What does a unit operator do?
Unit operator responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real unit operator resumes:
- Manage and maintain GPS and other equipment.
- Drill frac plugs in time efficient manner.
- Coordinate, and execute safety programs, JSA's, and reports.
- Make Maximo request to get desire jobs put on schedule for repairs.
- Perform LOTO procedures for equipment in preparation for maintenance or safety concerns.
- Perform day to day operational oversight and maintenance over numerous distillation and utility units in a cresylic acid manufacturing facility.
- Operate a modern 30 MGD and 24 MGD surface water treatment plant.
- Operate heavy machinery such as bobcat equipment and also operate and pave asphalt perform demolition work.
Unit operator skills and personality traits
We calculated that 27% of Unit Operators are proficient in Asphalt, Plant Equipment, and Safety Procedures. They’re also known for soft skills such as Communication skills, Coordination, and Visual ability.
We break down the percentage of Unit Operators that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Asphalt, 27%
Assisted crew workers with laying asphalt and smoothing asphalt out.
- Plant Equipment, 21%
Ensured plant equipment was properly operating within specific temperature, pressure, level, vibration, amperage and voltage limits.
- Safety Procedures, 11%
Implemented safety procedures, rules, and regulations.
- Control Room, 7%
Control and monitor all equipment associated in the fossil power process from the unit control room.
- Unit Operations, 6%
Managed Crystallization Unit operation to peak efficiency and make sodium sulfate.
- Rig, 4%
Used Hydraulic pump to MIx Drilling mud and dye then it pumped down hole on a drilling rig.
Most unit operators use their skills in "asphalt," "plant equipment," and "safety procedures" to do their jobs. You can find more detail on essential unit operator responsibilities here:
Communication skills. To carry out their duties, the most important skill for a unit operator to have is communication skills. Their role and responsibilities require that "material moving machine operators signal and direct workers to load and unload material." Unit operators often use communication skills in their day-to-day job, as shown by this real resume: "maintained good communications with other team members and with other facility teams (utilities, logistics, and safety etc. )"
Coordination. Many unit operator duties rely on coordination. "material moving machine operators must have steady hands and feet to guide and control heavy machinery precisely," so a unit operator will need this skill often in their role. This resume example is just one of many ways unit operator responsibilities rely on coordination: "meet productivity goals & quality standards- communicate in english, both verbal and written- good hand-eye coordination- attention to detail"
Visual ability. unit operators are also known for visual ability, which are critical to their duties. You can see how this skill relates to unit operator responsibilities, because "material moving machine operators must be able to see clearly where they are driving or what they are moving." A unit operator resume example shows how visual ability is used in the workplace: "completed routine visual inspections of all auxiliary equipment and collected necessary data as a quality check. "
Mechanical skills. A big part of what unit operators do relies on "mechanical skills." You can see how essential it is to unit operator responsibilities because "material moving machine operators make minor adjustments to their machines and perform basic maintenance on them." Here's an example of how this skill is used from a resume that represents typical unit operator tasks: "operate any equipment needed repair or maintenance ie: loader forklift trucks hand tools skills used mechanical,driving"
The three companies that hire the most unit operators are:
- Lehigh Hanson
10 unit operators jobs
- Teknor Apex6 unit operators jobs
- Ranger Energy Services5 unit operators jobs
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Compare different unit operators
Unit operator vs. Oil well fishing tool technician
These skill sets are where the common ground ends though. The responsibilities of a unit operator are more likely to require skills like "asphalt," "plant equipment," "safety procedures," and "control room." On the other hand, a job as an oil well fishing tool technician requires skills like "unit maintenance," "cdl," "test procedures," and "hand tools." As you can see, what employees do in each career varies considerably.
Oil well fishing tool technicians tend to reach similar levels of education than unit operators. In fact, oil well fishing tool technicians are 2.8% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.8% less likely to have a Doctoral Degree.Unit operator vs. Well services operator
In addition to the difference in salary, there are some other key differences worth noting. For example, unit operator responsibilities are more likely to require skills like "asphalt," "plant equipment," "safety procedures," and "control room." Meanwhile, a well services operator has duties that require skills in areas such as "cdl," "hand tools," "tongs," and "post-trip inspections." These differences highlight just how different the day-to-day in each role looks.
Average education levels between the two professions vary. Well services operators tend to reach similar levels of education than unit operators. In fact, they're 4.4% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.8% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Unit operator vs. Work over rig operator
The required skills of the two careers differ considerably. For example, unit operators are more likely to have skills like "asphalt," "plant equipment," "control room," and "unit operations." But a work over rig operator is more likely to have skills like "work-over," "productivity standards," "operator positions," and "floor-hand."
When it comes to education, work over rig operators tend to earn similar degree levels compared to unit operators. In fact, they're 2.8% less likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 0.8% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Unit operator vs. Fishing tool operator
Types of unit operator
Updated January 8, 2025
