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Production specialist vs production worker

The differences between production specialists and production workers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a production specialist has an average salary of $42,090, which is higher than the $30,847 average annual salary of a production worker.

The top three skills for a production specialist include food handling, customer service and preventative maintenance. The most important skills for a production worker are production process, safety procedures, and assembly line.

Production specialist vs production worker overview

Production SpecialistProduction Worker
Yearly salary$42,090$30,847
Hourly rate$20.24$14.83
Growth rate--
Number of jobs76,288136,584
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 50%High School Diploma, 52%
Average age3843
Years of experience--

What does a production specialist do?

Production specialists are responsible for planning and managing the production activities of a company based on job orders. They provide support to the operations department and collaborate with supervisors to create production plans and identity workflow requirements. Other responsibilities may include managing existing workflow, organizing job training to the production team, and monitoring and reporting job status to customers. Production specialists are also expected to respond to customer concerns and inquiries, ensure the timely delivery of products, and ensure that products meet quality standards.

What does a production worker do?

Production workers are employees who are usually seen in an assembly line in a company's factory. They are responsible for a specific part of the production of goods for the company. They ensure that production processes are being followed. Production workers are required to be efficient, detail-oriented, and organized. They should be able to uphold the quality standards set by the company and should be able to conduct quality control checks. Should they be working alongside machines, and they must know how to operate the machine as well as maintain it. Production workers should also be familiar with occupational safety and health guidelines and must be able to follow policies and procedures in place.

Production specialist vs production worker salary

Production specialists and production workers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Production SpecialistProduction Worker
Average salary$42,090$30,847
Salary rangeBetween $24,000 And $73,000Between $24,000 And $38,000
Highest paying CitySan Jose, CATacoma, WA
Highest paying stateCaliforniaWashington
Best paying companyAppleBD
Best paying industryHealth CareAutomotive

Differences between production specialist and production worker education

There are a few differences between a production specialist and a production worker in terms of educational background:

Production SpecialistProduction Worker
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 50%High School Diploma, 52%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common college--

Production specialist vs production worker demographics

Here are the differences between production specialists' and production workers' demographics:

Production SpecialistProduction Worker
Average age3843
Gender ratioMale, 62.4% Female, 37.6%Male, 56.3% Female, 43.7%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 10.8% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 18.4% Asian, 6.3% White, 58.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.3%Black or African American, 10.9% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 14.6% Asian, 7.0% White, 61.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1%
LGBT Percentage9%5%

Differences between production specialist and production worker duties and responsibilities

Production specialist example responsibilities.

  • Manage and refine the metadata system for a photography database -communicate with customers over e-mail with regards to advertisement proofs
  • Labele individual components assuring accuracy in order to meet GMP and FDA guidelines.
  • Host and handle VIP lists and Facebook marketing, assist production crew during shows ,
  • Produce and cast several videos for the main Facebook page that reach millions of views.
  • Review and modify BOM's, assembly prints, and schematics prior to release to production.
  • Work in conjunction with engineering team on ECO's B.O.M's to identify and resolve material shortages.
  • Show more

Production worker example responsibilities.

  • Manage and instruct workers in the art of food preparation as culinary team leader.
  • Require to know safe food practices like HACCP, and knowing USDA and FDA guidelines when handling and storing foods.
  • Use scribers, dividers, and squares to mark dimensions on material.
  • Produce glace, demi-glace and elite culinary sauces.
  • Handle parts that run off conveyors and are send for painting.
  • Operate large grinders, run high heat ovens, inspect and paint parts, packaging.
  • Show more

Production specialist vs production worker skills

Common production specialist skills
  • Food Handling, 36%
  • Customer Service, 11%
  • Preventative Maintenance, 8%
  • Math, 8%
  • Production Process, 8%
  • Production Equipment, 7%
Common production worker skills
  • Production Process, 15%
  • Safety Procedures, 10%
  • Assembly Line, 10%
  • Basic Math, 10%
  • Quality Standards, 6%
  • Pallet Jack, 5%

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