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Process operator education requirements
Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
There are several educational requirements to become a process operator. Process operators usually study business, accounting, or general studies. 36% of process operators hold a bachelor's degree, and 26% hold an associate degree. We analyzed 11,092 real process operator resumes to see exactly what process operator education sections show.
The most common colleges for process operators are the University of Phoenix and the University of Phoenix.
There are also many online process operator courses to help get the education required to be a process operator.
There are certain process operator certifications that you should consider. These process operator certifications include Chemical Process Operator Certificate and OSHA Safety Certificate .
What education do you need to become a process operator?
What degree do you need to be a process operator?
- Bachelor's, 36%
- Associate, 26%
- High School Diploma, 24%
- Diploma, 6%
- Other Degrees, 8%
What should I major in to become a process operator?
- Business, 28%
- Accounting, 8%
- General Studies, 8%
- Other Majors, 50%
Most common colleges for process operators
| Process operator common college | Percentages |
|---|---|
| University of Phoenix | 17.03% |
| Lamar University | 9.82% |
| Southeastern Louisiana University | 6.81% |
| Brazosport College | 5.81% |
| DeVry University | 5.41% |
Best majors for process operators
| Rank | Major | Percentages |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Business | 28.4% |
| 2 | Accounting | 7.9% |
| 3 | General Studies | 7.7% |
| 4 | Electrical Engineering | 5.5% |
| 5 | Criminal Justice | 5.2% |
Best colleges for process operators
The best colleges for process operators are Stanford University, Northwestern University, and University of Pennsylvania.
A process operator with advanced education typically earns a higher salary and has access to better jobs. That's why Zippia looked into the best colleges for process operators. We based this list on several metrics: admissions rate, retention rate, mean earnings of graduates, the ratio of working vs. non-working students ten years after admission, the average cost of attendance, and median debt for graduates who become 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
20 best online courses for process operators
Advertising disclosure
1. Operations Management A-Z: Business Processes and Systems
Operations Management: Supply Chain & Business Processes in Industry for Manufacturing and Services Organizations...
2. Advanced Process Control & Safety Instrumented Systems SIS
Learn how the main process equipment such as chemical reactors , pumps , compressors & heat exchangers are controlled...
3. Certified Quality Process Analyst Training
Certified Quality Process Analyst (CQPA) Exam Preparation Course - Confidently Pass the Exam on the First Attempt...
4. Statistical Process Control (SPC) Using Microsoft Excel
A Deep Dive into Analyzing your Process Data to Drive Quality Improvements within your Organization...
5. The Production Part Approval Process (PPAP)
The 18-step process for ensuring new parts are consistently manufactured and meet their customers' quality expectations...
6. Process Mining with Celonis
Learn and practice how to combine data science and process mapping techniques to visualize processes with real data...
7. Process Capability Analysis
A Powerful Tool Set for Understanding your Manufacturing Process Relative to Your Customers' Quality Expectations...
8. Lean Manufacturing A-Z: Lean Operations Management
Lean Business Operations Management, Lean Process and Systems Improvement in Production and Industry. MBA style course...
9. Batch Processing with Spring Batch & Spring Boot
Batch Processing of Data with Java Spring Framework & My SQL. Item Reader, Item Writer, Item Processor & JPA Reader...
10. Business Process Mapping
The complete guide to map any business process...
11. Leadership, Business Process Improvement, & Process Mapping!
Learn the leadership, communication, and process mapping skills to accelerate your career!...
12. Operating Systems Part 3: Synchronization and Deadlock
Learn the concepts of Operating Systems from scratch as Operating System forms the core of Computer Science...
13. Inventory Management: Safety Stock Calculation and Control
Optimize your Supply Chain Safety Stock. Simple to Advanced Methods. Reduce Costs and Risk in your Business Operations...
14. Salesforce Apex-Triggers,Email Service,Batch Processes
Salesforce CRM APEX: Learn about Triggers, DML operations, Email Messaging Service and Batch Process...
15. Quality Management Systems:Management and Control of Quality
Learn to Build, Implement, and Sustain a Performance Excellence Culture into Your Organisation...
16. Aspen Plus - Basic Process Modeling
Learn how to model Basic Industrial and Chemical Processes!...
17. Process/Chemical Engineering - BOOTCAMP 2021
The only course with over 10 hours practical knowledge about main process equipment Design, Control and Safety...
18. Operating Systems from scratch - Part 2
Learn memory management in operating systems as operating system forms the core of computer science...
