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The differences between lead operator/machine operators and operators can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a lead operator/machine operator has an average salary of $39,819, which is higher than the $37,928 average annual salary of an operator.
The top three skills for a lead operator/machine operator include safety procedures, machine operators and quality standards. The most important skills for an operator are safety procedures, CDL, and emergency calls.
| Lead Operator/Machine Operator | Operator | |
| Yearly salary | $39,819 | $37,928 |
| Hourly rate | $19.14 | $18.23 |
| Growth rate | - | 7% |
| Number of jobs | 162,376 | 159,077 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 46% | High School Diploma, 40% |
| Average age | 44 | 43 |
| Years of experience | - | 4 |
A Lead Operator or an Industrial Machinery Mechanic is responsible for creating, installing, and repairing different types of machinery. This person does the adjustment and maintenance of machines as well as the industrial production and distribution of types of equipment and other systems. They also identify the causes of the problem and determines the valued solutions. Other duties include maintaining the routine monitoring of equipment to ensure quality standards and examines the production equipment to evaluate the performance and if there are changes.
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/machine operators and operators have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Lead Operator/Machine Operator | Operator | |
| Average salary | $39,819 | $37,928 |
| Salary range | Between $29,000 And $53,000 | Between $27,000 And $53,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Jose, CA | San Jose, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | North Dakota |
| Best paying company | Microsoft | |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Technology |
There are a few differences between a lead operator/machine operator and an operator in terms of educational background:
| Lead Operator/Machine Operator | Operator | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 46% | High School Diploma, 40% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between lead operator/machine operators' and operators' demographics:
| Lead Operator/Machine Operator | Operator | |
| Average age | 44 | 43 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 77.9% Female, 22.1% | Male, 73.0% Female, 27.0% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 11.6% Unknown, 3.5% Hispanic or Latino, 17.1% Asian, 7.6% White, 59.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.2% | 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 | 5% | 4% |