How much does a machine set up operator make?

The average machine set up operator salary in the United States is $35,823. Machine set up operator salaries typically range between $28,000 and $45,000 yearly. The average hourly rate for machine set up operators is $17.22 per hour. Machine set up operator salary is impacted by location, education, and experience. Machine set up operators earn the highest average salary in California.

Machine set up operator salary

Q: What state pays Machine Set Up Operators the most?

California pays Machine Set Up Operators the most in the United States, with an average salary of $44,967 per year, or $21.62 per hour.

Q: How do I know if I'm being paid fairly as a machine set up operator?

You know if you are being paid fairly as a machine set up operator if your pay is close to the average pay for the state you live in. For example, if you live in Massachusetts you should be paid close to $44,385 per year.

Average machine set up operator salary

$35,823

$17.22 hourly rate

Entry-level machine set up operator salary

$28,000 yearly salary

Updated January 8, 2025

Understanding Machine Set Up Operator Salaries

The average salary for a Machine Set Up Operator is $35,823 per year, translating to about $17 per hour. This figure can vary significantly based on geographic location, years of experience, and the specific industry. For instance, operators in states with a higher cost of living often earn more.

Top Paying States

Locations such as California and Texas frequently offer higher wages due to demand and living costs. As you gain experience, your potential for salary increases rises. Consider pursuing additional certifications or specialized training to enhance your skills and marketability.

Job Opportunities

Machine Set Up Operators are crucial in various sectors, including manufacturing and assembly. Roles often require a keen attention to detail and the ability to troubleshoot equipment issues efficiently. By exploring job openings in your area and networking within the industry, you can find rewarding opportunities that match your expertise.

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Machine set up operator salary by:

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Where can a Machine Set Up Operator earn more?

Compare salary by location

58k

38k

18k

-2k

Columbus, OH$44,448

Chattanooga, TN$28,120

Compare salary by company

67k

47k

27k

ABB$49,881

Sunstate Equipment Co.$37,296

Machine set up operator salary estimates from across the web

Based on the latest salary information compiled by Zippia, Salary.com and SalaryExpert, the average salary for a machine set up operator typically falls between $35,823 and $54,520.

zippia

$35,823yearly

Salary.com[1]

$47,082yearly

SalaryExpert[2]

$54,520yearly

Average machine set up operator salary by state

The average machine set up operator salary in California, Massachusetts, and Connecticut are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average machine set up operator salary states are South Carolina, Georgia, and North Carolina.

State view
County view

Average salary:

Highest paying states for machine set up operators

Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
1	Massachusetts	$44,385	$21.34
2	Rhode Island	$39,311	$18.90
3	Pennsylvania	$40,564	$19.50
4	Connecticut	$44,201	$21.25
5	New Hampshire	$38,842	$18.67
6	Oregon	$42,608	$20.48
7	California	$44,967	$21.62
8	Michigan	$36,916	$17.75
9	Vermont	$38,712	$18.61
10	New Jersey	$38,026	$18.28
11	Alaska	$36,122	$17.37
12	Maine	$37,882	$18.21
13	Virginia	$39,892	$19.18
14	Idaho	$39,096	$18.80
15	Ohio	$34,527	$16.60
16	West Virginia	$38,323	$18.42
17	Wisconsin	$34,280	$16.48
18	Illinois	$36,809	$17.70
19	Hawaii	$37,990	$18.26
20	Utah	$35,964	$17.29
21	Washington	$38,794	$18.65
22	Wyoming	$36,712	$17.65
23	Kentucky	$33,371	$16.04
24	District of Columbia	$36,107	$17.36
25	Arizona	$35,727	$17.18
26	Minnesota	$33,861	$16.28
27	Nevada	$34,927	$16.79
28	New York	$37,296	$17.93
29	Maryland	$38,392	$18.46
30	Indiana	$32,478	$15.61
31	Missouri	$33,840	$16.27
32	Mississippi	$33,181	$15.95
33	Kansas	$32,965	$15.85
34	Iowa	$32,308	$15.53
35	Alabama	$33,126	$15.93
36	Arkansas	$32,191	$15.48
37	Texas	$33,420	$16.07
38	Florida	$33,032	$15.88
39	South Dakota	$31,769	$15.27
40	South Carolina	$31,617	$15.20
41	Montana	$32,549	$15.65
42	Delaware	$33,220	$15.97
43	North Carolina	$30,487	$14.66
44	Georgia	$31,000	$14.90
45	Colorado	$32,797	$15.77
46	Nebraska	$30,205	$14.52
47	North Dakota	$31,990	$15.38
48	New Mexico	$32,580	$15.66
49	Louisiana	$31,947	$15.36
50	Tennessee	$28,103	$13.51
51	Oklahoma	$30,448	$14.64

Top machine set up operator jobs near you

Highest paying cities for machine set up operators

The highest-paying cities for machine set up operators are Holyoke, MA, Anaheim, CA, and Wallingford, CT.

