Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The differences between plant operators and assistant operators can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 6-12 months to become a plant operator, becoming an assistant operator takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, a plant operator has an average salary of $42,697, which is higher than the $37,607 average annual salary of an assistant operator.
The top three skills for a plant operator include plant equipment, plant operations and preventative maintenance. The most important skills for an assistant operator are customer service, ladders, and safety procedures.
| Plant Operator | Assistant Operator | |
| Yearly salary | $42,697 | $37,607 |
| Hourly rate | $20.53 | $18.08 |
| Growth rate | -7% | -8% |
| Number of jobs | 43,388 | 88,093 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 34% | Bachelor's Degree, 38% |
| Average age | 47 | 50 |
| Years of experience | 12 | 2 |
A plant operator's primary role is to supervise and oversee operations in an industrial setting. They are responsible for controlling machinery and equipment, coordinating with fellow officers, monitoring the quality of progress among a particular unit or department, and maintaining daily operations records. A plant operator may also respond to inquiries and issues, perform basic troubleshooting, and provide corrective measures. Furthermore, a plant operator must conduct regular inspection and maintenance to ensure a safe work environment for everyone, all while implementing the plant's safety policies and regulations.
The duties of an assistant operator depend on one's industry of employment or the kind of machine that they are operating. Typically, their tasks may revolve around coordinating with operators and other staff, handling and managing documents, understanding blueprints, and adhering to the directives of operators and supervisors. Furthermore, as an assistant operator, it is essential to perform support tasks, such as preparing tools and conducting regular maintenance checks to ensure the efficiency of machines and maintain a safe work environment.
Plant operators and assistant operators have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Plant Operator | Assistant Operator | |
| Average salary | $42,697 | $37,607 |
| Salary range | Between $32,000 And $56,000 | Between $28,000 And $50,000 |
| Highest paying City | Sacramento, CA | San Jose, CA |
| Highest paying state | Idaho | Connecticut |
| Best paying company | NW Natural | Massachusetts General Hospital |
| Best paying industry | Finance | Energy |
There are a few differences between a plant operator and an assistant operator in terms of educational background:
| Plant Operator | Assistant Operator | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 34% | Bachelor's Degree, 38% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute | Western Carolina University |
Here are the differences between plant operators' and assistant operators' demographics:
| Plant Operator | Assistant Operator | |
| Average age | 47 | 50 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 93.5% Female, 6.5% | Male, 76.8% Female, 23.2% |
| Race ratio | 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% | Black or African American, 9.2% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 16.1% Asian, 3.8% White, 66.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% |
| LGBT Percentage | 5% | 6% |