How To Become A Test Operator: What It Is and Career Path

What is a test operator and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

3 min read

A Test Operator is responsible for testing various electrical and other machinery, components, and tools. They assist engineering and other personnel in the installation, repair, and maintenance of various machinery and must know how to operate certain tools to do so.

They are also tasked with inspecting products, ensuring that company procedures and processes are being correctly followed, ensuring that all work is in accordance with OSHA and other federal and state-level work and engineering regulations, and solving issues as they come up. The Operator must report on most of their work to higher management, whether there is a problem or not.

A person seeking work in this position should generally have a high school diploma or a GED and prior experience in a similar position. Possession of a university-level degree in a subject related to Engineering is often advantageous, but the candidate, either way, must have an aptitude for maths, computers, and mechanics. On average, a Test Operator makes $16.87 an hour.

ScoreTest OperatorUS Average

Salary

2.8

Avg. Salary $35,591

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

8.2

Growth rate -3%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

7.2

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.75%

Asian 10.20%

Black or African American 9.01%

Hispanic or Latino 22.59%

Unknown 4.31%

White 53.14%

Gender

female 27.99%

male 72.01%

Age - 46

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 46

Stress level

8.2

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity level

5.3

Complexity level is intermediate

7 - challenging

Work life balance

5.4

Work life balance is fair

6.4 - fair

Key steps to become a test operator

Explore test operator education requirements

Most common test operator degrees

Associate

31.0 %

Bachelor's

29.8 %

High School Diploma

26.7 %

Start to develop specific test operator skills

Skills	Percentages
Test Equipment	8.68%
Hand Tools	6.65%
Test Procedures	5.55%
Test Results	4.95%
Safety Rules	4.40%

Complete relevant test operator training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 1-3 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New test operators learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a test operator based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real test operator resumes.

Research test operator duties and responsibilities

Box build sub-assembly level by solder wire into connector, lead, and fan according to MPI and visuals aid.
Experience following procedures and managing GMP documentation.
Work include new lay, tie-ins, repairs, CTS stations, ETS stations.
Install the new version software operation windows.

Prepare your test operator resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your test operator resume.

You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a test operator resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

Choose from 10+ customizable test operator resume templates

Build a professional test operator resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your test operator resume.