Small equipment operator vs baler

The differences between small equipment operators and balers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 1-2 years to become a small equipment operator, becoming a baler takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a small equipment operator has an average salary of $36,820, which is higher than the $31,924 average annual salary of a baler.

The top three skills for a small equipment operator include routine maintenance, customer specifications and asphalt. The most important skills for a baler are pallets, baling, and waste paper.

Small equipment operator vs baler overview

	Small Equipment Operator	Baler
Yearly salary	$36,820	$31,924
Hourly rate	$17.70	$15.35
Growth rate	5%	7%
Number of jobs	45,412	8,979
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 46%	High School Diploma, 52%
Average age	45	43
Years of experience	2	4

Small equipment operator vs baler salary

Small equipment operators and balers have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Small Equipment Operator	Baler
Average salary	$36,820	$31,924
Salary range	Between $27,000 And $48,000	Between $25,000 And $39,000
Highest paying City	-	New York, NY
Highest paying state	-	North Dakota
Best paying company	-	WestRock
Best paying industry	-	Media

Differences between small equipment operator and baler education

There are a few differences between a small equipment operator and a baler in terms of educational background:

	Small Equipment Operator	Baler
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 46%	High School Diploma, 52%
Most common major	Business	Business
Most common college	-	-

Small equipment operator vs baler demographics

Here are the differences between small equipment operators' and balers' demographics:

	Small Equipment Operator	Baler
Average age	45	43
Gender ratio	Male, 86.7% Female, 13.3%	Male, 90.0% Female, 10.0%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 5.8% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 12.7% Asian, 0.9% White, 74.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 2.0%	Black or African American, 15.9% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 17.7% Asian, 2.3% White, 59.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%
LGBT Percentage	2%	4%

Differences between small equipment operator and baler duties and responsibilities

Small equipment operator example responsibilities.

Certify in the use of forklifts, clamp trucks and skidster
Field work include all preparation for planting through harvest on particular operation including liquid manure spreading.
Manufacture active pharmaceutical ingredients using GMP format and aseptic techniques.

Baler example responsibilities.

Direct and leaded the baling operation.
Clean and inspect balers before they are sold to customers.
Tend automatic machine that stacks bales on pallets for storage or shipment.
Assist coworkers working on other balers to keep them from getting behind.
Operate paper baler/ operate forklift and bobcat, sorting line and perform material inventory.
Operate and troubleshoot automatic stackers.

Small equipment operator vs baler skills

Common small equipment operator skills

Routine Maintenance, 46%
Customer Specifications, 17%
Asphalt, 9%
Boats, 8%
General Maintenance, 4%
Mowing, 3%

Common baler skills

Pallets, 49%
Baling, 39%
Waste Paper, 4%
RAN, 2%
Tow Motor, 1%
Balers, 1%