Lead operator vs production leader

The differences between lead operators and production leaders 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 a production leader. Additionally, a lead operator has an average salary of $88,429, which is higher than the $44,563 average annual salary of a production leader.

The top three skills for a lead operator include customer service, HR and process improvement. The most important skills for a production leader are customer service, continuous improvement, and safety procedures.

Lead operator vs production leader overview

	Lead Operator	Production Leader
Yearly salary	$88,429	$44,563
Hourly rate	$42.51	$21.42
Growth rate	7%	-
Number of jobs	87,338	107,578
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 45%	Bachelor's Degree, 36%
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 a production leader do?

A production leader usually works at a manufacturing plant or a similar setting. They are primarily responsible for overseeing all processing operations and workforce performance, ensuring efficiency and timeliness. They are also responsible for coordinating with personnel, producing progress reports, processing paperwork, delegating tasks, setting the budget and goals, evaluating performances, and even training new members of the workforce. Furthermore, as a leader, it is essential to implement all policies and regulations set by the company to maintain a productive and safe work environment for everyone.

Lead operator vs production leader salary

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

	Lead Operator	Production Leader
Average salary	$88,429	$44,563
Salary range	Between $54,000 And $142,000	Between $31,000 And $63,000
Highest paying City	San Francisco, CA	New York, NY
Highest paying state	New Jersey	New York
Best paying company	Meta	Meta
Best paying industry	Technology	Technology

Differences between lead operator and production leader education

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

	Lead Operator	Production Leader
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 45%	Bachelor's Degree, 36%
Most common major	Business	Business
Most common college	Stanford University	Stanford University

Lead operator vs production leader demographics

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

	Lead Operator	Production Leader
Average age	46	46
Gender ratio	Male, 73.5% Female, 26.5%	Male, 70.6% Female, 29.4%
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, 11.0% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 19.8% Asian, 5.1% White, 59.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%
LGBT Percentage	6%	6%

Differences between lead operator and production leader 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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Production leader example responsibilities.

Manage PC production line personnel.
Manage the operation of three alkalize systems from a PLC.
Manage employee's schedules, time off requests, vacation and payroll with the KRONOS time management software.
Maintain maximum yields in accordance with company policies and USDA food and safety guidelines.
Maintain the facilities organization, appearance, and cleanliness.
Operate and maintain general manufacturing equipment and perform production in accordance with QSR, ISO and establish written procedures.

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Lead operator vs production leader skills

Common lead operator skills

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

Common production leader skills

Customer Service, 11%
Continuous Improvement, 7%
Safety Procedures, 6%
Quality Standards, 5%
Customer Orders, 5%
Production Process, 3%

Lead Operator vs. similar jobs

Lead Operator related careers

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Updated January 8, 2025

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