Production operator vs relief operator

The differences between production operators and relief operators can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a relief operator has an average salary of $42,693, 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 a relief operator are food safety, CIP, and PPE.

Production operator vs relief operator overview

	Production Operator	Relief Operator
Yearly salary	$35,185	$42,693
Hourly rate	$16.92	$20.53
Growth rate	7%	7%
Number of jobs	117,254	64,469
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 37%	High School Diploma, 46%
Average age	43	44
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 a relief operator do?

A relief operator job depends on the institution or organization. Their main jobs include examining, measuring, and weighing materials or products to verify conformance to specifications, using measuring devices such as rulers, micrometers, or scales. Their additional responsibilities include maintaining regular contact and communication with customers to resolve concerns, issues, and complaints.

Production operator vs relief operator salary

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

	Production Operator	Relief Operator
Average salary	$35,185	$42,693
Salary range	Between $27,000 And $44,000	Between $36,000 And $50,000
Highest paying City	Bellevue, WA	Hutchinson, KS
Highest paying state	Massachusetts	Kansas
Best paying company	BD	Nestlé
Best paying industry	Manufacturing	Energy

Differences between production operator and relief operator education

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

	Production Operator	Relief Operator
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 37%	High School Diploma, 46%
Most common major	Business	Business
Most common college	-	-

Production operator vs relief operator demographics

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

	Production Operator	Relief Operator
Average age	43	44
Gender ratio	Male, 67.7% Female, 32.3%	Male, 78.2% Female, 21.8%
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, 12.0% Unknown, 3.4% Hispanic or Latino, 15.6% Asian, 6.6% White, 61.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.2%
LGBT Percentage	5%	5%

Differences between production operator and relief 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.

Show more

Relief operator example responsibilities.

Run and maintain production machinery while following all company GMP's and safety policies.
Utilize chemicals for clean-ups, always following MSDS instructions and wearing proper PPE at all times.
Perform work in specialize chemical/acid resistant PPE with SCBA, chemical resistant heat suits, inline air and escape packs.
Maintain technical data/records for mechanical/electrical repair and adjustments to assure product conformance with SPC specifications.
Perform routine verification of equipment when unloading autoclaves and setting up aseptic filling machines.

Production operator vs relief operator skills

Common production operator skills

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

Common relief operator skills

Food Safety, 18%
CIP, 11%
PPE, 7%
Quality Checks, 7%
Basic Math, 6%
CDL, 6%

Production Operator vs. similar jobs

Production Operator related careers

Production Operator related jobs

Production Operator jobs by location

Updated January 8, 2025

Browse production and manufacturing jobs

A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
Q
R
S
T
U
V
W
X
Y
Z