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Area Operator Jobs in Virginia (NOW HIRING)

Machine Operator

Franklin, VA · On-site

$16.50 - $19.50/hr

The filler/capper operator of Hampton Farms is involved in the manufacture of food products ... Maintain a clean and sanitary work area during each shift by sweeping & mopping the ingredient ...

Lead Operator

Richmond, VA · On-site

$17.25 - $22.50/hr

Lead Operator The Lead Operator oversees semiautomatic equipment and processes used to produce and ... Manage the movement of finished goods and raw materials between the processing area and storage ...

Maintain a clean and organized work area * Follow all company and workplace safety procedures * Assist with additional warehouse duties as needed Requirements * Previous forklift operating experience

Operator - Roanoke, VA Job Location: Roanoke, VA Facility-Roanoke-24012 Office Location: Onsite ... area this includes but is not limited to the cab of their equipment and surrounding work area ...

Maintain a clean and organized work area * Follow all company and workplace safety procedures * Assist with additional warehouse duties as needed Requirements * Previous forklift operating experience

Operators work both independently and collaboratively in outdoor environments under varying ... area this includes but is not limited to the cab of their equipment and surrounding work area ...

Equipment Operator

Roanoke, VA

$18.75 - $25.50/hr

An Equipment Operator must have experience in operating commercial mowers, excavators, chippers ... Work Area: Travel required Benefits: Medical, Dental, Vision, Short Term Disability, Life Insurance ...

Drill Operator

Midlothian, VA · On-site

$29.41 - $33.50/hr

Virginia Drill Crew Virginia - East Area Hours: 6:30AM - 5:30PM, weekends as necessary A typical day for a(n) Drill Operator may include: * Operating a drill and associated equipment within the ...

Drill Operator

Midlothian, VA · On-site

$29.41 - $33.50/hr

Virginia Drill Crew Virginia - East Area Hours: 6:30AM - 5:30PM, weekends as necessary A typical day for a(n) Drill Operator may include: * Operating a drill and associated equipment within the ...

Drill Operator

Midlothian, VA · On-site

$29.41 - $33.50/hr

Virginia Drill Crew Virginia - East Area Hours: 6:30AM - 5:30PM, weekends as necessary A typical day for a(n) Drill Operator may include: * Operating a drill and associated equipment within the ...

Equipment Operator

Front Royal, VA · On-site

$17.50 - $24/hr

Equipment Operator Pay Rate Type: Non-Exempt Creation Date/Revision Date: 04/24/2026 Job Summary ... Conducts pre-inspection of work area to identify potential hazards. * Loads vehicles and equipment ...

Showing results 41-60

Area Operator information

See Virginia salary details

$12

$19

$26

How much do area operator jobs pay per hour?

As of Sep 5, 2026, the average hourly pay for area operator in Virginia is $19.56, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $16.83 and $21.30 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is the difference between Area Operator vs Maintenance Technician?

AspectArea OperatorMaintenance Technician
Required CredentialsHigh school diploma or equivalent; certifications vary by industryHigh school diploma; technical certifications or vocational training often required
Work EnvironmentIndustrial sites, factories, or plants; operating equipment and monitoring processesIndustrial or commercial settings; performing repairs and preventive maintenance
Employer & Industry UsageManufacturing, energy, or processing industriesManufacturing, facilities management, or industrial sectors
Common Search & ComparisonYesYes

The main difference between an Area Operator and a Maintenance Technician lies in their primary responsibilities. An Area Operator focuses on operating equipment and monitoring processes within a specific area, while a Maintenance Technician specializes in repairing and maintaining equipment. Both roles require technical skills and certifications, often found in manufacturing or industrial settings. Understanding these distinctions helps job seekers identify the right career path based on their skills and interests.

What are popular job titles related to Area Operator jobs in Virginia?

For Area Operator jobs in Virginia, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Area Operator jobs in Virginia look for?

