Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The differences between lead operator/machine operators and pack out 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 $33,217 average annual salary of a pack out 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 out operator are pallets, safety procedures, and quality standards.
| Lead Operator/Machine Operator | Pack Out Operator | |
| Yearly salary | $39,819 | $33,217 |
| Hourly rate | $19.14 | $15.97 |
| Growth rate | - | 7% |
| Number of jobs | 162,376 | 73,108 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 46% | High School Diploma, 50% |
| 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 out operator is a manufacturing or packaging operation employee responsible for the final packaging of goods prior to shipping. Pack out operators come in at the last stage of the manufacturing process to ensure readiness. You will primarily work with machines and ensure that the right packaging standards and procedures are adhered to. The pack out operator oversees package labeling, branding, weighing, inspection and verification, and palletizing.
Lead operator/machine operators and pack out operators have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Lead Operator/Machine Operator | Pack Out Operator | |
| Average salary | $39,819 | $33,217 |
| Salary range | Between $29,000 And $53,000 | Between $25,000 And $42,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Jose, CA | Milwaukee, WI |
| Highest paying state | California | Wisconsin |
| Best paying company | Dairy Farmers of America | |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Finance |
There are a few differences between a lead operator/machine operator and a pack out operator in terms of educational background:
| Lead Operator/Machine Operator | Pack Out Operator | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 46% | High School Diploma, 50% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between lead operator/machine operators' and pack out operators' demographics:
| Lead Operator/Machine Operator | Pack Out Operator | |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 77.9% Female, 22.1% | Male, 56.5% Female, 43.5% |
| 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, 11.7% Unknown, 3.4% Hispanic or Latino, 19.3% Asian, 6.6% White, 57.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 5% | 5% |