Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The differences between process operators and chemical operators can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 1-2 years to become a process operator, becoming a chemical operator takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a chemical operator has an average salary of $40,526, which is higher than the $37,996 average annual salary of a process operator.
The top three skills for a process operator include safety procedures, preventative maintenance and team-oriented environment. The most important skills for a chemical operator are safety procedures, math, and process equipment.
| Process Operator | Chemical Operator | |
| Yearly salary | $37,996 | $40,526 |
| Hourly rate | $18.27 | $19.48 |
| Growth rate | 3% | 4% |
| Number of jobs | 83,478 | 36,522 |
| Job satisfaction | 5 | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 36% | High School Diploma, 35% |
| Average age | 46 | 47 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 6 |
A process operator's role is to supervise all production operations in a manufacturing plant or similar setting. To ensure the efficiency and safety of the workforce and the workload, a process operator must regularly conduct inspections on the manufacturing processes and provide an assessment of the employees' progress. There are also duties that involve producing reports and presentations, keeping and updating data, performing audits, and managing work schedules. Furthermore, it is essential to maintain a healthy and safe environment for everyone, all while adhering and implementing the policies and regulations of the company.
A chemical operator is responsible for maintaining heavy machines and equipment for chemical processing operations. Chemical operators inspect machinery for any malfunctions, perform immediate repairs, and replace defective components as needed to ensure the equipment's safety and efficiency. They carefully handle chemicals, observe the mixing process, and support process development by assisting on strategic procedures to maximize productivity and plan initiatives. A chemical operator must adhere to the safety protocols of the production, especially on storing chemicals, recording information to the database, and operating machines.
Process operators and chemical operators have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Process Operator | Chemical Operator | |
| Average salary | $37,996 | $40,526 |
| Salary range | Between $29,000 And $48,000 | Between $31,000 And $51,000 |
| Highest paying City | Grand Forks, ND | New York, NY |
| Highest paying state | Wyoming | New York |
| Best paying company | BWX Technologies | Westinghouse Appliances Australia |
| Best paying industry | Manufacturing | Pharmaceutical |
There are a few differences between a process operator and a chemical operator in terms of educational background:
| Process Operator | Chemical Operator | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 36% | High School Diploma, 35% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between process operators' and chemical operators' demographics:
| Process Operator | Chemical Operator | |
| Average age | 46 | 47 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 70.1% Female, 29.9% | Male, 91.1% Female, 8.9% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 11.7% Unknown, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino, 20.3% Asian, 4.5% White, 58.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% | Black or African American, 10.7% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 19.3% Asian, 4.3% White, 60.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 11% |