How To Become A Header Set-Up Operator: What It Is and Career Path

What is a header set-up operator and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

2 min read

There is more than meets the eye when it comes to being a header set-up operator. For example, did you know that they make an average of $17.19 an hour? That's $35,764 a year! Between 2018 and 2028, the career is expected to grow -5% and produce -45,900 job opportunities across the U.S.

ScoreHeader Set-Up OperatorUS Average

Salary

2.8

Avg. Salary $35,764

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

7.8

Growth rate -5%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

9.8

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.77%

Asian 2.31%

Black or African American 9.74%

Hispanic or Latino 12.05%

Unknown 2.82%

White 72.31%

Gender

female 11.54%

male 88.46%

Age - 43

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 43

Stress level

7.8

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity level

7.9

Complexity level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work life balance

3.6

Work life balance is poor

6.4 - fair

Key steps to become a header set-up operator

Explore header set-up operator education requirements

Most common header set-up operator degrees

High School Diploma

35.7 %

Associate

23.8 %

Bachelor's

23.8 %

Start to develop specific header set-up operator skills

Skills	Percentages
Calipers	80.01%
SPC	6.60%
Comparators	3.59%
Quality Checks	3.42%
Formax	1.99%

Complete relevant header set-up operator training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 1-2 years on post-employment, on-the-job training. New header set-up operators learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a header set-up operator based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real header set-up operator resumes.

Research header set-up operator duties and responsibilities

Experience with SPC; measuring every dimension in print.
Work with internal, external, and bore grinders.
Enter quality check results into the computer matching them up to SPC charts.
Perform quality control inspection using calipers/gauges/micrometers and digital comparators.

Prepare your header set-up operator resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your header set-up operator resume.

You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a header set-up operator resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

Choose from 10+ customizable header set-up operator resume templates

Build a professional header set-up operator resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your header set-up operator resume.