What is a production operator and how to become one

Q: How do I become a production operator?

To become a production operator requires a high school diploma and the right work experience. While there are no formal qualifications to become a production operator, prior experience is usually highly sought after by employers. Depending on the industry you are working in, you may also need specific certification (such as a forklift license).

Q: How much do production operators make?

A production operator makes $29,914 a year. However, this can start as low as $16,000 a year to as high as $42,000 a year. Factors such as experience, location, and company can all impact the earning potential for a production operator.

Q: What are the roles and responsibilities of a production operator?

The roles and responsibilities of a production operator are to assemble, test, inspect, and pack per work instructions. They are also responsible for performing various tasks to set up, operate, monitor, troubleshoot, and perform preventive maintenance on assigned machines.

Q: What are the skills of a production operator?

The skills of a production operator include having a good understanding of machinery, including safety procedures, and staying focused. There are also physical requirements needed for working as a production operator. For example, the job usually entails standing on their feet for prolonged periods. There is also usually lots of bending, lifting, carrying, and stretching to perform their duties. Production operators should possess adequate fitness and stamina.

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

A production operator is responsible for overseeing the manufacturing process in various industries such as pharmaceuticals, food and beverage, and electronics. They are responsible for ensuring that production runs smoothly, optimizing production processes, and maintaining quality control. Production operators are involved in operating machinery, performing routine maintenance, monitoring equipment performance, and troubleshooting issues that arise. They also maintain records of production output and ensure that safety standards are met.

ScoreProduction OperatorUS Average

Salary

2.7

Avg. Salary $35,185

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

4.4

Growth rate 7%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

9.9

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.86%

Asian 7.84%

Black or African American 11.49%

Hispanic or Latino 17.72%

Unknown 4.24%

White 57.85%

Gender

female 32.33%

male 67.67%

Age - 44

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 44

Stress level

4.4

Stress level is moderate

7.1 - high

Complexity level

5.6

Complexity level is intermediate

7 - challenging

Work life balance

6.8

Work life balance is good

6.4 - fair

What are the pros and cons of being a production operator?

Pros

Good pay and benefits
Opportunities for overtime
Job security
Structured work environment
Teamwork and camaraderie with coworkers

Cons

Physically demanding work
Exposure to hazardous materials or situations
Work can be stressful during peak production periods
Possibility of working in noisy or uncomfortable environments
Jobs may be outsourced to other countries.

Production operator career paths

Key steps to become a production operator

Explore production operator education requirements
Most common production operator degrees
High School Diploma
36.5 %
Bachelor's
26.1 %
Associate
21.5 %
Start to develop specific production operator skills
Skills Percentages
Basic Math 6.62%
Math 5.66%
Quality Checks 4.76%
Quality Standards 4.33%
Hand Tools 4.25%
Show more
Research production operator duties and responsibilities
- Experience following procedures and managing GMP documentation.
- Operate stitching machine for all check bindery.
- Break down freight onto production line, label/tot, Rf scan guns
- Cut and inspect sheets, verify laser etching, and circuit test etched sheets.
Prepare your production operator resume
When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your production operator resume.

You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a production operator resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.
Choose from 10+ customizable production operator resume templates
Build a professional production operator resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your production operator resume.
Apply for production operator jobs
Now it's time to start searching for a production operator job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:
1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
2. Consult your professional network
3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
4. Watch out for job scams

Skills	Percentages
Basic Math	6.62%
Math	5.66%
Quality Checks	4.76%
Quality Standards	4.33%
Hand Tools	4.25%

How did you land your first production operator job

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Average production operator salary

The average production operator salary in the United States is $35,185 per year or $17 per hour. Production operator salaries range between $27,000 and $44,000 per year.

Average production operator salary

$35,185 Yearly

$16.92 hourly

More production operator salary info

What am I worth?

How do production operators rate their job?

-/5

5 stars

4 stars

3 stars

2 stars

1 star

Production operator reviews

A zippia user wrote a review on Jun 2020

Pros

The facts that you can work and cooperate with people and learn new things you didn’t know

A zippia user wrote a review on Nov 2019

Pros

Chemical procedure for making final product with approved formula Work with r&d people for validation batches

Cons

Nothing

A zippia user wrote a review on Sep 2019

Cons

Data collection and send report sit one place not do nothing at all Boring work

Production operator FAQs

How do I become a production operator?

How much do production operators make?

What are the roles and responsibilities of a production operator?

What are the skills of a production operator?

Have more questions? See all answers to common production and manufacturing questions.

Search for production operator jobs

Production operator jobs by state

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

Updated January 8, 2025

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What is a production operator and how to become one

What are the pros and cons of being a production operator?

Production operator career paths

Key steps to become a production operator

Explore production operator education requirements

Most common production operator degrees

Start to develop specific production operator skills

Research production operator duties and responsibilities

Prepare your production operator resume

Choose from 10+ customizable production operator resume templates

Apply for production operator jobs

How did you land your first production operator job

Average production operator salary

How do production operators rate their job?

Production operator reviews

Production operator FAQs

How do I become a production operator?

How much do production operators make?

What are the roles and responsibilities of a production operator?

What are the skills of a production operator?

Search for production operator jobs

Production operator jobs by state