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The differences between shop workers and finisher operators can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a finisher operator has an average salary of $35,406, which is higher than the $31,850 average annual salary of a shop worker.
The top three skills for a shop worker include tape measure, safety procedures and in-shop. The most important skills for a finisher operator are hand tools, math, and quality checks.
| Shop Worker | Finisher Operator | |
| Yearly salary | $31,850 | $35,406 |
| Hourly rate | $15.31 | $17.02 |
| Growth rate | - | 7% |
| Number of jobs | 73,161 | 77,850 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 37% | High School Diploma, 45% |
| Average age | 43 | 43 |
| Years of experience | - | 4 |
A shop worker may work in a wholesale or retail shop to provide customer service. They welcome guests, maintain their store's cleanliness, and ensure stock levels are maintained. They may also be responsible for ringing customers up.
A finisher operator finalizes a product. They put on the final layer of paint, stitching, engraving or cloth on the product to complete it. They may also restore furniture by fixing dents or discoloration. They are responsible for making sure that their equipment does not malfunction and making minor repairs. They assist in trimming, molding, packing, and transporting the final product, and they are also responsible for final quality control.
Shop workers and finisher operators have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Shop Worker | Finisher Operator | |
| Average salary | $31,850 | $35,406 |
| Salary range | Between $24,000 And $41,000 | Between $28,000 And $44,000 |
| Highest paying City | Everett, WA | Horsham, PA |
| Highest paying state | Washington | Alaska |
| Best paying company | Shipt | Elanco |
| Best paying industry | Manufacturing | Technology |
There are a few differences between a shop worker and a finisher operator in terms of educational background:
| Shop Worker | Finisher Operator | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 37% | High School Diploma, 45% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between shop workers' and finisher operators' demographics:
| Shop Worker | Finisher Operator | |
| Average age | 43 | 43 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 76.5% Female, 23.5% | Male, 69.4% Female, 30.6% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 10.1% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 15.0% Asian, 6.9% White, 62.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9% | Black or African American, 15.0% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 16.5% Asian, 2.5% White, 60.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 5% | 4% |