Table operator vs numerical control operator

The differences between table operators and numerical control operators can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both a table operator and a numerical control operator. Additionally, a numerical control operator has an average salary of $38,280, 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 numerical control operator are calipers, micrometers, and math.

Table operator vs numerical control operator overview

	Table Operator	Numerical Control Operator
Yearly salary	$31,481	$38,280
Hourly rate	$15.14	$18.40
Growth rate	-5%	-8%
Number of jobs	54,149	85,068
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 51%	High School Diploma, 43%
Average age	46	43
Years of experience	2	2

Table operator vs numerical control operator salary

Table operators and numerical control operators have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Table Operator	Numerical Control Operator
Average salary	$31,481	$38,280
Salary range	Between $25,000 And $38,000	Between $29,000 And $50,000
Highest paying City	Manchester, CT	Tualatin, OR
Highest paying state	Alaska	West Virginia
Best paying company	SPX	BWX Technologies
Best paying industry	Construction	Automotive

Differences between table operator and numerical control operator education

There are a few differences between a table operator and a numerical control operator in terms of educational background:

	Table Operator	Numerical Control Operator
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 51%	High School Diploma, 43%
Most common major	Business	Business
Most common college	-	-

Table operator vs numerical control operator demographics

Here are the differences between table operators' and numerical control operators' demographics:

	Table Operator	Numerical Control Operator
Average age	46	43
Gender ratio	Male, 85.4% Female, 14.6%	Male, 89.0% Female, 11.0%
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, 4.8% Unknown, 5.4% Hispanic or Latino, 14.7% Asian, 6.0% White, 68.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9%
LGBT Percentage	3%	6%

Differences between table operator and numerical control 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.

Numerical control operator example responsibilities.

Perform trial runs on new CNC programs, working with programming and tooling to achieve satisfactory parts.
Set up and run vertical milling machines and Mori-Seiki lathes
Calculate dimensions and tolerances using knowledge of mathematics and instruments such as micrometers and calipers
Set up and operate machine turning tools (lathes, MAZAK).
Used manual and CNC mills (HAAS), lathes (HAAS) and (OKUMA) and surface grinders.
Mill and lathe g-code programming.

Table operator vs numerical control 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 numerical control operator skills

Calipers, 12%
Micrometers, 9%
Math, 6%
Lathe Machines, 6%
Hand Tools, 6%
Safety Standards, 4%

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Table Operator
Table Operator vs Numerical Control Operator

Updated January 8, 2025

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