What is a Process Operator?

Process operators supervise the day-to-day running of a manufacturing plant or industrial facility. They are particular about the production process, and they have to ensure that production operations go on smoothly. It is your job to carry out regular maintenance checks and ensure that all equipment works in its best states. Your duties also involve managing work schedules, performing audits, assessing the performance of employees, and ensuring all safety rules and regulations are adhered to. You are also required to see to the welfare of all production staff and the maintenance of the facility. Obtaining the highest standard of your production operations should be a major goal for you as a process operator.

Good knowledge of safety procedures, preventive maintenance, and data entry is highly esteemed by hiring managers when looking to employ process operators. You can become a process operator with a high school diploma, and you can earn up to $33,852 annually as a process operator.

What Does a Process Operator Do

There are certain skills that many process operators have in order to accomplish their responsibilities. By taking a look through resumes, we were able to narrow down the most common skills for a person in this position. We discovered that a lot of resumes listed analytical skills, communication skills and detail oriented.

Learn more about what a Process Operator does

How To Become a Process Operator

If you're interested in becoming a process operator, one of the first things to consider is how much education you need. We've determined that 35.8% of process operators have a bachelor's degree. In terms of higher education levels, we found that 2.6% of process operators have master's degrees. Even though some process operators have a college degree, it's possible to become one with only a high school degree or GED.

Learn More About How To Become a Process Operator
Top Process Operator Jobs Near You

Process Operator Career Paths

As you move along in your career, you may start taking on more responsibilities or notice that you've taken on a leadership role. Using our career map, a process operator can determine their career goals through the career progression. For example, they could start out with a role such as technician, progress to a title such as team leader and then eventually end up with the title plant manager.

Process Operator

Average Salary for a Process Operator

Process Operators in America make an average salary of $37,996 per year or $18 per hour. The top 10 percent makes over $48,000 per year, while the bottom 10 percent under $29,000 per year.
Average Process Operator Salary
$37,996 Yearly
$18.27 hourly
See More Salary Information

What Am I Worth?

salary-calculator

Roles and Types of Process Operator

The role of a process operator includes a wide range of responsibilities. These responsibilities can vary based on an individual's specific job, company, or industry.Here are some general process operator responsibilities:

  • Position specialist works with unconventional materials
  • Carries out duties in compliance with all state
  • Follows operating discipline principles, procedures and practices to ensure safe

There are several types of process operator, including:

Machine Operator

Role:

Someone has to operate the machine - why not you? Machine operators are able to transfer a variety of objects through the use of machinery. So if driving a forklift around sounds like your idea of fun, then maybe this is the job for you.

Some machine operators need training in order to operate certain machinery such as cranes and excavators. The hours you work as a machine operator can vary, but often include overtime, night shifts, and weekend shifts.

As a machine operator, you have lots of industries you could go into, from warehousing and storage to food manufacturing and construction. The list goes on and on. Depending on the industry, your work can take you outside or you may get to work inside.

  • Average Salary: $32,874
  • Degree: High School Diploma

Operator

Role:

As an operator, it's your job to know how specific equipment or machines work. You should know how to install and repair certain machinery as well as knowing how to use tools to help with the manufacturing process.

Operators often spend their time checking in on equipment and making sure it's properly working. Every problem that is detected, you'll often call upon an operators to come and save the day. They're essentially the superhero in an office setting.

In most cases, operators work full-time, normal hours. But when a client needs help, you'll need to be available. which means that sometimes duty calls at night or on the weekends.

  • Average Salary: $37,928
  • Degree: High School Diploma

Production Operator

Role:

Have you ever wondered what is the official job role for those people in charge of work, like assembling parts in a factory? Well, I certainly have. I never used to think too much and assumed those people magically appeared as part of the factory. But they are actually called production operators and you can apply for this role, too, with little experience. This role is fun and exposes you to the way different things connect together, but it requires physical stamina and high concentration levels.

Daily, a production operator is involved in activities such as undertaking product assembly, performing product packaging, maintaining the production line machinery, and achieving production line targets. Besides that, they also need to clean the production floor and comply with health and safety guidelines.

Employers require production operators to have a minimum of a high school diploma and have the stamina to stand on their feet during work operations. This role earns, on average, $14 per hour and suits individuals passionate about understanding assembly lines.

