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The differences between mill operators and terminal operators can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a mill operator and a terminal operator. Additionally, a terminal operator has an average salary of $39,948, which is higher than the $39,045 average annual salary of a mill operator.
The top three skills for a mill operator include CNC, OSHA and math. The most important skills for a terminal operator are loaders, cranes, and rail cars.
| Mill Operator | Terminal Operator | |
| Yearly salary | $39,045 | $39,948 |
| Hourly rate | $18.77 | $19.21 |
| Growth rate | 7% | 7% |
| Number of jobs | 64,574 | 43,328 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 49% | High School Diploma, 34% |
| Average age | 43 | 43 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
Mill operators are skilled employees who are responsible for operating and maintaining milling machines that grind materials such as rocks or chemicals at a milling facility. These operators must gather raw materials for production and assist with the inventory of all materials. They must operate a wide variety of equipment such as power saws, sanders, drill press, and basic hand tools while performing regular maintenance and troubleshooting on the milling machines. Mill operators must also attend safety meetings that are held weekly and monthly to ensure machine operators are following safety procedures.
A terminal operator is responsible for assisting daily operations within the transportation or manufacturing agencies. Terminal operators inspect the stability and efficiency of equipment and machinery to ensure its optimal performance during operational processes. They conduct quality control tests to determine inconsistencies in terminal functions and strategize techniques to enhance distribution policies. A terminal operator must have excellent organizational and mechanical skills to maintain terminal equipment and assist the team in performing duties to achieve business goals and objectives.
Mill operators and terminal operators have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Mill Operator | Terminal Operator | |
| Average salary | $39,045 | $39,948 |
| Salary range | Between $31,000 And $48,000 | Between $32,000 And $48,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Jose, CA | Fargo, ND |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | Hawaii |
| Best paying company | Freeport-McMoRan | Land O'Lakes |
| Best paying industry | Construction | Construction |
There are a few differences between a mill operator and a terminal operator in terms of educational background:
| Mill Operator | Terminal Operator | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 49% | High School Diploma, 34% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between mill operators' and terminal operators' demographics:
| Mill Operator | Terminal Operator | |
| Average age | 43 | 43 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 92.5% Female, 7.5% | Male, 82.5% Female, 17.5% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 14.4% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 16.0% Asian, 2.4% White, 62.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% | Black or African American, 15.3% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 20.5% Asian, 2.9% White, 56.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9% |
| LGBT Percentage | 4% | 4% |