Process plant operator vs field gauger

The differences between process plant operators and field gaugers 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 plant operator and a field gauger. Additionally, a process plant operator has an average salary of $41,902, which is higher than the $38,789 average annual salary of a field gauger.

Process plant operator vs field gauger overview

	Process Plant Operator	Field Gauger
Yearly salary	$41,902	$38,789
Hourly rate	$20.15	$18.65
Growth rate	-7%	-4%
Number of jobs	61,085	44,758
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 32%	High School Diploma, 25%
Average age	47	47
Years of experience	2	2

Process plant operator vs field gauger salary

Process plant operators and field gaugers have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Process Plant Operator	Field Gauger
Average salary	$41,902	$38,789
Salary range	Between $28,000 And $62,000	Between $20,000 And $72,000
Highest paying City	-	-
Highest paying state	-	-
Best paying company	-	-
Best paying industry	-	-

Differences between process plant operator and field gauger education

There are a few differences between a process plant operator and a field gauger in terms of educational background:

	Process Plant Operator	Field Gauger
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 32%	High School Diploma, 25%
Most common major	Business	Electrical And Power Transmission Installers
Most common college	-	-

Process plant operator vs field gauger demographics

Here are the differences between process plant operators' and field gaugers' demographics:

	Process Plant Operator	Field Gauger
Average age	47	47
Gender ratio	Male, 81.7% Female, 18.3%	Male, 100.0% Female, 0.0%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 9.8% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 20.6% Asian, 4.3% White, 59.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%	Black or African American, 7.1% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 14.3% Asian, 4.1% White, 69.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%
LGBT Percentage	11%	11%

Differences between process plant operator and field gauger duties and responsibilities

Process plant operator example responsibilities.

Manage distillation process to determine product specification compliance, and prepare unit for shutdown or turnaround process.
Move to the assembly department building electrical panels, installing electrical panels, installing various electrical devices on new centrifuges.
Batch SCC, Shotcrete and other loads to client specifications.

Field gauger example responsibilities.

Work with and lead operators, effectively conveying information, ensuring successful wireline operation performance.
Confirm oil and gas field production levels in tanks and LACT unit storage and maintain equipment on sites.
Establish and maintain appropriate systems to monitor, evaluate and report on all operational activities including logistics and program implementation.
Work with and lead operators, effectively conveying information, ensuring successful wireline operation performance.

Process plant operator vs field gauger skills

Common process plant operator skills

Plant Operations, 30%
Plant Process, 10%
Minor Maintenance, 9%
Plant Equipment, 7%
OSHA, 7%
Continuous Operation, 6%

Common field gauger skills

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Updated January 8, 2025

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