Outside operator vs plant operator

The differences between outside operators and plant operators can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 6-12 months to become both an outside operator and a plant operator. Additionally, a plant operator has an average salary of $42,697, which is higher than the $40,793 average annual salary of an outside operator.

The top three skills for an outside operator include patrol, golf carts and cart barn. The most important skills for a plant operator are plant equipment, plant operations, and preventative maintenance.

Outside operator vs plant operator overview

	Outside Operator	Plant Operator
Yearly salary	$40,793	$42,697
Hourly rate	$19.61	$20.53
Growth rate	-7%	-7%
Number of jobs	47,129	43,388
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 51%	High School Diploma, 34%
Average age	47	47
Years of experience	12	12

Outside operator vs plant operator salary

Outside operators and plant operators have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Outside Operator	Plant Operator
Average salary	$40,793	$42,697
Salary range	Between $29,000 And $55,000	Between $32,000 And $56,000
Highest paying City	-	Sacramento, CA
Highest paying state	-	Idaho
Best paying company	-	NW Natural
Best paying industry	-	Finance

Differences between outside operator and plant operator education

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

	Outside Operator	Plant Operator
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 51%	High School Diploma, 34%
Most common major	Business	Business
Most common college	Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute	Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

Outside operator vs plant operator demographics

Here are the differences between outside operators' and plant operators' demographics:

	Outside Operator	Plant Operator
Average age	47	47
Gender ratio	Male, 91.9% Female, 8.1%	Male, 93.5% Female, 6.5%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 7.9% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 12.8% Asian, 1.8% White, 70.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 2.3%	Black or African American, 7.8% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 12.7% Asian, 1.8% White, 70.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 2.5%
LGBT Percentage	5%	5%

Differences between outside operator and plant operator duties and responsibilities

Outside operator example responsibilities.

Manage multiple large volume fermentation tanks simultaneously.
Used LOTO, permitting and procedures to ensure safe release of equipment.
Monitor process and equipment operating conditions through field gauges and DCS readings.
Perform facility wide LOTO on all equipment that work are to be perform on.
Load acrylamide, acrylic acid, and caustic onto trailers and railcars using industry standard PPE.
Monitor and adjust distillation variables such as: temperature, flow rate, pressure, and time.

Plant operator example responsibilities.

Manage and operate the DCS system or control board.
Manage and perform preventive maintenance, electrical repairs, millwright work, and MSHA safety functions.
Maintain buildings HVAC / lighting automation systems and make adjustments as needed for tenant's comfort and to manage energy consumption.
Used basic math skills to calculate the weight of the ammonia by the price it are per ton.
Operate compressors, scrubbers, pipeline, pumps, coolers, and evaporators to liquefy or compress gas.
Maintain and repair all equipment involve in plant processes to keep within OSHA safety standards and EPA environmental codes.

Outside operator vs plant operator skills

Common outside operator skills

Patrol, 27%
Golf Carts, 10%
Cart Barn, 6%
Outside Operations, 5%
Golf Balls, 4%
Cart Fleet, 4%

Common plant operator skills

Plant Equipment, 7%
Plant Operations, 6%
Preventative Maintenance, 5%
Boilers, 5%
Minor Maintenance, 4%
Ladders, 4%