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The differences between utility operators and control room operators can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a control room operator has an average salary of $43,733, which is higher than the $38,693 average annual salary of a utility operator.
The top three skills for a utility operator include safety standards, safety procedures and hand tools. The most important skills for a control room operator are control room operations, plant operations, and safety procedures.
| Utility Operator | Control Room Operator | |
| Yearly salary | $38,693 | $43,733 |
| Hourly rate | $18.60 | $21.03 |
| Growth rate | -7% | -15% |
| Number of jobs | 67,565 | 89,096 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 39% | Bachelor's Degree, 36% |
| Average age | 47 | 46 |
| Years of experience | 12 | - |
Utility Operators are skilled employees who work with different machines, fixtures, and equipment. They operate a number of machines related to the maintenance of office facilities. Such machines include wastewater filtration systems, manufacturing equipment, and cabling works, among others. They also manage water pipes, machine gauges, and electrical cables. Utility Operators manage the fabrication, installation, and maintenance of industrial machines. They should know how to check whether the machines or equipment are working properly. When equipped with the proper tools and knowledge, they may also conduct repairs on the different machines they handle.
A control room operator is an individual who works in the control room of a power plant to monitor the operations of the plant as well as ensures that everything is properly working. By using computer controls, control room operators must monitor and maintain plant equipment and indicators for proper operation. They must perform maintenance on various plant equipment to help improve reliability while monitoring the temperature to control plant heat. Control room operators must also serve as the control point for all individuals who enter the toxic areas of the facility.
Utility operators and control room operators have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Utility Operator | Control Room Operator | |
| Average salary | $38,693 | $43,733 |
| Salary range | Between $29,000 And $50,000 | Between $30,000 And $62,000 |
| Highest paying City | Portland, ME | Commerce City, CO |
| Highest paying state | Idaho | Alaska |
| Best paying company | Dignity Health | California Resources |
| Best paying industry | Finance | Energy |
There are a few differences between a utility operator and a control room operator in terms of educational background:
| Utility Operator | Control Room Operator | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 39% | Bachelor's Degree, 36% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute | - |
Here are the differences between utility operators' and control room operators' demographics:
| Utility Operator | Control Room Operator | |
| Average age | 47 | 46 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 83.4% Female, 16.6% | Male, 85.2% Female, 14.8% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 7.8% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 12.6% Asian, 1.8% White, 71.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 2.3% | Black or African American, 5.8% Unknown, 5.5% Hispanic or Latino, 7.9% Asian, 1.5% White, 77.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 2.4% |
| LGBT Percentage | 5% | 5% |