Table operator vs general machine operator

The differences between table operators and general machine operators can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a general machine operator has an average salary of $32,414, which is higher than the $31,481 average annual salary of a table operator.

The top three skills for a table operator include cnc plasma, overhead cranes and tape measure. The most important skills for a general machine operator are math, CNC, and safety procedures.

Table operator vs general machine operator overview

	Table Operator	General Machine Operator
Yearly salary	$31,481	$32,414
Hourly rate	$15.14	$15.58
Growth rate	-5%	7%
Number of jobs	54,149	138,111
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 51%	High School Diploma, 50%
Average age	46	44
Years of experience	2	-

Table operator vs general machine operator salary

Table operators and general machine operators have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Table Operator	General Machine Operator
Average salary	$31,481	$32,414
Salary range	Between $25,000 And $38,000	Between $26,000 And $39,000
Highest paying City	Manchester, CT	Oshkosh, WI
Highest paying state	Alaska	Wisconsin
Best paying company	SPX	Reckitt Benckiser
Best paying industry	Construction	Finance

Differences between table operator and general machine operator education

There are a few differences between a table operator and a general machine operator in terms of educational background:

	Table Operator	General Machine Operator
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 51%	High School Diploma, 50%
Most common major	Business	Business
Most common college	-	-

Table operator vs general machine operator demographics

Here are the differences between table operators' and general machine operators' demographics:

	Table Operator	General Machine Operator
Average age	46	44
Gender ratio	Male, 85.4% Female, 14.6%	Male, 81.2% Female, 18.8%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 7.9% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 13.4% Asian, 1.7% White, 71.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%	Black or African American, 11.9% Unknown, 3.4% Hispanic or Latino, 15.2% Asian, 7.3% White, 61.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.2%
LGBT Percentage	3%	5%

Differences between table operator and general machine operator duties and responsibilities

Table operator example responsibilities.

Measure thickness of material with calipers and micrometers while sanding to keep material within allowable tolerances.
Inspect raw stock for defects, keeping record of all non-conforming pieces in accordance with ISO certification standards.
Clean, Deburr, and inspect make by the laser to insure good quality of the parts.
Job responsibilities include operating shear and saws to produce correct blank parts within ISO tolerances for future manufacturing duties and departments.
Utilize both FCAW and GMAW to weld steel products.
Fit up and weld automobile lifts using GMAW process.

General machine operator example responsibilities.

Lift work pieces to machines using hoists.
Control & troubleshoot automate extrusion line adjusting speed & feed, monitoring temperature, & finish material specification per customers order.
Overlook daily operations of single/twin screw extruders and packaging of finish product.

Table operator vs general machine operator skills

Common table operator skills

CNC Plasma, 13%
Overhead Cranes, 12%
Tape Measure, 9%
Steel Plates, 8%
Quality Checks, 6%
Press Brake, 6%

Common general machine operator skills

Math, 12%
CNC, 10%
Safety Procedures, 10%
Troubleshoot, 9%
Production Process, 8%
Machine Operation, 6%

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Table Operator
Table Operator vs General Machine Operator

Updated January 8, 2025

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