Header set-up operator vs cold header operator

The differences between header set-up operators and cold header operators can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a cold header operator has an average salary of $62,538, which is higher than the $35,764 average annual salary of a header set-up operator.

The top three skills for a header set-up operator include calipers, SPC and comparators. The most important skills for a cold header operator are calipers, grinders, and SPC.

Header set-up operator vs cold header operator overview

	Header Set-Up Operator	Cold Header Operator
Yearly salary	$35,764	$62,538
Hourly rate	$17.19	$30.07
Growth rate	-5%	-5%
Number of jobs	27,599	25,851
Job satisfaction	-	5
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 36%	High School Diploma, 48%
Average age	43	43
Years of experience	-	-

Header set-up operator vs cold header operator salary

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

	Header Set-Up Operator	Cold Header Operator
Average salary	$35,764	$62,538
Salary range	Between $28,000 And $45,000	Between $39,000 And $99,000
Highest paying City	-	-
Highest paying state	-	-
Best paying company	-	-
Best paying industry	-	-

Differences between header set-up operator and cold header operator education

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

	Header Set-Up Operator	Cold Header Operator
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 36%	High School Diploma, 48%
Most common major	Business	Mechanical Engineering
Most common college	-	-

Header set-up operator vs cold header operator demographics

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

	Header Set-Up Operator	Cold Header Operator
Average age	43	43
Gender ratio	Male, 88.5% Female, 11.5%	Male, 98.5% Female, 1.5%
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 operator 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 operator example responsibilities.

Use measuring equipment (calipers, micrometers, etc . )
Enforce QMS compliance fulfilling BSI regulate certification.
Maintain parts to blue-print specifications using micrometers, vernier calipers and measuring gages.
Enforce QMS compliance fulfilling BSI regulate certification.

Header set-up operator vs cold header operator skills

Common header set-up operator skills

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

Common cold header operator skills

Calipers, 62%
Grinders, 19%
SPC, 17%
Formax, 2%

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Header Set-Up Operator
Header Set-Up Operator vs Cold Header Operator

Updated January 8, 2025

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