The top searched job categories for Area Operator jobs in Virginia are:

What cities in Virginia are hiring for Area Operator jobs?

Cities in Virginia with the most Area Operator job openings:

Infographic showing various Area Operator job openings in Virginia as of June 2026, with employment types broken down into 79% Full Time, 17% Part Time, and 4% Contract. Highlights an 96% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 3% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $40,676 per year, or $19.6 per hour.

Production Operator (II/III) / Sr. Operator

NS IT Solutions

Chantilly, VA • On-site

$17.25 - $20.75/hr

Full-time

Re-posted 6 days ago


Key responsibilities

  • Operate pharmaceutical production machinery and follow procedures for manufacturing processes such as weighing, blending, dispensing, mixing, pellet coating, granulating, drying, milling, compressing, encapsulating, and coating.

  • Complete documentation related to manufacturing processes, including batch records, protocols, logbooks, and verification tickets, with accuracy and detail.

  • Assist in troubleshooting process issues, participate in process debriefs, and support continuous improvement projects.


Job description

Job Details:
Role: Production Operator (II/III) / Sr. Operator (Compression, Coating,
Granulation, Encapsulation)
Production Operator II - III (Skilled Operators)- must have OSD
Manufacturing experience.
Experience: 03 - 20 Years
Domain: Pharmaceuticals/Biotechnology/Clinical Research
Location: Chantilly, Virginia
Job Type: Full Time
Salary: USD 47000 – 76000.
Position Description:
Job Summary:
- The Manufacturing/Production Operator performs functions relating to
the processing of drug products, ensuring product compliance to
established current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMPs), customer
requirements and in conjunction with all Standard Operating
Procedures (SOPs).
- Follows standard procedures to complete tasks, some of which may
vary in scope, sequence, complexity, and timing.
- Applies skills and knowledge to recognize issues and to increase
efficiency, throughput, and quality.
- Understands and runs processes to meet the assigned
standards/routers and fulfils the assigned schedule; when these are
not achieved, participates in the debrief to understand the reasons
why and what needs to be corrected moving forward.
- Assists in troubleshooting process issues. Responsible for the safe
and efficient execution of job duties.
Principle Accountabilities:
- Entry Level & Highly Skilled Pharmaceutical Production/Manufacturing
Operators.
Key Accountabilities:
- Operates pharmaceutical production machinery and follows the
procedures for manufacturing such as weighing, blending, dispensing,
mixing, pellet coating, granulating, drying, milling, blending,
compressing, Encapsulating, Coating, potent compound, etc.
- Meets the requirements for use of manufacturing equipment and other
commonly used equipment per SOPs.
- Executes written SOPs to ensure the purity of materials involved in
the manufacturing process.
- Properly uses all scales, including printouts, zeroing, setting
tares, and daily calibration verification per SOPs.
- Examines manufacturer Product ID Labels, Quality Control release
tags, and Batch Production Record to verify issued/staged raw
materials can be released for production.
- Cleans manufacturing equipment and facilities according to
established SOPs.
- Executes machine changeovers from batch to batch.
- May sample batches for quality testing. Executes required in-process
product quality checks and documents accurately.
- Understands and runs processes to meet the assigned schedule and
standards/routers; when this is not achieved, participates in the
debrief to understand the reasons why and what needs to be corrected
moving forward.
Documentation:
- Completes documentation associated with manufacturing processes
(e.g. batch record, protocols, and logbooks) with detail and
accuracy.
- Meets requirements for entries on all applicable Batch Production
pages, completion and attachment of all dispensary and weight
verification tickets.
- Verifies the manufacturing process on BPR in an accurate and timely
manner.
- Provides status updates and operational challenges on status boards.
