Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The differences between smt operators and operators can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, an operator has an average salary of $37,928, which is higher than the $33,647 average annual salary of an smt operator.
The top three skills for an smt operator include hand tools, PCB and reflow oven. The most important skills for an operator are safety procedures, CDL, and emergency calls.
| SMT Operator | Operator | |
| Yearly salary | $33,647 | $37,928 |
| Hourly rate | $16.18 | $18.23 |
| Growth rate | 2% | 7% |
| Number of jobs | 54,826 | 159,077 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 32% | High School Diploma, 40% |
| Average age | 43 | 43 |
| Years of experience | - | 4 |
Surface mount technology (SMT) operators monitor and maintain any equipment used in establishing SMT electronic circuits. The task of SMT operators involves SMT machine operation to mount electronic components onto the circuit boards. They mount assembled components like resistors, capacitors, transistors, and integrated circuits on the chassis panel. Also, they collaborate with technicians and engineers on PCB's for critical defect data. They are expected to have skills and knowledge about circuit boards, reflow ovens, and electronic components.
Operators are skilled workers who are in charge of working on an industrial machine or a specific aspect of the manufacturing business. They are trained to operate machines, learning how to use them. They are also responsible for the maintenance and repair of the machine, and they should be able to troubleshoot problems and provide remedies to them. They must be knowledgeable about the different parts of the machine and how to mitigate any challenges that may arise. Operators should be alert, detail-oriented, and familiar with safety and health guidelines.
Smt operators and operators have different pay scales, as shown below.
| SMT Operator | Operator | |
| Average salary | $33,647 | $37,928 |
| Salary range | Between $25,000 And $44,000 | Between $27,000 And $53,000 |
| Highest paying City | Monterey, CA | San Jose, CA |
| Highest paying state | Washington | North Dakota |
| Best paying company | Sanmina | Microsoft |
| Best paying industry | Pharmaceutical | Technology |
There are a few differences between an smt operator and an operator in terms of educational background:
| SMT Operator | Operator | |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 32% | High School Diploma, 40% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between smt operators' and operators' demographics:
| SMT Operator | Operator | |
| Average age | 43 | 43 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 71.0% Female, 29.0% | Male, 73.0% Female, 27.0% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 11.8% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 20.5% Asian, 7.7% White, 54.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9% | Black or African American, 16.2% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 18.6% Asian, 2.5% White, 57.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 5% | 4% |