What does a line operator do?
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.
Line operator responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real line operator resumes:
- Follow safety procedures, including but not limit to, wearing proper PPE, lock-out/tag-out, and HAZMAT.
- Weld various models of Honda car seats.
- Operate foam line for assembly of Toyota Tacoma car seats.
- Work the assembly line building car door frames for Chrysler.
- Work in high volume production setting, sewing seat covers for Toyota vehicles.
- Wear all PPE while manually draining and cleaning of all dip tanks and stations after shift or when production quality lessen.
- Foam equipment, hoses, floors, and swing panels that are locate throughout the brewery to help with GMP guidelines.
- Build seating interiors for Chrysler vehicles, using mechanical tools, electrical tools, automatic tork wrenches, also drive forklift.
- Repair and troubleshoot all complicate mechanical and electrical issues.
- Experience in running plastic extrusion to specific tolerances as customers request.
- Calculate dimensions and tolerances using knowledge of mathematics and measuring instruments.
- Work in a fast-pace environment to ensure quality automobiles for Honda distribution & manufacturing
- Set up and operate an extrusion machine in accordance with establish procedures and guidelines and customer requirements.
- Used Keyence optical machine and CMM to measure part dimensions.
- Use CMM, optical comparator, calipers, height gages, etc to check plastic components.
Line operator skills and personality traits
We calculated that 12% of Line Operators are proficient in Preventative Maintenance, PPE, and Basic Math. They’re also known for soft skills such as Communication skills, Coordination, and Mechanical skills.
We break down the percentage of Line Operators that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Preventative Maintenance, 12%
Work with maintenance and engineering for preventative maintenance countermeasures, process improvements and over productivity of the production line.
- PPE, 9%
Utilized GMP's, SOP's and PPE.
- Basic Math, 9%
Followed production instructions and utilized a computer and calculator to aid in basic math calculations.
- Extrusion, 8%
Set up and operate an extrusion machine in accordance with established procedures and guidelines and customer requirements.
- Quality Checks, 7%
Operate mold press line-Responsible for line changeover/adjustments and start-up-Responsible for minor line repairs-Perform quality checks of finished product
- Assembly Line, 5%
Observed material stock along assembly line and notified materials-handling personnel or supervisor of impending shortages.
"preventative maintenance," "ppe," and "basic math" are among the most common skills that line operators use at work. You can find even more line operator responsibilities below, including:
Communication skills. The most essential soft skill for a line operator to carry out their responsibilities is communication skills. This skill is important for the role because "material moving machine operators signal and direct workers to load and unload material." Additionally, a line operator resume shows how their duties depend on communication skills: "maintain strong relationship with supplier and distributor ensuring product availability by accurate forecasting, clear communication and strong inventory controls. "
Coordination. Another soft skill that's essential for fulfilling line operator duties is coordination. The role rewards competence in this skill because "material moving machine operators must have steady hands and feet to guide and control heavy machinery precisely." According to a line operator resume, here's how line operators can utilize coordination in their job responsibilities: "hand, eye coordination, and physical strength. "
Mechanical skills. line operators are also known for mechanical skills, which are critical to their duties. You can see how this skill relates to line operator responsibilities, because "material moving machine operators make minor adjustments to their machines and perform basic maintenance on them." A line operator resume example shows how mechanical skills is used in the workplace: "make minor adjustments to line equipment and obtain assistance with mechanical issues. "
Visual ability. For certain line operator responsibilities to be completed, the job requires competence in "visual ability." The day-to-day duties of a line operator rely on this skill, as "material moving machine operators must be able to see clearly where they are driving or what they are moving." For example, this snippet was taken directly from a resume about how this skill applies to what line operators do: "pulled customer orders and warehouse transfers requiring considerable mental, physical, and visual attention. "
The three companies that hire the most line operators are:
- Construction Specialties48 line operators jobs
- Baxter International34 line operators jobs
- Express Employment Indy South21 line operators jobs
Choose from 10+ customizable line operator resume templates
Build a professional line operator resume in minutes. Our AI resume writing assistant will guide you through every step of the process, and you can choose from 10+ resume templates to create your line operator resume.
Compare different line operators
Line operator vs. Pack out operator
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.
There are some key differences in the responsibilities of each position. For example, line operator responsibilities require skills like "mechanical troubleshooting," "preventative maintenance," "ppe," and "safety rules." Meanwhile a typical pack out operator has skills in areas such as "pallets," "math," "rf," and "haccp." This difference in skills reveals the differences in what each career does.
Pack out operators tend to make the most money working in the finance industry, where they earn an average salary of $34,955. In contrast, line operators make the biggest average salary, $37,379, in the manufacturing industry.The education levels that pack out operators earn slightly differ from line operators. In particular, pack out operators are 0.4% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree than a line operator. Additionally, they're 0.1% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Line operator vs. Technical machine operator
A manufacturing operator is primarily responsible for overseeing and controlling the performance of machines and equipment, ensuring efficiency and smooth workflow. Their responsibilities revolve around monitoring production operations, conducting regular maintenance checks to ensure the accuracy and quality of machinery, performing corrective measures and adjustments as needed, and assessing the quality of finished products, all while adhering to deadlines and goals. Furthermore, it is vital to comply with the company's safety policies and regulations to maintain a safe and healthy work environment for everyone.
In addition to the difference in salary, there are some other key differences worth noting. For example, line operator responsibilities are more likely to require skills like "safety rules," "line equipment," "quality inspection," and "line operations." Meanwhile, a technical machine operator has duties that require skills in areas such as "math," "continuous improvement," "trouble shoot," and "spc." These differences highlight just how different the day-to-day in each role looks.
Technical machine operators earn a lower average salary than line operators. But technical machine operators earn the highest pay in the manufacturing industry, with an average salary of $35,834. Additionally, line operators earn the highest salaries in the manufacturing with average pay of $37,379 annually.technical machine operators earn similar levels of education than line operators in general. They're 0.3% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.1% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Line operator vs. Manufacturing operator
The required skills of the two careers differ considerably. For example, line operators are more likely to have skills like "preventative maintenance," "safety regulations," "pallet jack," and "line equipment." But a manufacturing operator is more likely to have skills like "math," "hand tools," "lean manufacturing," and "good communication."
Manufacturing operators make a very good living in the pharmaceutical industry with an average annual salary of $37,500. On the other hand, line operators are paid the highest salary in the manufacturing industry, with average annual pay of $37,379.When it comes to education, manufacturing operators tend to earn similar degree levels compared to line operators. In fact, they're 2.6% more likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 0.0% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Line operator vs. General machine operator
Types of line operator
Updated January 8, 2025
