Winch operator vs operator

The differences between winch operators and operators can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 1-2 years to become a winch operator, becoming an operator takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, an operator has an average salary of $37,928, which is higher than the $37,131 average annual salary of a winch operator.

The top three skills for a winch operator include rig, well control and winch truck. The most important skills for an operator are safety procedures, CDL, and emergency calls.

Winch operator vs operator overview

	Winch Operator	Operator
Yearly salary	$37,131	$37,928
Hourly rate	$17.85	$18.23
Growth rate	7%	7%
Number of jobs	29,595	159,077
Job satisfaction	5	-
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 69%	High School Diploma, 40%
Average age	41	43
Years of experience	2	4

Winch operator vs operator salary

Winch operators and operators have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Winch Operator	Operator
Average salary	$37,131	$37,928
Salary range	Between $25,000 And $53,000	Between $27,000 And $53,000
Highest paying City	-	San Jose, CA
Highest paying state	-	North Dakota
Best paying company	-	Microsoft
Best paying industry	-	Technology

Differences between winch operator and operator education

There are a few differences between a winch operator and an operator in terms of educational background:

	Winch Operator	Operator
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 69%	High School Diploma, 40%
Most common major	Photography	Business
Most common college	-	-

Winch operator vs operator demographics

Here are the differences between winch operators' and operators' demographics:

	Winch Operator	Operator
Average age	41	43
Gender ratio	Male, 96.9% Female, 3.1%	Male, 73.0% Female, 27.0%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 6.7% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 13.8% Asian, 0.8% White, 73.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%	Black or African American, 16.2% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 18.6% Asian, 2.5% White, 57.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%
LGBT Percentage	4%	4%

Differences between winch operator and operator duties and responsibilities

Winch operator example responsibilities.

Operate winch truck on rig moves hauling drilling rigs from location to location.
Conduct daily field frac tank inspections within yard and at well sites.
Operate, tend hoists or winches to lift and pull loads using power-operate cable equipment.
Operate heavy machinery such as bobcat equipment and also operate and pave asphalt perform demolition work.
Observe safety practices and procedures to maintain a safe and clean work environment.
Ensure that safety and environmental awareness are maintained at the highest possible standard.

Operator example responsibilities.

Assist in developing the company s short and long term training plans and managing yearly ammunition allocation.
Assist and manage the extrusion process of polyester raw material in pellet or chip form to produce finish rolls of plastic.
Manage day-to-day transportation and logistics services for multinational account base.
Manage the master calendar and schedule resources such as communication equipment, weapons, transportation and ammunition forecast and delivery.
Job require basic math skills: fractions and decimals.
Ensure safety of all equipment during production in compliance with strict OSHA and safety regulations.

Winch operator vs operator skills

Common winch operator skills

Rig, 63%
Well Control, 25%
Winch Truck, 12%

Common operator skills

Safety Procedures, 15%
CDL, 6%
Emergency Calls, 6%
Preventative Maintenance, 4%
Quality Checks, 4%
Dozer, 4%

Updated January 8, 2025

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