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Operator trainee vs chemical operator

The differences between operators trainee and chemical operators can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a chemical operator has an average salary of $40,526, which is higher than the $36,978 average annual salary of an operator trainee.

The top three skills for an operator trainee include customer service, hand tools and CDL. The most important skills for a chemical operator are safety procedures, math, and process equipment.

Operator trainee vs chemical operator overview

Operator TraineeChemical Operator
Yearly salary$36,978$40,526
Hourly rate$17.78$19.48
Growth rate7%4%
Number of jobs73,65736,522
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 58%High School Diploma, 35%
Average age4447
Years of experience-6

What does an operator trainee do?

The duties of an operator trainee depend on one's line of work or industry of employment. Typically, their responsibilities revolve around gaining insights by performing support tasks such as producing progress reports and documentation, maintaining records, coordinating with other members of the workforce, and operating machines while under the supervision of a manager or senior operator. Furthermore, as an operator trainee, it is essential to uphold the company's policies and regulations to maintain a safe and healthy work environment for everyone.

What does a chemical operator do?

A chemical operator is responsible for maintaining heavy machines and equipment for chemical processing operations. Chemical operators inspect machinery for any malfunctions, perform immediate repairs, and replace defective components as needed to ensure the equipment's safety and efficiency. They carefully handle chemicals, observe the mixing process, and support process development by assisting on strategic procedures to maximize productivity and plan initiatives. A chemical operator must adhere to the safety protocols of the production, especially on storing chemicals, recording information to the database, and operating machines.

Operator trainee vs chemical operator salary

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

Operator TraineeChemical Operator
Average salary$36,978$40,526
Salary rangeBetween $29,000 And $45,000Between $31,000 And $51,000
Highest paying CityMiddletown, CTNew York, NY
Highest paying stateHawaiiNew York
Best paying companyIBMWestinghouse Appliances Australia
Best paying industryEnergyPharmaceutical

Differences between operator trainee and chemical operator education

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

Operator TraineeChemical Operator
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 58%High School Diploma, 35%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common college-Stanford University

Operator trainee vs chemical operator demographics

Here are the differences between operators trainee' and chemical operators' demographics:

Operator TraineeChemical Operator
Average age4447
Gender ratioMale, 77.5% Female, 22.5%Male, 91.1% Female, 8.9%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 12.6% Unknown, 3.5% Hispanic or Latino, 17.6% Asian, 9.3% White, 55.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.2%Black or African American, 10.7% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 19.3% Asian, 4.3% White, 60.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%
LGBT Percentage5%11%

Differences between operator trainee and chemical operator duties and responsibilities

Operator trainee example responsibilities.

  • Manage the master calendar and schedule resources such as communication equipment, weapons, transportation and ammunition forecast and delivery.
  • Operate valves, pumps and extruders.
  • Work oilfield operations as a Jr.
  • Perform LOTO on process equipment and piping.
  • Work with PLC technician on solving PLC issues.
  • Assist crew workers with laying asphalt and smoothing asphalt out.
  • Show more

Chemical operator example responsibilities.

  • Manage multiple large volume fermentation tanks simultaneously.
  • Add dye to chemical to be mix.
  • Mix chemicals together to make a base for dye.
  • License by the NRC for operation of facility reactor.
  • Provide the QC lab with batch samples as instructed by formula cards for quality disposition.
  • Use Hmi's to control the product being make and sending it to storage tanks.
  • Show more

Operator trainee vs chemical operator skills

Common operator trainee skills
  • Customer Service, 19%
  • Hand Tools, 15%
  • CDL, 11%
  • DOT, 5%
  • Minor Maintenance, 4%
  • Hazardous Materials, 4%
Common chemical operator skills
  • Safety Procedures, 8%
  • Math, 5%
  • Process Equipment, 5%
  • Basic Math, 4%
  • Minor Maintenance, 4%
  • Troubleshoot, 4%

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