Lathe set up operator vs machine set up operator

The differences between lathe set up operators and machine set up operators can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both a lathe set up operator and a machine set up operator. Additionally, a lathe set up operator has an average salary of $40,481, which is higher than the $35,823 average annual salary of a machine set up operator.

The top three skills for a lathe set up operator include calipers, FANUC and lathe machines. The most important skills for a machine set up operator are cnc machines, calipers, and micrometers.

Lathe set up operator vs machine set up operator overview

	Lathe Set Up Operator	Machine Set Up Operator
Yearly salary	$40,481	$35,823
Hourly rate	$19.46	$17.22
Growth rate	-8%	-8%
Number of jobs	30,437	61,986
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 45%	High School Diploma, 49%
Average age	43	43
Years of experience	2	2

Lathe set up operator vs machine set up operator salary

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

	Lathe Set Up Operator	Machine Set Up Operator
Average salary	$40,481	$35,823
Salary range	Between $29,000 And $55,000	Between $28,000 And $45,000
Highest paying City	-	Holyoke, MA
Highest paying state	-	California
Best paying company	-	ABB
Best paying industry	-	Automotive

Differences between lathe set up operator and machine set up operator education

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

	Lathe Set Up Operator	Machine Set Up Operator
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 45%	High School Diploma, 49%
Most common major	Computer Science	Business
Most common college	Massachusetts Institute of Technology	-

Lathe set up operator vs machine set up operator demographics

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

	Lathe Set Up Operator	Machine Set Up Operator
Average age	43	43
Gender ratio	Male, 94.6% Female, 5.4%	Male, 86.5% Female, 13.5%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 4.8% Unknown, 5.4% Hispanic or Latino, 14.4% Asian, 5.9% White, 68.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9%	Black or African American, 4.8% Unknown, 5.4% Hispanic or Latino, 14.6% Asian, 6.0% White, 68.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9%
LGBT Percentage	6%	6%

Differences between lathe set up operator and machine set up operator duties and responsibilities

Lathe set up operator example responsibilities.

Set up and run CNC lathes with Fanuc controls.
Set up and edit program as needed for Okuma LB35, Mazak lathe machine.
Experience running Haas mills, lathes, and Leadwell CNC lathes.
Experience running Mazak CNC lathe and mills.
Learned and familiarize myself with Mazak machines.
Operate various types of Mori Seiko lathes, and a few Haas verticle mills.

Machine set up operator example responsibilities.

Perform trial runs on new CNC programs, working with programming and tooling to achieve satisfactory parts.
Used micrometers and calipers to determine require tolerances.
Follow ISO and QS standard operating procedures.
Panel control, fanuc control, & dynapath.
Run machines after setup, inspect parts run.
Work on CNC OKUMA machines, horizontals and verticals.

Lathe set up operator vs machine set up operator skills

Common lathe set up operator skills

Calipers, 12%
FANUC, 11%
Lathe Machines, 10%
Okuma, 7%
Aerospace, 7%
G Code, 5%

Common machine set up operator skills

CNC Machines, 13%
Calipers, 10%
Micrometers, 9%
CNC Lathes, 6%
Quality Checks, 5%
Math, 5%

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Lathe Set Up Operator
Lathe Set Up Operator vs Machine Set Up Operator

Updated January 8, 2025

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