Production operator vs operator

The differences between production operators and operators can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, an operator has an average salary of $37,928, 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 operator are safety procedures, CDL, and emergency calls.

Production operator vs operator overview

	Production Operator	Operator
Yearly salary	$35,185	$37,928
Hourly rate	$16.92	$18.23
Growth rate	7%	7%
Number of jobs	117,254	159,077
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 37%	High School Diploma, 40%
Average age	43	43
Years of experience	-	4

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 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.

Production operator vs operator salary

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

	Production Operator	Operator
Average salary	$35,185	$37,928
Salary range	Between $27,000 And $44,000	Between $27,000 And $53,000
Highest paying City	Bellevue, WA	San Jose, CA
Highest paying state	Massachusetts	North Dakota
Best paying company	BD	Microsoft
Best paying industry	Manufacturing	Technology

Differences between production operator and operator education

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

	Production Operator	Operator
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 37%	High School Diploma, 40%
Most common major	Business	Business
Most common college	-	-

Production operator vs operator demographics

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

	Production Operator	Operator
Average age	43	43
Gender ratio	Male, 67.7% Female, 32.3%	Male, 73.0% Female, 27.0%
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, 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	5%	4%

Differences between production operator and 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.

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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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Production operator vs operator skills

Common production operator skills

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

Common operator skills

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

Production Operator vs. similar jobs

Production Operator related careers

Production Operator related jobs

Production Operator jobs by location

Updated January 8, 2025

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