Process plant operator vs operator

The differences between process plant operators and 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 plant operator, becoming an operator takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a process plant operator has an average salary of $41,902, which is higher than the $37,928 average annual salary of an operator.

The top three skills for a process plant operator include plant operations, plant process and minor maintenance. The most important skills for an operator are safety procedures, CDL, and emergency calls.

Process plant operator vs operator overview

	Process Plant Operator	Operator
Yearly salary	$41,902	$37,928
Hourly rate	$20.15	$18.23
Growth rate	-7%	7%
Number of jobs	61,085	159,077
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 32%	High School Diploma, 40%
Average age	47	43
Years of experience	2	4

What does a process plant operator do?

Process plant operator positions require skills in forklifts, crushers, and forklift operation, as well as management, trucking, and a plethora of other skills. They must first pass a medical and NRC licensing exam, as well as a plant-operating exam each year, in addition to license renewal applications every six years. They will be called upon to oversee and manage the production process of a manufacturing plant, as well as monitor equipment to ensure quality, efficiency, and safety in said plant.

What does an operator do?

Operators are skilled workers who are in charge of working on an industrial machine or a specific aspect of the manufacturing business. They are trained to operate machines, learning how to use them. They are also responsible for the maintenance and repair of the machine, and they should be able to troubleshoot problems and provide remedies to them. They must be knowledgeable about the different parts of the machine and how to mitigate any challenges that may arise. Operators should be alert, detail-oriented, and familiar with safety and health guidelines.

Process plant operator vs operator salary

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

	Process Plant Operator	Operator
Average salary	$41,902	$37,928
Salary range	Between $28,000 And $62,000	Between $27,000 And $53,000
Highest paying City	-	San Jose, CA
Highest paying state	-	North Dakota
Best paying company	-	Microsoft
Best paying industry	-	Technology

Differences between process plant operator and operator education

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

	Process Plant Operator	Operator
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 32%	High School Diploma, 40%
Most common major	Business	Business
Most common college	-	-

Process plant operator vs operator demographics

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

	Process Plant Operator	Operator
Average age	47	43
Gender ratio	Male, 81.7% Female, 18.3%	Male, 73.0% Female, 27.0%
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, 16.2% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 18.6% Asian, 2.5% White, 57.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%
LGBT Percentage	11%	4%

Differences between process plant operator and operator 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.

Operator example responsibilities.

Assist in developing the company s short and long term training plans and managing yearly ammunition allocation.
Assist and manage the extrusion process of polyester raw material in pellet or chip form to produce finish rolls of plastic.
Manage day-to-day transportation and logistics services for multinational account base.
Manage the master calendar and schedule resources such as communication equipment, weapons, transportation and ammunition forecast and delivery.
Job require basic math skills: fractions and decimals.
Ensure safety of all equipment during production in compliance with strict OSHA and safety regulations.

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Process plant operator vs operator skills

Common process plant operator skills

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

Common operator skills

Safety Procedures, 15%
CDL, 6%
Emergency Calls, 6%
Preventative Maintenance, 4%
Quality Checks, 4%
Dozer, 4%

Process Plant Operator vs. similar jobs

Process Plant Operator related careers

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Updated January 8, 2025

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