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The differences between operators and equipment operators can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both an operator and an equipment operator. Additionally, an operator has an average salary of $37,928, which is higher than the $31,739 average annual salary of an equipment operator.
The top three skills for an operator include safety procedures, CDL and emergency calls. The most important skills for an equipment operator are CDL, loaders, and asphalt.
| Operator | Equipment Operator | |
| Yearly salary | $37,928 | $31,739 |
| Hourly rate | $18.23 | $15.26 |
| Growth rate | 7% | 5% |
| Number of jobs | 159,077 | 62,473 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 40% | High School Diploma, 46% |
| Average age | 43 | 45 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
Operators are skilled workers who are in charge of working on an industrial machine or a specific aspect of the manufacturing business. They are trained to operate machines, learning how to use them. They are also responsible for the maintenance and repair of the machine, and they should be able to troubleshoot problems and provide remedies to them. They must be knowledgeable about the different parts of the machine and how to mitigate any challenges that may arise. Operators should be alert, detail-oriented, and familiar with safety and health guidelines.
Equipment operators are employees who are assigned to work on specific company equipment. They are skilled workers trained to handle all aspects of the particular equipment, from basic operating to repairing. They use the equipment and ensure that safety standards are being followed. Aside from managing the equipment, they are also in charge of repairs and maintenance. They are responsible for ensuring that the machine works properly, troubleshooting if there are challenges encountered, and repairing any problems. Equipment operators are reliable, trustworthy, and attentive.
Operators and equipment operators have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Operator | Equipment Operator | |
| Average salary | $37,928 | $31,739 |
| Salary range | Between $27,000 And $53,000 | Between $24,000 And $40,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Jose, CA | Indianapolis, IN |
| Highest paying state | North Dakota | Connecticut |
| Best paying company | Microsoft | Nelsen Partners |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Energy |
There are a few differences between an operator and an equipment operator in terms of educational background:
| Operator | Equipment Operator | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 40% | High School Diploma, 46% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between operators' and equipment operators' demographics:
| Operator | Equipment Operator | |
| Average age | 43 | 45 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 73.0% Female, 27.0% | Male, 93.0% Female, 7.0% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 16.2% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 18.6% Asian, 2.5% White, 57.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% | Black or African American, 7.4% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 18.9% Asian, 0.9% White, 66.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.9% |
| LGBT Percentage | 4% | 2% |