  • Average Salary: $35,185
  • Degree: High School Diploma
View More

States With The Most Process Operator Jobs

Mouse over a state to see the number of active process operator jobs in each state. The darker areas on the map show where process operators earn the highest salaries across all 50 states.

Average Salary: Job Openings:

Number Of Process Operator Jobs By State

RankStateNumber of JobsAverage Salary
1California2,152$38,224
2Texas1,135$36,551
3New Jersey1,130$38,615
4Ohio1,040$35,558
5North Carolina1,013$33,957
6Illinois936$43,583
7Pennsylvania935$40,302
8Florida906$32,566
9New York873$41,668
10Indiana773$41,982
11Wisconsin698$44,020
12Michigan633$38,433
13Virginia538$35,873
14Missouri458$41,585
15Tennessee441$34,379
16Arizona399$36,065
17Maryland388$35,191
18Iowa366$40,487
19Washington339$40,782
20South Carolina318$34,802
21Colorado304$40,424
22Utah288$37,394
23Alabama273$37,850
24Oregon272$39,720
25Kansas236$44,727
26New Hampshire218$46,257
27Nebraska187$40,608
28Rhode Island178$41,067
29Mississippi160$37,262
30Arkansas159$37,952
31Nevada147$32,374
32Idaho139$42,703
33Louisiana124$37,495
34Oklahoma122$40,219
35Delaware117$44,823
36Alaska107$40,718
37Hawaii101$43,377
38West Virginia78$36,419
39New Mexico77$33,909
40South Dakota56$36,936
41Montana55$45,373
42Vermont53$35,081
43North Dakota49$49,170
44Wyoming27$55,850
45Maine0$45,231
46Massachusetts0$43,974
47Minnesota0$41,779
48Connecticut0$39,345
49Georgia0$36,025
50Kentucky0$32,510

Process Operator Education

Process Operator Majors

Business
28.4 %
Accounting
7.9 %
General Studies
7.7 %

Process Operator Degrees

Bachelors

35.8 %

Associate

26.3 %

High School Diploma

24.1 %

Top Colleges for Process Operators

1. Stanford University

Stanford, CA • Private

In-State Tuition

$51,354

Enrollment

7,083

2. University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA • Private

In-State Tuition

$55,584

Enrollment

10,764

3. Northwestern University

Evanston, IL • Private

In-State Tuition

$54,568

Enrollment

8,451

4. Maine Maritime Academy

Castine, ME • Private

In-State Tuition

$13,478

Enrollment

979

5. University of Southern California

Los Angeles, CA • Private

In-State Tuition

$56,225

Enrollment

19,548

6. California State University - Bakersfield

Bakersfield, CA • Private

In-State Tuition

$7,309

Enrollment

9,142

7. SUNY at Binghamton

Vestal, NY • Private

In-State Tuition

$9,808

Enrollment

13,990

8. Villanova University

Villanova, PA • Private

In-State Tuition

$53,308

Enrollment

6,819

9. San Diego State University

San Diego, CA • Private

In-State Tuition

$7,488

Enrollment

30,018

10. Bentley University

Waltham, MA • Private

In-State Tuition

$49,880

Enrollment

4,177

Top Skills For a Process Operator

The skills section on your resume can be almost as important as the experience section, so you want it to be an accurate portrayal of what you can do. Luckily, we've found all of the skills you'll need so even if you don't have these skills yet, you know what you need to work on. Out of all the resumes we looked through, 7.8% of process operators listed safety procedures on their resume, but soft skills such as analytical skills and communication skills are important as well.

  • Safety Procedures, 7.8%
  • Preventative Maintenance, 7.3%
  • Team-Oriented Environment, 6.6%
  • Ladders, 5.2%
  • Customer Service, 4.5%
  • Other Skills, 68.6%

Choose From 10+ Customizable Process Operator Resume templates

Zippia allows you to choose from different easy-to-use Process Operator templates, and provides you with expert advice. Using the templates, you can rest assured that the structure and format of your Process Operator resume is top notch. Choose a template with the colors, fonts & text sizes that are appropriate for your industry.

