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The differences between plant operators and drivers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a plant operator has an average salary of $42,697, which is higher than the $34,771 average annual salary of a driver.
The top three skills for a plant operator include plant equipment, plant operations and preventative maintenance. The most important skills for a driver are math, basic math, and CDL.
| Plant Operator | Driver | |
| Yearly salary | $42,697 | $34,771 |
| Hourly rate | $20.53 | $16.72 |
| Growth rate | -7% | 11% |
| Number of jobs | 43,388 | 1,017,998 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 4.33 |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 34% | High School Diploma, 43% |
| Average age | 47 | 48 |
| Years of experience | 12 | - |
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.
Drivers are responsible for safely transporting people, packages, or goods from one destination to another. They should be familiar with the different routes that may be taken to reach the desired goal. They should be expert navigators and may use navigation apps to help them along the way. They should also be familiar with the basic mechanics of the vehicle they are using and the proper maintenance and cleaning needed to ensure that the car is running well. Drivers are expected to have excellent customer relation skills, a strong sense of direction, and superb organizations.
Plant operators and drivers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Plant Operator | Driver | |
| Average salary | $42,697 | $34,771 |
| Salary range | Between $32,000 And $56,000 | Between $22,000 And $53,000 |
| Highest paying City | Sacramento, CA | Boston, MA |
| Highest paying state | Idaho | Vermont |
| Best paying company | NW Natural | Air Liquide |
| Best paying industry | Finance | Manufacturing |
There are a few differences between a plant operator and a driver in terms of educational background:
| Plant Operator | Driver | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 34% | High School Diploma, 43% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute | - |
Here are the differences between plant operators' and drivers' demographics:
| Plant Operator | Driver | |
| Average age | 47 | 48 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 93.5% Female, 6.5% | Male, 83.0% Female, 17.0% |
| 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, 12.7% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 19.9% Asian, 3.5% White, 58.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 5% | 4% |