Press break operator vs machine operator

The differences between press break operators and machine operators can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a press break operator has an average salary of $34,189, which is higher than the $32,874 average annual salary of a machine operator.

The top three skills for a press break operator include operate cnc, calipers and laser machine. The most important skills for a machine operator are basic math, CNC, and math.

Press break operator vs machine operator overview

	Press Break Operator	Machine Operator
Yearly salary	$34,189	$32,874
Hourly rate	$16.44	$15.80
Growth rate	-5%	-6%
Number of jobs	45,544	96,834
Job satisfaction	-	5
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 61%	High School Diploma, 53%
Average age	46	44
Years of experience	2	-

Press break operator vs machine operator salary

Press break operators and machine operators have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Press Break Operator	Machine Operator
Average salary	$34,189	$32,874
Salary range	Between $27,000 And $42,000	Between $26,000 And $40,000
Highest paying City	-	Minneapolis, MN
Highest paying state	-	Minnesota
Best paying company	-	BD
Best paying industry	-	Automotive

Differences between press break operator and machine operator education

There are a few differences between a press break operator and a machine operator in terms of educational background:

	Press Break Operator	Machine Operator
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 61%	High School Diploma, 53%
Most common major	General Studies	Business
Most common college	-	-

Press break operator vs machine operator demographics

Here are the differences between press break operators' and machine operators' demographics:

	Press Break Operator	Machine Operator
Average age	46	44
Gender ratio	Male, 89.9% Female, 10.1%	Male, 72.3% Female, 27.7%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 7.9% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 13.4% Asian, 1.7% White, 71.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%	Black or African American, 12.0% Unknown, 3.4% Hispanic or Latino, 16.0% Asian, 7.5% White, 60.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.2%
LGBT Percentage	3%	5%

Differences between press break operator and machine operator duties and responsibilities

Press break operator example responsibilities.

Operate conventional mill and conventional lathe machines, cold see, spot-welding & MIG & TIG.
Work as an Oasys punch machine operator and help the hot stamp and the final count for the cards.
Maintain strict quality requirements using scales, calipers and micrometers.
Press operator on misc multicolore Heidelberg and Komori presses

Machine operator example responsibilities.

Conduct preventative maintenance checks on industrial brake manufacturing machines and forklifts.
Follow company and safety procedures using industrial chemicals and PPE to efficiently clean and sanitize all equipment.
Operate forklift and bobcat as needed.
Run a line in a PVC pipe production plant.
Operate machinery including forklift, bobcat and various power tools.
Provide leadership to others through example and sharing of knowledge/skill.

Press break operator vs machine operator skills

Common press break operator skills

Operate CNC, 16%
Calipers, 13%
Laser Machine, 7%
Tape Measure, 6%
Aluminum, 6%
Safety Regulations, 6%

Common machine operator skills

Basic Math, 11%
CNC, 9%
Math, 9%
Safety Procedures, 8%
Machine Operation, 6%
Quality Standards, 5%

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Production and Manufacturing Industry
Press Break Operator
Press Break Operator vs Machine Operator

Updated January 8, 2025

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