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The differences between manufacturing technicians 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 technician and a manufacturing operator. Additionally, a manufacturing technician has an average salary of $37,853, which is higher than the $34,457 average annual salary of a manufacturing operator.
The top three skills for a manufacturing technician include GMP, continuous improvement and hand tools. The most important skills for a manufacturing operator are basic math, GMP, and math.
| Manufacturing Technician | Manufacturing Operator | |
| Yearly salary | $37,853 | $34,457 |
| Hourly rate | $18.20 | $16.57 |
| Growth rate | 3% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 76,490 | 97,656 |
| Job satisfaction | 5 | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 39% | Bachelor's Degree, 45% |
| Average age | 45 | 46 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
A manufacturing technician, or often called a manufacturing production technician, is an individual who is responsible for setting and testing manufacturing machinery or equipment. To set up the machines, manufacturing technicians will use electronic, electrical, mechanical, or computer technologies. They are responsible for gathering data from their part in the manufacturing process and reporting it to their production or manufacturing engineers. When handling machines or equipment, manufacturing technicians must strictly follow their health and safety procedures and protocols.
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 technicians and manufacturing operators have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Manufacturing Technician | Manufacturing Operator | |
| Average salary | $37,853 | $34,457 |
| Salary range | Between $27,000 And $52,000 | Between $27,000 And $43,000 |
| Highest paying City | Framingham, MA | Fort Collins, CO |
| Highest paying state | New Jersey | Wyoming |
| Best paying company | Qorvo | DuPont |
| Best paying industry | Finance | Pharmaceutical |
There are a few differences between a manufacturing technician and a manufacturing operator in terms of educational background:
| Manufacturing Technician | Manufacturing Operator | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 39% | Bachelor's Degree, 45% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering | Business |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between manufacturing technicians' and manufacturing operators' demographics:
| Manufacturing Technician | Manufacturing Operator | |
| Average age | 45 | 46 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 74.4% Female, 25.6% | Male, 69.2% Female, 30.8% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 9.5% Unknown, 4.9% Hispanic or Latino, 16.9% Asian, 8.9% White, 59.2% 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% |