Machinist-set-up vs tool technician

The differences between machinist-set ups and tool technicians 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 tool technician takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a tool technician has an average salary of $42,908, which is higher than the $42,559 average annual salary of a machinist-set-up.

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

Machinist-set-up vs tool technician overview

	Machinist-Set-Up	Tool Technician
Yearly salary	$42,559	$42,908
Hourly rate	$20.46	$20.63
Growth rate	1%	1%
Number of jobs	16,993	78,258
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 39%	High School Diploma, 33%
Average age	48	54
Years of experience	4	6

Machinist-set-up vs tool technician salary

Machinist-set ups and tool technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Machinist-Set-Up	Tool Technician
Average salary	$42,559	$42,908
Salary range	Between $31,000 And $58,000	Between $29,000 And $61,000
Highest paying City	-	Fort Wayne, IN
Highest paying state	-	Indiana
Best paying company	-	Rivian
Best paying industry	-	Energy

Differences between machinist-set-up and tool technician education

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

	Machinist-Set-Up	Tool Technician
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 39%	High School Diploma, 33%
Most common major	Precision Metal Working	Business
Most common college	-	-

Machinist-set-up vs tool technician demographics

Here are the differences between machinist-set ups' and tool technicians' demographics:

	Machinist-Set-Up	Tool Technician
Average age	48	54
Gender ratio	Male, 94.5% Female, 5.5%	Male, 92.0% Female, 8.0%
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, 2.4% Unknown, 2.8% Hispanic or Latino, 6.5% Asian, 2.7% White, 84.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%
LGBT Percentage	3%	3%

Differences between machinist-set-up and tool technician 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.

Tool technician example responsibilities.

Use specialize tools and machinery (CNC milling machine, manual lathe, manual milling machine and surface grinders . )
Program and operate wire EDM machine, milling machines, drill presses, surface grinders, lathes and jig grinders.
Perform mig, tig, and stick welds.
Skil welder utilizing TIG, MIG and stick welding processes.
Work on and troubleshoot the press machinery using calipers, micrometers and other precision tools.
Learned to use a TIG welder . )

Machinist-set-up vs tool technician skills

Common machinist-set-up skills

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

Common tool technician skills

Grinders, 11%
Hand Tools, 10%
CNC, 9%
Calipers, 7%
Micrometers, 6%
Jigs, 6%