Continuous Improvement:
- Assists in troubleshooting process issues; refers deviations from
standard procedure to the supervisor.
- Typically participates in at least one continuous improvement
project of a moderate scope and complexity.
Safety & Compliance:
- Adheres to all cGMP compliance/regulatory mandates and quality
requirements.
- Participates in safety teams, start-up discussions, incident
debriefing sessions, etc.
- Ensures compliance with SOPs, policies and procedures as required by
the Company and regulatory agencies.
- Maintain a clean, organized, work area.
Knowledge & Skills:
- Current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMP) Food and Drug
Administration (FDA) and other regulatory requirements
- Standard Operating Procedures for process rooms and manufacturing
area.
- GMP compliance in a regulated work environment
- Manufacturing processes and equipment procedures.
Required Skills & Abilities:
- Often referred to as "competencies", leadership attributes, skills,
abilities or behaviours that may be enterprise, functional or job
specific e.g. coaching, negotiation, calibration, technical writing
etc.
- Proficient in running machinery.
- Proficient in (Master Clean/Surface clean) equipment cleaning.
- Proficient in sampling batches.
- Proficient in doing basic set-ups.
- Ability to participate in Continuous Improvement projects.
- Qualified in any of the following manufacturing processes:
- Weighing
- Blending
- Granulation
- Compression
- Coating
- Encapsulation
- Potent Compound.
Experience & Education:
- High School Diploma or equivalent experience
- Any production or retail store experience
- Knowledge of Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMP)
- Looking for Pharmaceutical Glatt, Compression and Pan coating
experience.
Level II Operator:
- HS diploma, GED or College Associate Degree
- Minimum of 2-5 years of pharmaceutical manufacturing experience and
certification in assigned area, as required or proficiency
demonstrated in competencies as required.
- Forklift certification may be required for certain jobs.
Level III Operator:
- HS Diploma, GED or College Associate Degree
- Minimum of 5+ years of pharmaceutical manufacturing experience and
certification in assigned area, as required or proficiency
demonstrated in competencies as required.
- Forklift certification may be required for certain jobs.
Knowledge:
- Strong background in solid dose manufacturing specific to
Compression OR Encapsulation OR Coating OR Wurster Coating
- Experience in Pharmaceutical Granulation and Blending experience a
potential plus. Capable of cleaning, setting-up and operating state
of the art equipment including but not limited to : tablet presses
and encapsulation, i.e., Fette 3200i; Fette P 3030; MG2 planeta;
Korsch XM 12.
- Knowledgeable of FDA regulations, GMP, Lean Manufacturing,
Six-Sigma, etc.
- Solid working knowledge and skills in procedures, techniques, tools,
materials and/or equipment needed for the position.
- Basic math, reading, legible writing skills, and problem-solving
abilities.
Physical Requirements/Working Environment
Physical Requirements:
- Must be able to stand for long periods of time (up to 12-hour
shifts), maneuver at least 50 pounds, climb ladders, wear a
respirator and pass associated respirator tests and/or requirements,
and be able to wear all required PPE, including safety glasses, ear
plugs, and safety shoes.
Experience:
- Minimum of 3-7 years OSD/Solid Dose Manufacturing experience is
mandatory (no soft-gels will be considered).
- Candidates from hard candies manufacturing (cough drops,
nutraceuticals) can also be considered.
- Experience in 1 or more of the following areas: Compression
(Tri-Layer Press), Granulation, Encapsulation, Ackley Laser Drill or
"Tablet Printing.
- Wurster Coating, Coating, Fluid Bed Dryers, Bead Tower.
- Capable of cleaning, setting up, dismantling, and operating state of
the art tablet presses and encapsulation, i.e., Fette 3200i; Fette P
3030; MG2 planeta; Korsch XM 12.
- Knowledgeable of FDA regulations, GMP, Lean Manufacturing,
Six-Sigma, etc.
- Level II Operator: Minimum of 3-7 years of OSD pharmaceutical
manufacturing (cGMP) experience
- Level III Operator: Minimum 7+ years of pharmaceutical manufacturing
(cGMP) experience.