills: fractions and decimals.
Ensure safety of all equipment during production in compliance with strict OSHA and safety regulations.

Show more

Lead operator vs operator skills

Common lead operator skills

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

Common operator skills

Safety Procedures, 15%
CDL, 6%
Emergency Calls, 6%
Preventative Maintenance, 4%
Quality Checks, 4%
Dozer, 4%

Lead Operator vs. similar jobs

Lead Operator related careers

Lead Operator related jobs

What similar roles do

Updated January 8, 2025

Browse production and manufacturing jobs

A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
Q
R
S
T
U
V
W
X
Y
Z