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The differences between machines technicians and set up technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both a machines technician and a set up technician. Additionally, a machines technician has an average salary of $39,754, which is higher than the $36,486 average annual salary of a set up technician.
The top three skills for a machines technician include CNC, hand tools and calipers. The most important skills for a set up technician are hand tools, CNC, and safety procedures.
| Machines Technician | Set Up Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $39,754 | $36,486 |
| Hourly rate | $19.11 | $17.54 |
| Growth rate | 14% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 106,175 | 53,072 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 34% | High School Diploma, 39% |
| Average age | 48 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
A machine technician can often be seen in a manufacturing company, factories, processing centers, and machine shops. They typically work as the apprentice of machine engineers that are responsible for ensuring that all machinery and machine tools are working properly. A technician operates, installs, maintains, inspects, and repairs equipment depending on what industry they are working in, whether it may be an industrial or automotive setup. They must be keen on detail and keep the machines or equipment to the highest quality standard at all times.
Set up technicians are skilled employees who assemble and disassemble manufacturing machines as well as perform preventative maintenance to ensure that the manufacturing firm can produce high-quality products. These technicians must inspect products so that they can locate malfunctions in machine operations and then inform their supervisor about the repairs needed. They must observe production equipment to ensure its correct operation and collaborate with the engineering team to adjust the equipment when needed. Set up technicians must also assist in teaching new operators about the firm's standard operating procedures of production equipment.
Machines technicians and set up technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Machines Technician | Set Up Technician | |
| Average salary | $39,754 | $36,486 |
| Salary range | Between $30,000 And $52,000 | Between $28,000 And $46,000 |
| Highest paying City | Los Angeles, CA | Manchester, NH |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | New York |
| Best paying company | ABB | Zoetis |
| Best paying industry | Automotive | Professional |
There are a few differences between a machines technician and a set up technician in terms of educational background:
| Machines Technician | Set Up Technician | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 34% | High School Diploma, 39% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between machines technicians' and set up technicians' demographics:
| Machines Technician | Set Up Technician | |
| Average age | 48 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 85.1% Female, 14.9% | Male, 90.1% Female, 9.9% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 8.5% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 15.9% Asian, 3.4% White, 67.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9% | Black or African American, 10.8% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 15.3% Asian, 8.9% White, 59.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% |
| LGBT Percentage | 2% | 11% |