Operator vs lift operator

The differences between operators and lift 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 a lift operator. Additionally, an operator has an average salary of $37,928, which is higher than the $32,309 average annual salary of a lift operator.

The top three skills for an operator include safety procedures, CDL and emergency calls. The most important skills for a lift operator are pallets, fork-lift, and electric pallet jack.

Operator vs lift operator overview

	Operator	Lift Operator
Yearly salary	$37,928	$32,309
Hourly rate	$18.23	$15.53
Growth rate	7%	7%
Number of jobs	159,077	72,445
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 40%	High School Diploma, 53%
Average age	43	43
Years of experience	4	4

What does an operator do?

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.

What does a lift operator do?

A lift operator is responsible for overseeing the performance of chair lifts in ski resorts and mountains, ensuring the efficiency of the machine and safety of all riders. Aside from controlling operations, they must also assist customers in getting up and off the lifts, remind them of the safety precautions, and ensure that the ride capacity is up to standard. Furthermore, lift operators must make sure that the machine is in good condition and adhere to all the safety regulations and policies at all times.

Operator vs lift operator salary

Operators and lift operators have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Operator	Lift Operator
Average salary	$37,928	$32,309
Salary range	Between $27,000 And $53,000	Between $26,000 And $39,000
Highest paying City	San Jose, CA	Fremont, CA
Highest paying state	North Dakota	Alaska
Best paying company	Microsoft	BD
Best paying industry	Technology	Automotive

Differences between operator and lift operator education

There are a few differences between an operator and a lift operator in terms of educational background:

	Operator	Lift Operator
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 40%	High School Diploma, 53%
Most common major	Business	Business
Most common college	-	-

Operator vs lift operator demographics

Here are the differences between operators' and lift operators' demographics:

	Operator	Lift Operator
Average age	43	43
Gender ratio	Male, 73.0% Female, 27.0%	Male, 89.1% Female, 10.9%
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, 15.4% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 17.0% Asian, 2.6% White, 59.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9%
LGBT Percentage	4%	4%

Differences between operator and lift operator duties and responsibilities

Operator example responsibilities.

Assist in developing the company s short and long term training plans and managing yearly ammunition allocation.
Assist and manage the extrusion process of polyester raw material in pellet or chip form to produce finish rolls of plastic.
Manage day-to-day transportation and logistics services for multinational account base.
Manage the master calendar and schedule resources such as communication equipment, weapons, transportation and ammunition forecast and delivery.
Job require basic math skills: fractions and decimals.
Ensure safety of all equipment during production in compliance with strict OSHA and safety regulations.

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Lift operator example responsibilities.

Use automate systems and RF units to pull, put away and load customer product, in addition to managing inventory
Use AS400 to take yarn out of inventory.
Load and unload ship cargo using wenches or other hoisting devices.
Check forklift for problems such as fluid levels, tires and forks.
Load and unload trucks with as sit down with slip sheet and double forks attachment practicing a safe environment.
Record inventory and reroute misplaced pallets at rack locations to the correct location

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Operator vs lift operator skills

Common operator skills

Safety Procedures, 15%
CDL, 6%
Emergency Calls, 6%
Preventative Maintenance, 4%
Quality Checks, 4%
Dozer, 4%

Common lift operator skills

Pallets, 17%
Fork-Lift, 14%
Electric Pallet Jack, 10%
Safety Rules, 9%
Power Saws, 4%
Load Trucks, 4%

Operator vs. similar jobs

Operator related careers

Operator related jobs

Operator jobs by location

Updated January 8, 2025

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