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The differences between manufacturing team leaders and manufacturing 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 manufacturing team leader and a manufacturing operator. Additionally, a manufacturing team leader has an average salary of $39,390, which is higher than the $34,457 average annual salary of a manufacturing operator.
The top three skills for a manufacturing team leader include continuous improvement, lean manufacturing and GMP. The most important skills for a manufacturing operator are basic math, GMP, and math.
| Manufacturing Team Leader | Manufacturing Operator | |
| Yearly salary | $39,390 | $34,457 |
| Hourly rate | $18.94 | $16.57 |
| Growth rate | - | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 135,790 | 97,656 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 55% | Bachelor's Degree, 45% |
| Average age | 46 | 46 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
The job of a manufacturing team leader is to oversee and ensure the quality and efficiency of assembling manufactured goods. Typical day-to-day duties include ensuring that team members adhere to standard manufacturing processes and procedures, ensuring awareness among team members of the day-to-day responsibilities and targets, and managing the closures of work orders. In addition, you will be responsible for identifying opportunities for business improvement within the organization, conducting root cause analysis, and addressing problems.
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.
Manufacturing team leaders and manufacturing operators have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Manufacturing Team Leader | Manufacturing Operator | |
| Average salary | $39,390 | $34,457 |
| Salary range | Between $28,000 And $54,000 | Between $27,000 And $43,000 |
| Highest paying City | New York, NY | Fort Collins, CO |
| Highest paying state | Wyoming | Wyoming |
| Best paying company | AstraZeneca | DuPont |
| Best paying industry | Automotive | Pharmaceutical |
There are a few differences between a manufacturing team leader and a manufacturing operator in terms of educational background:
| Manufacturing Team Leader | Manufacturing Operator | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 55% | Bachelor's Degree, 45% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between manufacturing team leaders' and manufacturing operators' demographics:
| Manufacturing Team Leader | Manufacturing Operator | |
| Average age | 46 | 46 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 79.7% Female, 20.3% | Male, 69.2% Female, 30.8% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 11.9% Unknown, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino, 17.3% Asian, 4.9% White, 61.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% | Black or African American, 8.8% Unknown, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino, 21.5% Asian, 4.5% White, 60.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 6% |