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The differences between lead operators and shop leads 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 shop lead. Additionally, a lead operator has an average salary of $88,429, which is higher than the $48,007 average annual salary of a shop lead.
The top three skills for a lead operator include customer service, HR and process improvement. The most important skills for a shop lead are customer service, safety procedures, and math.
| Lead Operator | Shop Lead | |
| Yearly salary | $88,429 | $48,007 |
| Hourly rate | $42.51 | $23.08 |
| Growth rate | 7% | -5% |
| Number of jobs | 87,338 | 16,766 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 45% | High School Diploma, 33% |
| Average age | 46 | 46 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
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.
A shop lead is responsible for overseeing their crew. They ensure the safety of their crew by giving regular training. They also ensure the quality and quantity of the work put out by the shop. They manage the daily work of their shop, assist machinists, report to shop managers, and handle customer service.
Lead operators and shop leads have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Lead Operator | Shop Lead | |
| Average salary | $88,429 | $48,007 |
| Salary range | Between $54,000 And $142,000 | Between $28,000 And $81,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Chicago, IL |
| Highest paying state | New Jersey | New Jersey |
| Best paying company | Meta | Meta |
| Best paying industry | Technology | - |
There are a few differences between a lead operator and a shop lead in terms of educational background:
| Lead Operator | Shop Lead | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 45% | High School Diploma, 33% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between lead operators' and shop leads' demographics:
| Lead Operator | Shop Lead | |
| Average age | 46 | 46 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 73.5% Female, 26.5% | Male, 87.3% Female, 12.7% |
| 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, 11.5% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 18.1% Asian, 5.1% White, 60.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 6% |