Production operator vs extrusion operator

The differences between production operators and extrusion operators can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, an extrusion operator has an average salary of $36,571, which is higher than the $35,185 average annual salary of a production operator.

The top three skills for a production operator include basic math, math and quality checks. The most important skills for an extrusion operator are extrusion, hand tools, and math.

Production operator vs extrusion operator overview

	Production Operator	Extrusion Operator
Yearly salary	$35,185	$36,571
Hourly rate	$16.92	$17.58
Growth rate	7%	-5%
Number of jobs	117,254	58,622
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 37%	High School Diploma, 53%
Average age	43	43
Years of experience	-	-

What does a production operator do?

A production operator is responsible for handling and monitoring manufacturing machines in a factory or similar establishment, ensuring that everything is running smoothly and according to schedule. Aside from assisting with the processing and packaging of goods, a production operator must also conduct necessary inspections to the machine or equipment that they are using to make sure that it is in good condition and is safe to use. Should there be any issues or concerns regarding safety, it is essential to notify a supervisor right away.

What does an extrusion operator do?

An extrusion operator is also sometimes called a drawing machine operator. They control and monitor machines that shape thermoplastic materials for industries such as aerospace manufacturing, general plastics manufacturing, and automobile and auto parts manufacturing. An extrusion operator sets up and operates a machine following established procedures, guidelines, and customer requirement. Mechanical skills are the very foundation of being an extrusion operator. An extrusion operator also needs physical strength, stamina, computer skills, and critical thinking skills.

Production operator vs extrusion operator salary

Production operators and extrusion operators have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Production Operator	Extrusion Operator
Average salary	$35,185	$36,571
Salary range	Between $27,000 And $44,000	Between $29,000 And $45,000
Highest paying City	Bellevue, WA	Minnetonka, MN
Highest paying state	Massachusetts	Connecticut
Best paying company	BD	BD
Best paying industry	Manufacturing	Automotive

Differences between production operator and extrusion operator education

There are a few differences between a production operator and an extrusion operator in terms of educational background:

	Production Operator	Extrusion Operator
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 37%	High School Diploma, 53%
Most common major	Business	Business
Most common college	-	-

Production operator vs extrusion operator demographics

Here are the differences between production operators' and extrusion operators' demographics:

	Production Operator	Extrusion Operator
Average age	43	43
Gender ratio	Male, 67.7% Female, 32.3%	Male, 88.6% Female, 11.4%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 11.5% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 17.7% Asian, 7.8% White, 57.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9%	Black or African American, 9.7% Unknown, 2.8% Hispanic or Latino, 12.1% Asian, 2.3% White, 72.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%
LGBT Percentage	5%	3%

Differences between production operator and extrusion operator duties and responsibilities

Production operator example 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.
Operate CNC machine, parts washer, and quality testing of parts prior to shipping.
Handle daily flow of paper work of production for company's records and for FDA records.

Extrusion operator example responsibilities.

Manage the levels of chemicals to make sure process run correctly for making Styrofoam.
Manage the master calendar and schedule resources such as communication equipment, weapons, transportation and ammunition forecast and delivery.
Extrude automotive parts according to ISO standards.
Start operations by inserting data into CNC control units.
Set up and operate equipment to produce food contact grade PVC plastic film.
Mount rolls of base material on machine spindles for automatic feed through machines.

Production operator vs extrusion operator skills

Common production operator skills

Basic Math, 7%
Math, 6%
Quality Checks, 5%
Quality Standards, 4%
Hand Tools, 4%
GMP, 4%

Common extrusion operator skills

Extrusion, 21%
Hand Tools, 6%
Math, 5%
Quality Checks, 5%
Extrusion Machine, 4%
Safety Procedures, 4%

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Production Operator vs Extrusion Operator

Updated January 8, 2025

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