10 of the Most Popular Types of Operator Technician Jobs in 2026

See what kind of roles similar to Operator Technician jobs are hiring now

Top Types Of Operator Technician Jobs

• Fly In Fly Out Heavy Equipment Operator

  Salary range: $40,500 - $56,000

  Fly In Fly Out Heavy Equipment Operator is a common job search query. Most salaries for Fly In Fly Out Heavy Equipment Operator jobs pay between $40,500 (25th percentile) and $56,000 (75th percentile) annually. There are plenty of open positions nationwide for Fly In Fly Out Heavy Equipment Operator job searches hiring now on ZipRecruiter.

• Industrial Maintenance

  Salary range: $70,000 - $103,500

  Industrial maintenance refers to the maintenance or service that is done by maintenance technicians or mechanics in manufacturing and production settings. Industrial machinery is used in a variety of manufacturing settings and often needs troubleshooting and adjustments to work properly. The industry calls for individuals who can install new equipment and give advice to the workers who use that equipment daily. Jobs in this sector include industrial maintenance technicians, industrial maintenance mechanics, installers, and machine salespeople. All of the jobs in this industry require general industry knowledge, and most require additional certifications beyond a high school diploma.

• Process Technician

  Salary range: $41,000 - $58,500

  A process technician—or industrial engineering technician—oversees the setup and monitoring of industrial equipment under the guidance of an industrial engineer. As a process technician, your responsibilities include following the direction of the engineer, interpreting technical drawings to assemble and install industrial equipment on site, and ensure that equipment is running effectively. You may work in a variety of industries, such as manufacturing, oil and gas, and health care.

• Substation Operator

  Salary range: $94,000 - $106,800

  As a substation operator, it is your job to run and manage an electrical substation so that customers can safely use electricity. Your job duties are to inspect, maintain, and monitor all equipment, including power converters, circuit breakers, and voltage transformers. This career requires at least some work experience in an electrical substation. Most employers offer on-the-job training. Another option is to earn an associate degree in a related field, such as power plant technology, from a community or technical college. Additional qualifications are strong analytical, communication, and problem-solving skills.

• Chemical Operator

  Salary range: $38,500 - $44,000

  A chemical operator manages overall production in a chemical plant, including the employees, operations, and machinery. Chemical operators’ duties and responsibilities include maintaining plant machines such as mixers, vessels and the control functions. Chemical operators also oversee the production process to ensure it runs smoothly and safely and produces a quality product. Skills and qualifications of a chemical operator include equipment maintenance, leadership, and operational experience in the industry.

• Chemical Plant Process Operator

  Salary range: $40,000 - $48,000

  Chemical Plant Process Operator is a more unusual job search query but still may give you interesting job results. Most salaries for Chemical Plant Process Operator jobs pay between $40,000 (25th percentile) and $48,000 (75th percentile) annually. Currently, there are not many open positions nationwide for Chemical Plant Process Operator job searches hiring now on ZipRecruiter. You can take a look at what is available and find similar job searches in this list.

• Refinery Process Operator

  Salary range: $38,000 - $48,000

  Refinery Process Operator is a typical job search query Most salaries for Refinery Process Operator jobs pay between $38,000 (25th percentile) and $48,000 (75th percentile) annually. Currently, there are not many open positions nationwide for Refinery Process Operator job searches hiring now on ZipRecruiter. You can take a look at what is available and find similar job searches in this list.

• Heavy Equipment

  Salary range: $62,500 - $76,000

  Heavy equipment jobs are typically within the construction or industrial maintenance industries. The two main categories of heavy equipment jobs are heavy equipment operator and heavy equipment mechanic. As a heavy equipment operator, you are in charge of running large pieces of equipment to help build or maintain roads, bridges, large structures, and tunnels or pipelines. Your job duties may include operating bulldozers, front-end loaders, or backhoes responsibly during large projects. Heavy equipment mechanics, on the other hand, help to keep this equipment in working order for the operators by working on engines and other moving parts of the machinery.

• Smt Machine Operator

  Salary range: $35,500 - $43,500

  SMT machine operators are responsible for surface mount technology (SMT) machinery maintenance, operations, and repair. They use the equipment to solder delicate electrical parts. The solder machine connects electrical components as part of an assembly line, also called a printed circuit assembly. An SMT machine operator understands the basic technology of the equipment and its programming, can set up new orders, and troubleshoot as needed. The job duties include inspecting the final products, recording data output, and meeting all daily quota needs.

• Entry Level Heavy Equipment Operator

  Salary range: $40,500 - $56,000

  The job of an entry-level heavy equipment operator is to operate and perform maintenance on machinery used in building construction, like excavators, haul trucks, or snowcats. Someone in this role should follow all safety regulations on a construction site. An entry-level heavy equipment operator often works under direct supervision, although they may take on small building projects as they gain experience and demonstrate skills. Qualifications include a high school diploma and on-the-job training, although additional licensure or certification may be required for certain types of machinery.