Water jet operator vs machine operator

The differences between water jet operators and machine operators can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a water jet operator has an average salary of $35,007, which is higher than the $32,874 average annual salary of a machine operator.

The top three skills for a water jet operator include cnc machines, calipers and hand tools. The most important skills for a machine operator are basic math, CNC, and math.

Water jet operator vs machine operator overview

	Water Jet Operator	Machine Operator
Yearly salary	$35,007	$32,874
Hourly rate	$16.83	$15.80
Growth rate	-7%	-6%
Number of jobs	53,663	96,834
Job satisfaction	-	5
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 44%	High School Diploma, 53%
Average age	47	44
Years of experience	12	-

Water jet operator vs machine operator salary

Water jet operators and machine operators have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Water Jet Operator	Machine Operator
Average salary	$35,007	$32,874
Salary range	Between $28,000 And $43,000	Between $26,000 And $40,000
Highest paying City	-	Minneapolis, MN
Highest paying state	-	Minnesota
Best paying company	-	BD
Best paying industry	-	Automotive

Differences between water jet operator and machine operator education

There are a few differences between a water jet operator and a machine operator in terms of educational background:

	Water Jet Operator	Machine Operator
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 44%	High School Diploma, 53%
Most common major	Business	Business
Most common college	Duke University	-

Water jet operator vs machine operator demographics

Here are the differences between water jet operators' and machine operators' demographics:

	Water Jet Operator	Machine Operator
Average age	47	44
Gender ratio	Male, 91.2% Female, 8.8%	Male, 72.3% Female, 27.7%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 7.7% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 12.5% Asian, 1.8% White, 71.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 2.3%	Black or African American, 12.0% Unknown, 3.4% Hispanic or Latino, 16.0% Asian, 7.5% White, 60.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.2%
LGBT Percentage	5%	5%

Differences between water jet operator and machine operator duties and responsibilities

Water jet operator example responsibilities.

Used Omax machine to cut parts to fill orders, handle material, certify as a forklift operator.
Update and sign-off on job tickets at the conclusion of each job.Skills UsedDirect mail experience or knowledge of USPS regulations.
Perform preventative maintenance and troubleshooting of Omax machine.
Operate heavy machinery such as bobcat equipment and also operate and pave asphalt perform demolition work.
Dye setting and machine set up.

Machine operator example responsibilities.

Conduct preventative maintenance checks on industrial brake manufacturing machines and forklifts.
Follow company and safety procedures using industrial chemicals and PPE to efficiently clean and sanitize all equipment.
Operate forklift and bobcat as needed.
Run a line in a PVC pipe production plant.
Operate machinery including forklift, bobcat and various power tools.
Provide leadership to others through example and sharing of knowledge/skill.

Water jet operator vs machine operator skills

Common water jet operator skills

CNC Machines, 17%
Calipers, 15%
Hand Tools, 15%
Tape Measure, 11%
Cranes, 11%
General Maintenance, 6%

Common machine operator skills

Basic Math, 11%
CNC, 9%
Math, 9%
Safety Procedures, 8%
Machine Operation, 6%
Quality Standards, 5%