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The differences between saw operators and line operators can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a line operator has an average salary of $34,520, which is higher than the $32,319 average annual salary of a saw operator.
The top three skills for a saw operator include tape measure, hand tools and basic math. The most important skills for a line operator are preventative maintenance, PPE, and basic math.
| Saw Operator | Line Operator | |
| Yearly salary | $32,319 | $34,520 |
| Hourly rate | $15.54 | $16.60 |
| Growth rate | 3% | 7% |
| Number of jobs | 58,465 | 137,127 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 56% | High School Diploma, 49% |
| Average age | 45 | 44 |
| Years of experience | - | - |
Saw operators are responsible for setting up and operating power saws to slot, cut, and trim metallic and non-metallic materials. They are the ones who choose and install blades on machinery using hand-tools and verify dimensions of finished material using measuring devices. They may perform additional tasks such as loading saws and monitoring sawing operations, and replacing damaged or worn saw blades. Saw operators are also responsible for recording data on production reports and assisting staff with the maintenance and repair of saw equipment.
A line operator is responsible for assisting in warehouse and factory operations, usually assigned on doing heavy works for the production. Line operators' duties include operating manufacturing machines and equipment, placing products on the appropriate shelves, checking supplies and inventories, loading orders for shipments, inspecting products for any defects, labeling products accurately, adhering to the safety procedures to prevent product contamination, and observing sanitary regulations. A line operator must have comprehensive knowledge of the mechanical industry, as well as the ability to multi-task, especially on meeting deadlines and processing customers' orders.
Saw operators and line operators have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Saw Operator | Line Operator | |
| Average salary | $32,319 | $34,520 |
| Salary range | Between $26,000 And $38,000 | Between $27,000 And $43,000 |
| Highest paying City | Springfield, OR | Grand Forks, ND |
| Highest paying state | Oregon | North Dakota |
| Best paying company | Micro Metals Inc. | BD |
| Best paying industry | Construction | Manufacturing |
There are a few differences between a saw operator and a line operator in terms of educational background:
| Saw Operator | Line Operator | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 56% | High School Diploma, 49% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between saw operators' and line operators' demographics:
| Saw Operator | Line Operator | |
| Average age | 45 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 90.2% Female, 9.8% | Male, 67.6% Female, 32.4% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 11.1% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 17.0% Asian, 1.1% White, 65.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% | Black or African American, 11.9% Unknown, 3.4% Hispanic or Latino, 15.4% Asian, 7.0% White, 61.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 5% |