19. Introduction to process control and instrumentation
Learn how process control is ensured in process industries & how the main instruments measure the key process variables...
20. Aspen HYSYS - Basic Process Modeling
Learn how to model basic Industrial and Chemical Processes!...
Top 10 most affordable universities for process operators
The most affordable schools for process operators are SUNY Farmingdale, california state university - bakersfield, and baruch college of the city university of new york.
If the best universities for process operators are out of your price range, check out these affordable schools. After factoring in in-state tuition and fees, the average cost of attendance, admissions rate, average net price, and mean earnings after six years, we found that these are the most affordable schools for process operators.
1. SUNY Farmingdale
Farmingdale, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$8,306
Cost of attendance
16,091
2. California State University - Bakersfield
Bakersfield, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$7,309
Cost of attendance
16,714
3. Baruch College of the City University of New York
New York, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$7,262
Cost of attendance
14,046
4. California State University - Dominguez Hills
Carson, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,942
Cost of attendance
14,469
5. Brooklyn College of the City University of New York
Brooklyn, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$7,240
Cost of attendance
13,991
6. Brigham Young University
Provo, UT • Private
In-state tuition
$5,620
Cost of attendance
18,136
7. SUNY Polytechnic Institute
Utica, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$8,238
Cost of attendance
21,567
8. USF Sarasota-Manatee
Sarasota, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$5,587
Cost of attendance
13,043
9. San Diego State University
San Diego, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$7,488
Cost of attendance
22,990
10. Clayton State University
Morrow, GA • Private
In-state tuition
$5,419
Cost of attendance
17,697
Top 10 hardest universities to get into for process operators
The hardest universities for process operators to get into are Stanford University, Northwestern University, and University of Pennsylvania.
Some great schools for process operators are hard to get into, but they also set your career up for greater success. The list below shows the most challenging universities to get into for process operators based on an institution's admissions rates, average SAT scores accepted, median ACT scores accepted, and mean earnings of students six years after admission.
1. Stanford University
Stanford, CA • Private
Admissions rate
4%
SAT average
1,497
2. Northwestern University
Evanston, IL • Private
Admissions rate
8%
SAT average
1,508
3. University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA • Private
Admissions rate
8%
SAT average
1,492
4. Boston University
Boston, MA • Private
Admissions rate
22%
SAT average
1,420
5. New York University
New York, NY • Private
Admissions rate
20%
SAT average
1,419
6. University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA • Private
Admissions rate
13%
SAT average
1,445
7. Villanova University
Villanova, PA • Private
Admissions rate
29%
SAT average
1,407
8. Bentley University
Waltham, MA • Private
Admissions rate
43%
SAT average
1,338
9. SUNY at Binghamton
Vestal, NY • Private
Admissions rate
40%
SAT average
1,376
10. Brandeis University
Waltham, MA • Private
Admissions rate
31%
SAT average
1,398
Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for process operators
The easiest schools for process operators to get into are Oklahoma Wesleyan University, notre dame de namur university, and holy names university.
Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as a process operator without much hassle, check out the list of schools where you will be accepted in no time. We compiled admissions rates, average SAT scores, average ACT scores, and average salary of students six years after graduation to uncover which were the easiest schools to get into for process operators.
1. Oklahoma Wesleyan University
Bartlesville, OK • Private
Admissions rate
68%
SAT average
964
2. Notre Dame de Namur University
Belmont, CA • Private
Admissions rate
82%
SAT average
983
3. Holy Names University
Oakland, CA • Private
Admissions rate
70%
SAT average
849
4. Notre Dame College
Cleveland, OH • Private
Admissions rate
90%
SAT average
994
5. LIM College
New York, NY • Private
Admissions rate
83%
SAT average
1,061
6. Nyack College
New York, NY • Private
Admissions rate
98%
SAT average
999
7. Life University
Marietta, GA • Private
Admissions rate
94%
SAT average
979
8. D'Youville College
Buffalo, NY • Private
Admissions rate
100%
SAT average
1,072
9. Presentation College
Aberdeen, SD • Private
Admissions rate
97%
SAT average
1,050
10. Oregon Institute of Technology
Klamath Falls, OR • Private
Admissions rate
96%
SAT average
1,139
Average process operator salary by education level
| Process operator education level | Process operator salary |
|---|---|
| Master's Degree | $46,281 |
| High School Diploma or Less | $37,079 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $42,355 |
| Some College/ Associate Degree | $39,409 |
Process operator education FAQs
Have more questions? See all answers to common production and manufacturing questions.
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Updated January 8, 2025
Updated January 8, 2025