Machinist-set-up vs set-up operator

The differences between machinist-set ups and set-up operators can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 2-4 years to become a machinist-set-up, becoming a set-up operator takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, a machinist-set-up has an average salary of $42,559, which is higher than the $39,269 average annual salary of a set-up operator.

The top three skills for a machinist-set-up include cnc machines, tolerances and calipers. The most important skills for a set-up operator are calipers, cnc machines, and hand tools.

Machinist-set-up vs set-up operator overview

	Machinist-Set-Up	Set-Up Operator
Yearly salary	$42,559	$39,269
Hourly rate	$20.46	$18.88
Growth rate	1%	-8%
Number of jobs	16,993	55,670
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 39%	High School Diploma, 44%
Average age	48	43
Years of experience	4	2

Machinist-set-up vs set-up operator salary

Machinist-set ups and set-up operators have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Machinist-Set-Up	Set-Up Operator
Average salary	$42,559	$39,269
Salary range	Between $31,000 And $58,000	Between $28,000 And $53,000
Highest paying City	-	Rochester, NY
Highest paying state	-	New York
Best paying company	-	Schneider Electric Industrial Services
Best paying industry	-	Automotive

Differences between machinist-set-up and set-up operator education

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

	Machinist-Set-Up	Set-Up Operator
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 39%	High School Diploma, 44%
Most common major	Precision Metal Working	Business
Most common college	-	-

Machinist-set-up vs set-up operator demographics

Here are the differences between machinist-set ups' and set-up operators' demographics:

	Machinist-Set-Up	Set-Up Operator
Average age	48	43
Gender ratio	Male, 94.5% Female, 5.5%	Male, 85.6% Female, 14.4%
Race ratio	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%	Black or African American, 4.9% Unknown, 5.4% Hispanic or Latino, 14.8% Asian, 6.0% White, 68.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9%
LGBT Percentage	3%	6%

Differences between machinist-set-up and set-up operator duties and responsibilities

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.

Set-up operator example responsibilities.

Manage daily scheduling of production workload to be setup and run on machinery.
Use and replacement of drills, taps, broaches, and reamers.
Manufacture parts according to blueprints, work with stainless steel aluminum, brass and plastics.
Machine parts to specifications, using machine tools, such as lathes, milling machines, or grinders.
Use of exact measuring instruments as CMM, optical comparators, mics, bore gauges and many other tools.
Produce parts from different materials such as cold roll steel, stainless steel, no lead brass and regular brass.

Machinist-set-up vs set-up operator skills

Common machinist-set-up skills

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

Common set-up operator skills

Calipers, 9%
CNC Machines, 7%
Hand Tools, 7%
Math, 6%
Quality Checks, 6%
Preventative Maintenance, 6%