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The differences between production line workers and line operators can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a line operator has an average salary of $34,520, which is higher than the $28,844 average annual salary of a production line worker.
The top three skills for a production line worker include assembly line, pallet jack and safety guidelines. The most important skills for a line operator are preventative maintenance, PPE, and basic math.
| Production Line Worker | Line Operator | |
| Yearly salary | $28,844 | $34,520 |
| Hourly rate | $13.87 | $16.60 |
| Growth rate | - | 7% |
| Number of jobs | 123,921 | 137,127 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 54% | High School Diploma, 49% |
| Average age | 38 | 44 |
| Years of experience | - | - |
A production worker is responsible for operating equipment and machinery to support the production process with the highest efficiency and maximum operational performance. Production workers regularly inspect the condition of the machinery, reporting any defects and malfunctions which affect the production process for immediate repairs or replacement. They also conduct quality checks for finished products before release to ensure customer satisfaction and avoid any delays on shipment. A production worker must always adhere to safety standards and protocols set by the management to prevent hazards in the production area.
A line operator is responsible for assisting in warehouse and factory operations, usually assigned on doing heavy works for the production. Line operators' duties include operating manufacturing machines and equipment, placing products on the appropriate shelves, checking supplies and inventories, loading orders for shipments, inspecting products for any defects, labeling products accurately, adhering to the safety procedures to prevent product contamination, and observing sanitary regulations. A line operator must have comprehensive knowledge of the mechanical industry, as well as the ability to multi-task, especially on meeting deadlines and processing customers' orders.
Production line workers and line operators have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Production Line Worker | Line Operator | |
| Average salary | $28,844 | $34,520 |
| Salary range | Between $23,000 And $35,000 | Between $27,000 And $43,000 |
| Highest paying City | Seattle, WA | Grand Forks, ND |
| Highest paying state | Washington | North Dakota |
| Best paying company | Anomatic | BD |
| Best paying industry | Automotive | Manufacturing |
There are a few differences between a production line worker and a line operator in terms of educational background:
| Production Line Worker | Line Operator | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 54% | High School Diploma, 49% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between production line workers' and line operators' demographics:
| Production Line Worker | Line Operator | |
| Average age | 38 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 57.8% Female, 42.2% | Male, 67.6% Female, 32.4% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 12.1% Unknown, 4.0% Hispanic or Latino, 16.4% Asian, 4.5% White, 62.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.0% | Black or African American, 11.9% Unknown, 3.4% Hispanic or Latino, 15.4% Asian, 7.0% White, 61.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 9% | 5% |