Process Operator Resume
Process Operator Resume
Process Operator Resume
Process Operator Resume
Process Operator Resume
Process Operator Resume
Process Operator Resume
Process Operator Resume
Process Operator Resume
Process Operator Resume
Process Operator Resume
Process Operator Resume
Process Operator Resume
Process Operator Resume
Process Operator Resume
Process Operator Resume

Process Operator diversity

Process Operator Gender Distribution

Male
Male
70%
Female
Female
30%

After extensive research and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:

  • Among process operators, 29.9% of them are women, while 70.1% are men.

  • The most common race/ethnicity among process operators is White, which makes up 58.8% of all process operators.

  • The most common foreign language among process operators is Spanish at 68.1%.

Online Courses For Process Operator That You May Like

Advertising Disclosure  

1. Cybersecurity Roles, Processes & Operating System Security

coursera

This course gives you the background needed to understand basic Cybersecurity around people. process and technology. You will learn: ● Understand the key cybersecurity roles within an Organization. ● List key cybersecurity processes and an example of each process. ● Describe the architecture, file systems, and basic commands for multiple operating systems including Windows, Mac/OS, Linux and Mobile. ● Understand the concept of Virtualization as it relates to cybersecurity Finally, you will...

2. Operations Management A-Z: Business Processes and Systems

udemy
4.6
(2,661)

Operations Management: Supply Chain & Business Processes in Industry for Manufacturing and Services Organizations...

3. Advanced Process Control & Safety Instrumented Systems SIS

udemy
4.4
(547)

Learn how the main process equipment such as chemical reactors, pumps, compressors & heat exchangers are controlled...

Show More Online Courses For Process Operator
Job type you want
Full Time
Part Time
Internship
Temporary

Best States For a Process Operator

Some places are better than others when it comes to starting a career as a process operator. The best states for people in this position are Wyoming, North Dakota, New Hampshire, and Montana. Process operators make the most in Wyoming with an average salary of $55,850. Whereas in North Dakota and New Hampshire, they would average $49,170 and $46,257, respectively. While process operators would only make an average of $45,373 in Montana, you would still make more there than in the rest of the country. We determined these as the best states based on job availability and pay. By finding the median salary, cost of living, and using the Bureau of Labor Statistics' Location Quotient, we narrowed down our list of states to these four.

1. New Hampshire

Total Process Operator Jobs: 218
Highest 10% Earn:
$60,000
Location Quotient:
1.86

$46,257

Avg. Salary

View 218 Process Operator Jobs In NH

2. Wisconsin

Total Process Operator Jobs: 698
Highest 10% Earn:
$56,000
Location Quotient:
1.88

$44,020

Avg. Salary

View 698 Process Operator Jobs In WI

3. Kansas

Total Process Operator Jobs: 236
Highest 10% Earn:
$58,000
Location Quotient:
1.16

$44,727

Avg. Salary

View 236 Process Operator Jobs In KS
Full List Of Best States For Process Operators

How Do Process Operators Rate Their Jobs?

5/5

5 Stars

4 Stars

3 Stars

2 Stars

1 Star

Process Operator Reviews

5.0
Jul 2019
Pros

i am not doing job right now but i want to search about this because i have an interview

Cons

i dont know but i have an interview to give so thats why i am searching

5.0
Apr 2019
Pros

It's not physical demanding but more of a “great amount of knowledge” required type of job. If you're passionate about it, you'll try to be the best operator you can be which is challenging. That's the fun part. Pay for decent to large scale companies range approximately $35-$43 per hour, tons of overtime available and bonuses.

Cons

Shift work

Working as a Process Operator? Share your experience anonymously.
Overall Rating*
Career Growth
Work/Life balance
Pay/Salary

Top Process Operator Employers

Most Common Employers For Process Operator

RankCompanyAverage SalaryHourly RateJob Openings
1INVISTA$43,081$20.7154
2DuPont$42,935$20.6473
3BASF$42,912$20.6349
4Exxon Mobil$42,770$20.5687
5Valero Energy$41,779$20.0972
6Abbott$41,469$19.9443
7Cargill$41,234$19.8254
8Newmont$40,889$19.6640
9Formosa Plastics$40,594$19.5258
10Frito-Lay$40,191$19.3283
Show More

Process Operator Videos

Process Operator
A Day in the Life of Robert, Process Operator at Suncor Energy
What the jobs are: Process operator

Process Operator Related Careers

Process Operator Related Jobs

What Similar Roles Do

Resume For Related Jobs

Updated April 6, 2023