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The differences between plant operators and 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 operator takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a plant operator has an average salary of $42,697, which is higher than the $37,928 average annual salary of an operator.
The top three skills for a plant operator include plant equipment, plant operations and preventative maintenance. The most important skills for an operator are safety procedures, CDL, and emergency calls.
| Plant Operator | Operator | |
| Yearly salary | $42,697 | $37,928 |
| Hourly rate | $20.53 | $18.23 |
| Growth rate | -7% | 7% |
| Number of jobs | 43,388 | 159,077 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 34% | High School Diploma, 40% |
| Average age | 47 | 43 |
| Years of experience | 12 | 4 |
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.
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.
Plant operators and operators have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Plant Operator | Operator | |
| Average salary | $42,697 | $37,928 |
| Salary range | Between $32,000 And $56,000 | Between $27,000 And $53,000 |
| Highest paying City | Sacramento, CA | San Jose, CA |
| Highest paying state | Idaho | North Dakota |
| Best paying company | NW Natural | Microsoft |
| Best paying industry | Finance | Technology |
There are a few differences between a plant operator and an operator in terms of educational background:
| Plant Operator | Operator | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 34% | High School Diploma, 40% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute | - |
Here are the differences between plant operators' and operators' demographics:
| Plant Operator | Operator | |
| Average age | 47 | 43 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 93.5% Female, 6.5% | Male, 73.0% Female, 27.0% |
| 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, 16.2% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 18.6% Asian, 2.5% White, 57.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 5% | 4% |