Press machine operator vs set-up operator

The differences between press machine operators and 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 press machine operator and a set-up operator. Additionally, a set-up operator has an average salary of $39,269, which is higher than the $37,759 average annual salary of a press machine operator.

The top three skills for a press machine operator include CNC, punch press machine and quality checks. The most important skills for a set-up operator are calipers, cnc machines, and hand tools.

Press machine operator vs set-up operator overview

	Press Machine Operator	Set-Up Operator
Yearly salary	$37,759	$39,269
Hourly rate	$18.15	$18.88
Growth rate	-5%	-8%
Number of jobs	84,779	55,670
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 52%	High School Diploma, 44%
Average age	46	43
Years of experience	2	2

Press machine operator vs set-up operator salary

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

	Press Machine Operator	Set-Up Operator
Average salary	$37,759	$39,269
Salary range	Between $30,000 And $46,000	Between $28,000 And $53,000
Highest paying City	Minneapolis, MN	Rochester, NY
Highest paying state	New Hampshire	New York
Best paying company	Johnson Controls	Schneider Electric Industrial Services
Best paying industry	Finance	Automotive

Differences between press machine operator and set-up operator education

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

	Press Machine Operator	Set-Up Operator
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 52%	High School Diploma, 44%
Most common major	Business	Business
Most common college	-	-

Press machine operator vs set-up operator demographics

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

	Press Machine Operator	Set-Up Operator
Average age	46	43
Gender ratio	Male, 78.5% Female, 21.5%	Male, 85.6% Female, 14.4%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 7.9% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 13.4% Asian, 1.7% White, 71.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%	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 press machine operator and set-up operator duties and responsibilities

Press machine operator example responsibilities.

Perform necassary quality checks using caliper, micrometers, and optical comparators to insure product meets specifics of blueprints.
Order new material predict troubles and delays for production schedules check out final product to ensure that it meet ISO standards
Stamp press operator, QC and SPC gauge parts, and assembly
Load supplies into machines either by hand or using hoists, replace molds and cutting surfaces.
Verify conformance to specifications, using calipers.
Record statistics on ISO documentation, and coordinate with machine technicians and electrical technicians to keep machines operating at maximum efficiency.

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.

Press machine operator vs set-up operator skills

Common press machine operator skills

CNC, 11%
Punch Press Machine, 11%
Quality Checks, 9%
Safety Guidelines, 8%
Brake Press, 7%
Product Quality, 6%

Common set-up operator skills

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

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Production and Manufacturing Industry
Press Machine Operator
Press Machine Operator vs Set-Up Operator

Updated January 8, 2025

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