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The differences between lead operator/machine operators and relief operators can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a relief operator has an average salary of $42,693, which is higher than the $39,819 average annual salary of a lead operator/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 relief operator are food safety, CIP, and PPE.
| Lead Operator/Machine Operator | Relief Operator | |
| Yearly salary | $39,819 | $42,693 |
| Hourly rate | $19.14 | $20.53 |
| Growth rate | - | 7% |
| Number of jobs | 162,376 | 64,469 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 46% | High School Diploma, 46% |
| 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 relief operator job depends on the institution or organization. Their main jobs include examining, measuring, and weighing materials or products to verify conformance to specifications, using measuring devices such as rulers, micrometers, or scales. Their additional responsibilities include maintaining regular contact and communication with customers to resolve concerns, issues, and complaints.
Lead operator/machine operators and relief operators have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Lead Operator/Machine Operator | Relief Operator | |
| Average salary | $39,819 | $42,693 |
| Salary range | Between $29,000 And $53,000 | Between $36,000 And $50,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Jose, CA | Hutchinson, KS |
| Highest paying state | California | Kansas |
| Best paying company | Nestlé | |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Energy |
There are a few differences between a lead operator/machine operator and a relief operator in terms of educational background:
| Lead Operator/Machine Operator | Relief Operator | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 46% | High School Diploma, 46% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between lead operator/machine operators' and relief operators' demographics:
| Lead Operator/Machine Operator | Relief Operator | |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 77.9% Female, 22.1% | Male, 78.2% Female, 21.8% |
| 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, 12.0% Unknown, 3.4% Hispanic or Latino, 15.6% Asian, 6.6% White, 61.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 5% | 5% |