Instrument maker vs machinist-set-up

The differences between instrument makers and machinist-set ups can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both an instrument maker and a machinist-set-up. Additionally, a machinist-set-up has an average salary of $42,559, which is higher than the $41,702 average annual salary of an instrument maker.

The top three skills for an instrument maker include CNC, brazing and CAD. The most important skills for a machinist-set-up are cnc machines, tolerances, and calipers.

Instrument maker vs machinist-set-up overview

	Instrument Maker	Machinist-Set-Up
Yearly salary	$41,702	$42,559
Hourly rate	$20.05	$20.46
Growth rate	1%	1%
Number of jobs	9,633	16,993
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 37%	High School Diploma, 39%
Average age	48	48
Years of experience	4	4

Instrument maker vs machinist-set-up salary

Instrument makers and machinist-set ups have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Instrument Maker	Machinist-Set-Up
Average salary	$41,702	$42,559
Salary range	Between $30,000 And $56,000	Between $31,000 And $58,000
Highest paying City	-	-
Highest paying state	-	-
Best paying company	-	-
Best paying industry	-	-

Differences between instrument maker and machinist-set-up education

There are a few differences between an instrument maker and a machinist-set-up in terms of educational background:

	Instrument Maker	Machinist-Set-Up
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 37%	High School Diploma, 39%
Most common major	Business	Precision Metal Working
Most common college	-	-

Instrument maker vs machinist-set-up demographics

Here are the differences between instrument makers' and machinist-set ups' demographics:

	Instrument Maker	Machinist-Set-Up
Average age	48	48
Gender ratio	Male, 89.1% Female, 10.9%	Male, 94.5% Female, 5.5%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 3.9% Unknown, 3.7% Hispanic or Latino, 14.6% Asian, 6.3% White, 70.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%	Black or African American, 4.2% Unknown, 3.7% Hispanic or Latino, 13.7% Asian, 6.5% White, 71.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%
LGBT Percentage	3%	3%

Differences between instrument maker and machinist-set-up duties and responsibilities

Instrument maker example responsibilities.

Mount DCS and PLC cabinets and familiar with there systems.
Work safely along with all proper ppe, and with NEC, nfpa 70e, and osha standards.
Loop checking and control logic simulation from DCS panel to field instruments.
Perform instrument quality checks using gauges, micrometers, calipers, and other measuring equipment.
Design, machine, and assemble special cutting tools, jigs, and fixtures for holding parts and removing metal.
Work independently to machine parts to tight tolerance, design and implement fixtures and jigs while meeting aggressive production quantities.

Machinist-set-up example responsibilities.

Manage output according to company quality standards and corresponding ISO certification.
Set up and run CNC lathe with dual spindles and live tooling, run parts with Tol.
Experience setting up and running Haas mill production.
Program, setup and operation of Haas milling machines
Machine parts to quality specifications using Mazak lathes.
Turn in first articals and run job to print and customer specs.

Instrument maker vs machinist-set-up skills

Common instrument maker skills

CNC, 18%
Brazing, 11%
CAD, 9%
Grinders, 9%
Calipers, 7%
Hand Tools, 6%

Common machinist-set-up skills

CNC Machines, 15%
Tolerances, 9%
Calipers, 9%
Lathe Machines, 8%
Grinders, 7%
Aluminum, 5%