Tamping machine operator vs traveling plant operator

The differences between tamping machine operators and traveling plant 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 tamping machine operator and a traveling plant operator. Additionally, a traveling plant operator has an average salary of $45,267, which is higher than the $32,069 average annual salary of a tamping machine operator.

Tamping machine operator vs traveling plant operator overview

	Tamping Machine Operator	Traveling Plant Operator
Yearly salary	$32,069	$45,267
Hourly rate	$15.42	$21.76
Growth rate	5%	5%
Number of jobs	53,712	35,853
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 56%	Bachelor's Degree, 44%
Average age	45	45
Years of experience	2	2

Tamping machine operator vs traveling plant operator salary

Tamping machine operators and traveling plant operators have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Tamping Machine Operator	Traveling Plant Operator
Average salary	$32,069	$45,267
Salary range	Between $25,000 And $41,000	Between $33,000 And $61,000
Highest paying City	-	-
Highest paying state	-	-
Best paying company	-	-
Best paying industry	-	-

Differences between tamping machine operator and traveling plant operator education

There are a few differences between a tamping machine operator and a traveling plant operator in terms of educational background:

	Tamping Machine Operator	Traveling Plant Operator
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 56%	Bachelor's Degree, 44%
Most common major	Engineering	Business
Most common college	-	-

Tamping machine operator vs traveling plant operator demographics

Here are the differences between tamping machine operators' and traveling plant operators' demographics:

	Tamping Machine Operator	Traveling Plant Operator
Average age	45	45
Gender ratio	Male, 88.9% Female, 11.1%	Male, 40.9% Female, 59.1%
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, 5.8% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 12.7% Asian, 0.9% White, 74.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 2.0%
LGBT Percentage	2%	2%

Differences between tamping machine operator and traveling plant operator duties and responsibilities

Tamping machine operator example responsibilities.

Record statistics on ISO documentation, and coordinate with machine technicians and electrical technicians to keep machines operating at maximum efficiency.
Crane operator, Bidwell paving machine operator and setup.

Traveling plant operator example responsibilities.

Develop and manage a comprehensive vendor qualification program to support the GMP manufacture of vaccine products.
Follow up customers complaints, report them to vendors to improve their services.
Plan, coordinate, and execute tours and arrange professional technical visits for Japanese customers.
Prepare asphalt mixtures per customer requirements, load and unload tankers and monitor tanks and assist with paperwork
Work together as a four-man team manually making plywood, pull green chain.

Tamping machine operator vs traveling plant operator skills

Common tamping machine operator skills

Grade Specifications, 35%
CDL, 34%
Track Structure, 27%
Tampers, 4%

Common traveling plant operator skills

Tamping Machine Operator vs. similar jobs

Tamping Machine Operator related careers

Tamping Machine Operator related jobs

What similar roles do

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Tamping Machine Operator
Tamping Machine Operator vs Traveling Plant Operator

Updated January 8, 2025

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