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The differences between line operators and pack machine operators can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a pack machine operator has an average salary of $35,157, which is higher than the $34,520 average annual salary of a line operator.
The top three skills for a line operator include preventative maintenance, PPE and basic math. The most important skills for a pack machine operator are basic math, defective products, and team-oriented environment.
| Line Operator | Pack Machine Operator | |
| Yearly salary | $34,520 | $35,157 |
| Hourly rate | $16.60 | $16.90 |
| Growth rate | 7% | 7% |
| Number of jobs | 137,127 | 68,876 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 49% | High School Diploma, 54% |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Years of experience | - | - |
A line operator is responsible for assisting in warehouse and factory operations, usually assigned on doing heavy works for the production. Line operators' duties include operating manufacturing machines and equipment, placing products on the appropriate shelves, checking supplies and inventories, loading orders for shipments, inspecting products for any defects, labeling products accurately, adhering to the safety procedures to prevent product contamination, and observing sanitary regulations. A line operator must have comprehensive knowledge of the mechanical industry, as well as the ability to multi-task, especially on meeting deadlines and processing customers' orders.
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.
Line operators and pack machine operators have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Line Operator | Pack Machine Operator | |
| Average salary | $34,520 | $35,157 |
| Salary range | Between $27,000 And $43,000 | Between $28,000 And $43,000 |
| Highest paying City | Grand Forks, ND | Minneapolis, MN |
| Highest paying state | North Dakota | North Dakota |
| Best paying company | BD | Reser's Fine Foods |
| Best paying industry | Manufacturing | Manufacturing |
There are a few differences between a line operator and a pack machine operator in terms of educational background:
| Line Operator | Pack Machine Operator | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 49% | High School Diploma, 54% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between line operators' and pack machine operators' demographics:
| Line Operator | Pack Machine Operator | |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 67.6% Female, 32.4% | Male, 53.6% Female, 46.4% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 11.9% Unknown, 3.4% Hispanic or Latino, 15.4% Asian, 7.0% White, 61.1% 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% |