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The differences between lease operators and junior operators can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both a lease operator and a junior operator. Additionally, a junior operator has an average salary of $37,735, which is higher than the $25,625 average annual salary of a lease operator.
The top three skills for a lease operator include OTR, CDL and tractor trailer. The most important skills for a junior operator are frac, safety rules, and pallets.
| Lease Operator | Junior Operator | |
| Yearly salary | $25,625 | $37,735 |
| Hourly rate | $12.32 | $18.14 |
| Growth rate | -7% | 7% |
| Number of jobs | 33,754 | 49,016 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 36% | High School Diploma, 35% |
| Average age | 40 | 40 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
A lease operator is responsible for inspecting the efficiency and optimal performance of equipment and machinery and measuring the oil from the operation of the wells. Lease operators report the inconsistencies and failures of the equipment for immediate repair and replacement to avoid delays and prevent potential hazards. They ensure that the extraction process adheres to strict protocols and environmental regulations. A lease operator must have comprehensive knowledge of computer systems, especially on reporting the amount of natural oil and gas digitally.
Junior operators ensure efficient, reliable, and safe operation of assigned areas by following operating discipline practices, procedures, policies, standards, and principles. They enable good functional discipline for each activity, both unplanned and planned, and monitor key performance metrics, control systems, process conditions, and equipment systems. Also, they make reliable decisions to achieve and maintain the right conditions or rates as per the site goals. These professionals perform scheduled operational tasks, related tasks, and other tasks that arise because of handling unplanned events.
Lease operators and junior operators have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Lease Operator | Junior Operator | |
| Average salary | $25,625 | $37,735 |
| Salary range | Between $5,000 And $109,000 | Between $27,000 And $52,000 |
| Highest paying City | - | - |
| Highest paying state | - | - |
| Best paying company | - | - |
| Best paying industry | - | - |
There are a few differences between a lease operator and a junior operator in terms of educational background:
| Lease Operator | Junior Operator | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 36% | High School Diploma, 35% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between lease operators' and junior operators' demographics:
| Lease Operator | Junior Operator | |
| Average age | 40 | 40 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 93.5% Female, 6.5% | Male, 84.2% Female, 15.8% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 9.7% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 21.2% Asian, 1.2% White, 61.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 2.2% | Black or African American, 9.8% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 22.1% Asian, 1.2% White, 60.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 2.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 2% | 2% |