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The differences between lead operator/machine operators and pack machine 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 $35,157 average annual salary of a pack machine operator.
The top three skills for a lead operator/machine operator include safety procedures, machine operators and quality standards. The most important skills for a pack machine operator are basic math, defective products, and team-oriented environment.
| Lead Operator/Machine Operator | Pack Machine Operator | |
| Yearly salary | $39,819 | $35,157 |
| Hourly rate | $19.14 | $16.90 |
| Growth rate | - | 7% |
| Number of jobs | 162,376 | 68,876 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 46% | High School Diploma, 54% |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Years of experience | - | - |
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.
A pack machine operator is an employee who is responsible for operating and maintaining packaging machines to prepare industrial and consumer products for storage or shipment. Pack machine operators observe machine operations to ensure quality and conformity of filled or packaged products are up to standards. They monitor the production line to avoid problems such as pile-ups or jams while removing defective products and packaging material. Pack machine operators must also conduct maintenance of the packaging machines on a weekly to monthly basis.
Lead operator/machine operators and pack machine operators have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Lead Operator/Machine Operator | Pack Machine Operator | |
| Average salary | $39,819 | $35,157 |
| Salary range | Between $29,000 And $53,000 | Between $28,000 And $43,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Jose, CA | Minneapolis, MN |
| Highest paying state | California | North Dakota |
| Best paying company | Reser's Fine Foods | |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Manufacturing |
There are a few differences between a lead operator/machine operator and a pack machine operator in terms of educational background:
| Lead Operator/Machine Operator | Pack Machine Operator | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 46% | High School Diploma, 54% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between lead operator/machine operators' and pack machine operators' demographics:
| Lead Operator/Machine Operator | Pack Machine Operator | |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 77.9% Female, 22.1% | Male, 53.6% Female, 46.4% |
| 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, 12.2% Unknown, 3.4% Hispanic or Latino, 16.3% Asian, 7.4% White, 59.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 5% | 5% |