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The differences between process technicians and process operators can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 2-4 years to become a process technician, becoming a process operator takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, a process technician has an average salary of $39,462, which is higher than the $37,996 average annual salary of a process operator.
The top three skills for a process technician include basic math, patients and OSHA. The most important skills for a process operator are safety procedures, preventative maintenance, and team-oriented environment.
| Process Technician | Process Operator | |
| Yearly salary | $39,462 | $37,996 |
| Hourly rate | $18.97 | $18.27 |
| Growth rate | 3% | 3% |
| Number of jobs | 74,367 | 83,478 |
| Job satisfaction | 3 | 5 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 36% | Bachelor's Degree, 36% |
| Average age | 45 | 46 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 2 |
A process technician is responsible for managing the equipment and machinery used for various industries, such as manufacturing and engineering. Process technicians must have a strong knowledge of the mechanical industry, especially on operating certain equipment types and making adjustments on its features as needed, depending on the needs of the operation. They also run diagnostic tests to check a machine's working condition to ensure that it's free of any inconsistencies. A process technician also helps develop structure methods by communicating with the technical team and escalating all defective findings to the supervisor.
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.
Process technicians and process operators have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Process Technician | Process Operator | |
| Average salary | $39,462 | $37,996 |
| Salary range | Between $30,000 And $51,000 | Between $29,000 And $48,000 |
| Highest paying City | Santa Clara, CA | Grand Forks, ND |
| Highest paying state | Rhode Island | Wyoming |
| Best paying company | HP | BWX Technologies |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Manufacturing |
There are a few differences between a process technician and a process operator in terms of educational background:
| Process Technician | Process Operator | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 36% | Bachelor's Degree, 36% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | Purdue University | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between process technicians' and process operators' demographics:
| Process Technician | Process Operator | |
| Average age | 45 | 46 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 73.2% Female, 26.8% | Male, 70.1% Female, 29.9% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 9.4% Unknown, 4.9% Hispanic or Latino, 16.5% Asian, 7.6% White, 61.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% | 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% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 6% |