Machine inspector vs test operator

The differences between machine inspectors and test operators can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a test operator has an average salary of $35,591, which is higher than the $34,246 average annual salary of a machine inspector.

The top three skills for a machine inspector include calipers, coordinate measuring machine and grinders. The most important skills for a test operator are test equipment, hand tools, and test procedures.

Machine inspector vs test operator overview

	Machine Inspector	Test Operator
Yearly salary	$34,246	$35,591
Hourly rate	$16.46	$17.11
Growth rate	-3%	-3%
Number of jobs	47,097	63,674
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 41%	Associate Degree, 31%
Average age	45	45
Years of experience	-	-

Machine inspector vs test operator salary

Machine inspectors and test operators have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Machine Inspector	Test Operator
Average salary	$34,246	$35,591
Salary range	Between $25,000 And $46,000	Between $25,000 And $48,000
Highest paying City	-	Stratford, CT
Highest paying state	-	Connecticut
Best paying company	-	Qorvo
Best paying industry	-	Technology

Differences between machine inspector and test operator education

There are a few differences between a machine inspector and a test operator in terms of educational background:

	Machine Inspector	Test Operator
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 41%	Associate Degree, 31%
Most common major	Business	Electrical Engineering
Most common college	-	-

Machine inspector vs test operator demographics

Here are the differences between machine inspectors' and test operators' demographics:

	Machine Inspector	Test Operator
Average age	45	45
Gender ratio	Male, 60.4% Female, 39.6%	Male, 72.0% Female, 28.0%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 10.5% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 17.9% Asian, 11.0% White, 55.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%	Black or African American, 9.0% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 22.6% Asian, 10.2% White, 53.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%
LGBT Percentage	4%	4%

Differences between machine inspector and test operator duties and responsibilities

Machine inspector example responsibilities.

Conduct dimensional and visual inspections procedures on CMM machines to ensure geometrical characteristics of the product are in specification.
Participate in AS9100 certification process, present completed FAI before registar.

Test operator example responsibilities.

Box build sub-assembly level by solder wire into connector, lead, and fan according to MPI and visuals aid.
Experience following procedures and managing GMP documentation.
Work include new lay, tie-ins, repairs, CTS stations, ETS stations.
Install the new version software operation windows.
Complete NDT inspections using multiple inspection methods.
Trouble shoots and repair ICT failures to component level.

Machine inspector vs test operator skills

Common machine inspector skills

Calipers, 29%
Coordinate Measuring Machine, 28%
Grinders, 16%
Machine Shop, 10%
QC, 5%
Customer Specifications, 5%

Common test operator skills

Test Equipment, 9%
Hand Tools, 7%
Test Procedures, 6%
Test Results, 5%
Safety Rules, 4%
Circuit Boards, 4%