re: What do plant operators do? And how much do they really make?

What schooling do you have to have to get one of these operator jobs? I am guessing a college degree? What else would be needed?

I am a teacher and of course I dont make a lot of money. We are fostering to adopt three children and my wife, who is also a teacher, would love to stay home and raise the kids. I work part time with a welding shop I worked at in college, programming their controlled automation machines so i was wondering what kind of operator job I could possibly get.