What do you enjoy most about your process operator career?

What do you enjoy most about being a process operator? What do you dislike the most? Is it challenging? Are there many opportunities to learn and advance?

What keeps you at your job?

Host said: What do you enjoy most about being a process operator? What do you dislike the most? Is it challenging? Are there many opportunities to learn and advance?

What keeps you at your job?

The Money!!! I just turned 21 fresh out of communit college with my certificarte in Process Technology and I made 112K My first year out of school!!! I know this isn't common and that I'm very lucky. I work at a union refinery and as soon as your qualified you go straight to top pay! I have a job where I use my brain not my back and there is virtually no stress its all over when I walk out of the gate.

I'm happy for Sambeaux but this is not the norm. Good money yes. But i don't think i read anything about the hours worked, shift work (missing kids growing up), years off your life, yes we get paid for what we know and how to react when your unit is falling down around your knees and there's no time to panic but let's not paint it all as rosy just for the money? did i mention the constant threat of being laid off? it's all i've done brother and father and i've steered my sons down a different path. lucky is not the word Sam, you are blessed and thank god every day you go home alive and with all your toes and fingers attached. now that's the real story of life as an operator.

Sambeaux in Pasadena, Texas said: The Money!!! I just turned 21 fresh out of communit college with my certificarte in Process Technology and I made 112K My first year out of school!!! I know this isn't common and that I'm very lucky. I work at a union refinery and as soon as your qualified you go straight to top pay! I have a job where I use my brain not my back and there is virtually no stress its all over when I walk out of the gate.

What is top pay, at your plant? Once you reach "top pay", is that it, or will you still receive some form of raises? How much do you get paid for over-time? In other words, do they pay time and a half, double time? How much over-time is necessary, to earn what you did. Are you working constantly, or also enjoying a lot of time off?

I am in school now, working toward my associates degree in Process Technology. I'm excited about the career.

Big Dawg,

I appreciate your insight on the job. I'm currently a student, who has completed half the ptec program. I'm well aware of the money and potential hazards from our instructors perspective. However, can you shed some light on what its really like on a daily basis. Do managers stress AND excercise optimum safety. What is the freq of operators losing their lives and limbs etc.?