A machine operator is a worker responsible with the operation and small-time maintenance on various pieces of machinery and heavy equipment. The machines that a machine operator can work on include anything from drilling machines, to presses and milling machines. Machine operators work both in industrial environments as well as in the open, for example on construction sites. Most machine operators tend to specialize in one particular type of machine, though there are also some who can operate a broad range of machinery and are highly proficient with a number of tools.
Getting a job as a machine operator requires mostly skills that are attained in the course of employment, and many companies are looking for experienced candidates on a constant basis. For beginners, there’s always the option of taking an educational course which covers most of the important points of the job, but isn’t always financially covered by the company associated with it, so it may be slightly challenging to get the job at first in these cases.
Working as a machine operator isn’t that difficult, and the job doesn’t earn an especially high salary accordingly. Typically, machine operators earn between $30,000 – $46,000 a year, and the job offers some additional bonuses, mostly related to healthcare and related insurance. The working hours can be longer than outlined in the contract in some cases, though this overtime is usually compensated accordingly and companies don’t make issues out of it.