Smoker vs dryer operator

The differences between smokers and dryer operators can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a dryer operator has an average salary of $36,131, which is higher than the $28,798 average annual salary of a smoker.

The top three skills for a smoker include smokehouse, and . The most important skills for a dryer operator are CIP, GMP, and minor maintenance.

Smoker vs dryer operator overview

	Smoker	Dryer Operator
Yearly salary	$28,798	$36,131
Hourly rate	$13.85	$17.37
Growth rate	4%	4%
Number of jobs	148	62,758
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 48%	High School Diploma, 52%
Average age	41	41
Years of experience	-	-

Smoker vs dryer operator salary

Smokers and dryer operators have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Smoker	Dryer Operator
Average salary	$28,798	$36,131
Salary range	Between $21,000 And $38,000	Between $29,000 And $44,000
Highest paying City	-	Billings, MT
Highest paying state	-	Vermont
Best paying company	-	Dairy Farmers of America
Best paying industry	-	Agriculture

Differences between smoker and dryer operator education

There are a few differences between a smoker and a dryer operator in terms of educational background:

	Smoker	Dryer Operator
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 48%	High School Diploma, 52%
Most common major	Culinary Arts	Business
Most common college	-	-

Smoker vs dryer operator demographics

Here are the differences between smokers' and dryer operators' demographics:

	Smoker	Dryer Operator
Average age	41	41
Gender ratio	Male, 83.3% Female, 16.7%	Male, 82.9% Female, 17.1%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 13.9% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 16.8% Asian, 8.5% White, 54.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.7%	Black or African American, 13.8% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 19.1% Asian, 8.4% White, 52.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.7%
LGBT Percentage	9%	9%

Differences between smoker and dryer operator duties and responsibilities

Smoker example responsibilities.

Put food products into big smokehouse ovens to be cook properly.
Monitor bacon temperatures and cooking equipment.
Work in the smokehouse, smoking just every meat and vegetable there are.
Move uncook and cook meat to and from the cooler to the oven and back per USDA rules.
Ensure proper operation of HTST pasteurizer, monitoring time and temperatures to assure levels meet requirements for legally pasteurize products.
Execute daily operations of following all USDA regulations.

Dryer operator example responsibilities.

Manage distillation process to determine product specification compliance, and prepare unit for shutdown or turnaround process.
Involve in cleanup for USDA inspections.
Move to the assembly department building electrical panels, installing electrical panels, installing various electrical devices on new centrifuges.
Comply with OSHA when writing permits, LOTO, confine space, and when following all procedures.
Make equipment rounds, write safe work permits, and LOTO on relate equipment to be work.
Overlook daily operations of single/twin screw extruders and packaging of finish product.

Smoker vs dryer operator skills

Common smoker skills

Smokehouse, 100%

Common dryer operator skills

CIP, 13%
GMP, 13%
Minor Maintenance, 7%
Safety Rules, 7%
OSHA, 7%
FDA, 6%

Smoker vs. similar jobs

Smoker related careers

Smoker related jobs

What similar roles do

Dryer Operator responsibilities

Updated January 8, 2025

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