Header set-up operator vs cold header

The differences between header set-up operators and cold headers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a cold header has an average salary of $43,230, which is higher than the $35,764 average annual salary of a header set-up operator.

Header set-up operator vs cold header overview

	Header Set-Up Operator	Cold Header
Yearly salary	$35,764	$43,230
Hourly rate	$17.19	$20.78
Growth rate	-5%	-5%
Number of jobs	27,599	159
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 36%	Bachelor's Degree, 41%
Average age	43	43
Years of experience	-	-

Header set-up operator vs cold header salary

Header set-up operators and cold headers have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Header Set-Up Operator	Cold Header
Average salary	$35,764	$43,230
Salary range	Between $28,000 And $45,000	Between $22,000 And $83,000
Highest paying City	-	-
Highest paying state	-	-
Best paying company	-	-
Best paying industry	-	-

Differences between header set-up operator and cold header education

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

	Header Set-Up Operator	Cold Header
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 36%	Bachelor's Degree, 41%
Most common major	Business	Criminal Justice
Most common college	-	-

Header set-up operator vs cold header demographics

Here are the differences between header set-up operators' and cold headers' demographics:

	Header Set-Up Operator	Cold Header
Average age	43	43
Gender ratio	Male, 88.5% Female, 11.5%	Male, 91.9% Female, 8.1%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 9.7% Unknown, 2.8% Hispanic or Latino, 12.1% Asian, 2.3% White, 72.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%	Black or African American, 9.7% Unknown, 2.8% Hispanic or Latino, 12.1% Asian, 2.3% White, 72.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%
LGBT Percentage	3%	3%

Differences between header set-up operator and cold header duties and responsibilities

Header set-up operator example 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.
Experience with AutoCAD, NVivo research software, RSLogix5000 for PLC programming.

Cold header example responsibilities.

Maintain parts to blue-print specifications using micrometers, vernier calipers and measuring gages.
Enter quality check results into the computer matching them up to SPC charts.

Header set-up operator vs cold header skills

Common header set-up operator skills

Calipers, 80%
SPC, 7%
Comparators, 4%
Quality Checks, 3%
Formax, 2%
Blueprint Specs, 2%

Common cold header skills

Header Set-Up Operator vs. similar jobs

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Updated January 8, 2025

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