Blasting machine operator vs set-up operator

The differences between blasting machine operators and set-up operators can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 2-4 years to become a blasting machine operator, becoming a set-up operator takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, a set-up operator has an average salary of $39,269, which is higher than the $31,116 average annual salary of a blasting machine operator.

The top three skills for a blasting machine operator include basic math, hand tools and blast machine. The most important skills for a set-up operator are calipers, cnc machines, and hand tools.

Blasting machine operator vs set-up operator overview

	Blasting Machine Operator	Set-Up Operator
Yearly salary	$31,116	$39,269
Hourly rate	$14.96	$18.88
Growth rate	4%	-8%
Number of jobs	57,806	55,670
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 63%	High School Diploma, 44%
Average age	43	43
Years of experience	4	2

Blasting machine operator vs set-up operator salary

Blasting machine operators and set-up operators have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Blasting Machine Operator	Set-Up Operator
Average salary	$31,116	$39,269
Salary range	Between $21,000 And $46,000	Between $28,000 And $53,000
Highest paying City	-	Rochester, NY
Highest paying state	-	New York
Best paying company	-	Schneider Electric Industrial Services
Best paying industry	-	Automotive

Differences between blasting machine operator and set-up operator education

There are a few differences between a blasting machine operator and a set-up operator in terms of educational background:

	Blasting Machine Operator	Set-Up Operator
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 63%	High School Diploma, 44%
Most common major	Business	Business
Most common college	-	-

Blasting machine operator vs set-up operator demographics

Here are the differences between blasting machine operators' and set-up operators' demographics:

	Blasting Machine Operator	Set-Up Operator
Average age	43	43
Gender ratio	Male, 92.0% Female, 8.0%	Male, 85.6% Female, 14.4%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 9.2% Unknown, 3.7% Hispanic or Latino, 16.0% Asian, 2.5% White, 67.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.3%	Black or African American, 4.9% Unknown, 5.4% Hispanic or Latino, 14.8% Asian, 6.0% White, 68.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9%
LGBT Percentage	2%	6%

Differences between blasting machine operator and set-up operator duties and responsibilities

Blasting machine operator example responsibilities.

Assure that the proper abrasive metal, grit, metal shoot, seed, glass bead etc.
Utilize up to three 30 ton roof cranes simultaneously to safely maneuver girders weighing up to 82 tons.
Record statistics on ISO documentation, and coordinate with machine technicians and electrical technicians to keep machines operating at maximum efficiency.
Operate industrial paint vats, cross train on overhead cab crane and heat treat.
Operate CNC horizontal milling machines and CNC wire and sinker EDM machines.
Assemble bolt and wire harnesses, forklift, tool crib, and EDM machine operator.

Set-up operator example responsibilities.

Manage daily scheduling of production workload to be setup and run on machinery.
Use and replacement of drills, taps, broaches, and reamers.
Manufacture parts according to blueprints, work with stainless steel aluminum, brass and plastics.
Machine parts to specifications, using machine tools, such as lathes, milling machines, or grinders.
Use of exact measuring instruments as CMM, optical comparators, mics, bore gauges and many other tools.
Produce parts from different materials such as cold roll steel, stainless steel, no lead brass and regular brass.

Blasting machine operator vs set-up operator skills

Common blasting machine operator skills

Basic Math, 76%
Hand Tools, 5%
Blast Machine, 5%
Cranes, 5%
Grit, 4%
CNC, 2%

Common set-up operator skills

Calipers, 9%
CNC Machines, 7%
Hand Tools, 7%
Math, 6%
Quality Checks, 6%
Preventative Maintenance, 6%

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Blasting Machine Operator
Blasting Machine Operator vs Set-Up Operator

Updated January 8, 2025

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