Press operator vs machine set up operator

The differences between press 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 press operator and a machine set up operator. Additionally, a machine set up operator has an average salary of $35,823, which is higher than the $34,568 average annual salary of a press operator.

The top three skills for a press operator include quality standards, press machine and quality checks. The most important skills for a machine set up operator are cnc machines, calipers, and micrometers.

Press operator vs machine set up operator overview

	Press Operator	Machine Set Up Operator
Yearly salary	$34,568	$35,823
Hourly rate	$16.62	$17.22
Growth rate	-5%	-8%
Number of jobs	55,215	61,986
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 51%	High School Diploma, 49%
Average age	46	43
Years of experience	2	2

Press operator vs machine set up operator salary

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

	Press Operator	Machine Set Up Operator
Average salary	$34,568	$35,823
Salary range	Between $27,000 And $42,000	Between $28,000 And $45,000
Highest paying City	Westfield, MA	Holyoke, MA
Highest paying state	New Hampshire	California
Best paying company	ProAmpac	ABB
Best paying industry	Automotive	Automotive

Differences between press operator and machine set up operator education

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

	Press Operator	Machine Set Up Operator
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 51%	High School Diploma, 49%
Most common major	Business	Business
Most common college	-	-

Press operator vs machine set up operator demographics

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

	Press Operator	Machine Set Up Operator
Average age	46	43
Gender ratio	Male, 76.6% Female, 23.4%	Male, 86.5% Female, 13.5%
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, 4.8% Unknown, 5.4% Hispanic or Latino, 14.6% Asian, 6.0% White, 68.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9%
LGBT Percentage	3%	6%

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

Press operator example responsibilities.

Work on the assembly line making tire covers for Honda and Toyota.
Maintain SPC records using a bore gauge and calipers.
Ensure quality of parts produce per ISO-9000 standards through the use of calipers, micrometers, and several custom-made gauges.
Maintain strict quality requirements using scales, calipers and micrometers.
Adjust colors to become PMS accurate, with gradations.
Assist fab with mig welding.

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.

Press operator vs machine set up operator skills

Common press operator skills

Quality Standards, 12%
Press Machine, 9%
Quality Checks, 8%
Preventative Maintenance, 8%
Safety Guidelines, 5%
Digital Press, 4%

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

Updated January 8, 2025

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