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Process operator vs power shovel engineer

The differences between process operators and power shovel engineers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both a process operator and a power shovel engineer. Additionally, a power shovel engineer has an average salary of $81,216, 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 power shovel engineer are engineering projects, traction, and autocad.

Process operator vs power shovel engineer overview

Process OperatorPower Shovel Engineer
Yearly salary$37,996$81,216
Hourly rate$18.27$39.05
Growth rate3%3%
Number of jobs83,47820,916
Job satisfaction5-
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 36%Bachelor's Degree, 74%
Average age4645
Years of experience22

Process operator vs power shovel engineer salary

Process operators and power shovel engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Process OperatorPower Shovel Engineer
Average salary$37,996$81,216
Salary rangeBetween $29,000 And $48,000Between $50,000 And $131,000
Highest paying CityGrand Forks, NDSan Mateo, CA
Highest paying stateWyomingCalifornia
Best paying companyBWX TechnologiesMeta
Best paying industryManufacturingFinance

Differences between process operator and power shovel engineer education

There are a few differences between a process operator and a power shovel engineer in terms of educational background:

Process OperatorPower Shovel Engineer
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 36%Bachelor's Degree, 74%
Most common majorBusinessElectrical Engineering
Most common collegeStanford UniversityMichigan Technological University

Process operator vs power shovel engineer demographics

Here are the differences between process operators' and power shovel engineers' demographics:

Process OperatorPower Shovel Engineer
Average age4645
Gender ratioMale, 70.1% Female, 29.9%Male, 90.3% Female, 9.7%
Race ratioBlack 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, 4.9% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 11.4% Asian, 14.4% White, 64.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2%
LGBT Percentage6%6%

Differences between process operator and power shovel engineer duties and responsibilities

Process operator example responsibilities.

  • Manage distillation process to determine product specification compliance, and prepare unit for shutdown or turnaround process.
  • Climb ladders to inspect manholes, check temps, sometimes gather samples for lab analysis.
  • Demonstrate ability to perform basic math (add, subtract, multiply, divide, ratios, weights & measures).
  • Control product temperatures and monitor gauges.
  • Review FHA files for completeness and compliance.
  • Use of ladders, stairs, heavy lifting and temperature extremes.
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Power shovel engineer example responsibilities.

  • Coordinate with senior electrical engineers and achieve hands-on experience on coal fire plant power generation and power transformers, circuit breakers.
  • Assist design of Todd power supply using AutoCad.
  • Design DC power plant systems to customer specifications.
  • Develop RFQs, cost estimates, projects specifications, work orders generation and as-built process.
  • Design circuits, laid out PCB, support mechanical design, tested/debug, and perform safety/regulator testing.
  • Engineer transformer upgrades, new pole installations, and underground installations according to NESC specifications and standards.
  • Show more

Process operator vs power shovel engineer skills

Common process operator skills
  • Safety Procedures, 8%
  • Preventative Maintenance, 7%
  • Team-Oriented Environment, 7%
  • Ladders, 5%
  • Customer Service, 4%
  • Data Entry, 4%
Common power shovel engineer skills
  • Engineering Projects, 13%
  • Traction, 12%
  • Autocad, 8%
  • Debugging, 6%
  • Circuit Design, 6%
  • CAD, 6%

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