Manufacturer vs process operator

The differences between manufacturers and process 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 manufacturer and a process operator. Additionally, a process operator has an average salary of $37,996, which is higher than the $32,213 average annual salary of a manufacturer.

The top three skills for a manufacturer include assembly line, basic math and work ethic. The most important skills for a process operator are safety procedures, preventative maintenance, and team-oriented environment.

Manufacturer vs process operator overview

	Manufacturer	Process Operator
Yearly salary	$32,213	$37,996
Hourly rate	$15.49	$18.27
Growth rate	7%	3%
Number of jobs	42,506	83,478
Job satisfaction	-	5
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 45%	Bachelor's Degree, 36%
Average age	46	46
Years of experience	2	2

Manufacturer vs process operator salary

Manufacturers and process operators have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Manufacturer	Process Operator
Average salary	$32,213	$37,996
Salary range	Between $24,000 And $42,000	Between $29,000 And $48,000
Highest paying City	Fargo, ND	Grand Forks, ND
Highest paying state	Wyoming	Wyoming
Best paying company	ABB	BWX Technologies
Best paying industry	Telecommunication	Manufacturing

Differences between manufacturer and process operator education

There are a few differences between a manufacturer and a process operator in terms of educational background:

	Manufacturer	Process Operator
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 45%	Bachelor's Degree, 36%
Most common major	Business	Business
Most common college	Stanford University	Stanford University

Manufacturer vs process operator demographics

Here are the differences between manufacturers' and process operators' demographics:

	Manufacturer	Process Operator
Average age	46	46
Gender ratio	Male, 72.1% Female, 27.9%	Male, 70.1% Female, 29.9%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 11.1% Unknown, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino, 18.7% Asian, 4.8% White, 60.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%	Black or African American, 11.7% Unknown, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino, 20.3% Asian, 4.5% White, 58.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%
LGBT Percentage	6%	6%

Differences between manufacturer and process operator duties and responsibilities

Manufacturer example responsibilities.

Manage the flow of each pallet to ensure the group is able to produce the quality product.
Use of CNC machines for the manufacturing and quality control of hot tubs.
Mask and prepare airplane fuel and air filters to be prime and paint.
Inspect, inventory, mask and unmask all unpaint and paint parts for helicopters.
Improve on ISO and training standards by implementing work instructions on computer interface rather than paper.
Assemble dashboards and trunks (car parts) for Honda using drills, and other equipment.

Process operator example responsibilities.

Manage distillation process to determine product specification compliance, and prepare unit for shutdown or turnaround process.
Climb ladders to inspect manholes, check temps, sometimes gather samples for lab analysis.
Demonstrate ability to perform basic math (add, subtract, multiply, divide, ratios, weights & measures).
Control product temperatures and monitor gauges.
Review FHA files for completeness and compliance.
Use of ladders, stairs, heavy lifting and temperature extremes.

Manufacturer vs process operator skills

Common manufacturer skills

Assembly Line, 18%
Basic Math, 16%
Work Ethic, 15%
Power Saws, 12%
Ladders, 9%
Lean Manufacturing, 6%

Common process operator skills

Safety Procedures, 8%
Preventative Maintenance, 7%
Team-Oriented Environment, 7%
Ladders, 5%
Customer Service, 4%
Data Entry, 4%