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The differences between rig operators and junior operators can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both a rig operator and a junior operator. Additionally, a rig operator has an average salary of $38,713, which is higher than the $37,735 average annual salary of a junior operator.
The top three skills for a rig operator include CDL, productivity standards and customer satisfaction. The most important skills for a junior operator are frac, safety rules, and pallets.
| Rig Operator | Junior Operator | |
| Yearly salary | $38,713 | $37,735 |
| Hourly rate | $18.61 | $18.14 |
| Growth rate | - | 7% |
| Number of jobs | 30,722 | 49,016 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 57% | High School Diploma, 35% |
| Average age | 40 | 40 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
A drill rig operator drills holes on the ground for different purposes. There are different types of rig operators depending on what they drill. There are rotary drill operators who drill oil and gas, and there is the rig operator who drills sewer holes and boreholes, among others. Their duties and responsibilities include receiving instructions on the drilling parameters and other procedures, checking and setting up equipment required for drilling, and offering assistance to other crew members.
Junior operators ensure efficient, reliable, and safe operation of assigned areas by following operating discipline practices, procedures, policies, standards, and principles. They enable good functional discipline for each activity, both unplanned and planned, and monitor key performance metrics, control systems, process conditions, and equipment systems. Also, they make reliable decisions to achieve and maintain the right conditions or rates as per the site goals. These professionals perform scheduled operational tasks, related tasks, and other tasks that arise because of handling unplanned events.
Rig operators and junior operators have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Rig Operator | Junior Operator | |
| Average salary | $38,713 | $37,735 |
| Salary range | Between $28,000 And $52,000 | Between $27,000 And $52,000 |
| Highest paying City | - | - |
| Highest paying state | - | - |
| Best paying company | - | - |
| Best paying industry | - | - |
There are a few differences between a rig operator and a junior operator in terms of educational background:
| Rig Operator | Junior Operator | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 57% | High School Diploma, 35% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between rig operators' and junior operators' demographics:
| Rig Operator | Junior Operator | |
| Average age | 40 | 40 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 97.5% Female, 2.5% | Male, 84.2% Female, 15.8% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 8.3% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 24.6% Asian, 1.2% White, 59.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 2.2% | Black or African American, 9.8% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 22.1% Asian, 1.2% White, 60.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 2.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 2% | 2% |