Rank	City	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
1	Holyoke, MA	$44,448	$21.37
2	Anaheim, CA	$44,328	$21.31
3	Wallingford, CT	$44,316	$21.31
4	Lancaster, PA	$40,325	$19.39
5	Roanoke, VA	$38,866	$18.69
6	Troy, MI	$37,085	$17.83
7	Chicago, IL	$36,916	$17.75
8	Buffalo, NY	$36,654	$17.62
9	Cleveland, OH	$35,167	$16.91
10	Menomonee Falls, WI	$34,315	$16.50
11	Frankfort, KY	$33,499	$16.11
12	Pinellas Park, FL	$33,077	$15.90
13	Garland, TX	$32,867	$15.80
14	Richmond, IN	$32,579	$15.66
15	Greenville, SC	$31,734	$15.26
16	Rocky Mount, NC	$30,791	$14.80
17	Chattanooga, TN	$28,120	$13.52

Machine set up operator salary details

A machine set up operator's salary ranges from $28,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $45,000 at the 90th percentile.

Average machine set up operator salary graph, trends, and summary

What is a machine set up operator's salary?

Percentile	Annual salary	Monthly salary	Hourly rate
90th Percentile	$45,000	$3,750	$22
75th Percentile	$40,000	$3,333	$19
Average	$35,823	$2,985	$17
25th Percentile	$31,000	$2,583	$15
10th Percentile	$28,000	$2,333	$13

Highest paying machine set up operator jobs

The highest paying types of machine set up operators are control operator, machinist, and set-up operator.

Job title	Annual salary	Monthly salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
Machinist	$42,147	$3,512	$20.26	15,448
Set Up Technician	$36,486	$3,040	$17.54	53,072
Numerical Control Operator	$38,280	$3,190	$18.40	85,068
Press Brake Operator	$36,359	$3,030	$17.48	57,264
Operator	$37,928	$3,161	$18.23	159,077
Press Operator	$34,568	$2,881	$16.62	55,215

Top companies hiring machine set up operators now:

Which companies pay machine set up operators the most?

Machine set up operator salaries at ABB and Biomerics are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average machine set up operator salary at companies like Amcor and Bosch USA are highly competitive.

Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate
1	ABB	$49,881	$23.98
2	Biomerics	$43,265	$20.80
3	Amcor	$42,302	$20.34
4	Bosch USA	$41,422	$19.91
5	Tenneco	$40,675	$19.56
6	Eaton	$40,539	$19.49
7	Apple	$40,471	$19.46
8	RF	$39,820	$19.14
9	Post Holdings	$39,332	$18.91
10	Graphic Packaging International	$39,329	$18.91
11	Nucor	$39,321	$18.90
12	Allentown	$38,946	$18.72
13	VisionCorp Rep	$38,902	$18.70
14	Core Consulting	$38,775	$18.64
15	SMS group	$38,360	$18.44
16	The Manufacturers' Association	$38,348	$18.44
17	The Next Level	$38,216	$18.37
18	Electroswitch	$38,066	$18.30
19	McGard	$37,414	$17.99
20	Sunstate Equipment Co.	$37,296	$17.93

Wage gap by gender, race and education

$38,000$37,000$36,000$35,000$34,000$33,000

MaleFemale

Machine set up operator salary trends

The average machine set up operator salary has risen by $5,788 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average machine set up operator earned $30,035 annually, but today, they earn $35,823 a year. That works out to a 11% change in pay for machine set up operators over the last decade.

Compare machine set up operator salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.

Average machine set up operator salary over time

Compare machine set up operator salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.

Machine set up operator salary by year

Year	Avg. salary	Hourly rate	% Change
2025	$35,800	$17.22	+3.3%
2024	$34,600	$16.66	+1.4%
2023	$34,200	$16.43	+2.1%
2022	$33,500	$16.08	+3.4%
2021	$32,300	$15.53	+2.2%

Recently added machine set up operator salaries

Company	Job	Location	Date added	Salary
Honeywell	Machine Setup Operator Junior 2Nd Shift	Freeport, IL	06/24/2025	$48,880
Amcor	Set-Up Machine Operator	Mundelein, IL	06/17/2025	$41,740
Staffmark Group	CNC Machine Setup Operator	Duncan, SC	06/12/2025	$58,436
PRN Business Services	Davenport Screw Machine Setup Operator-Willing To Relocate	Tulsa, OK	06/10/2025	$37,566
NHBB	Second & Third Shift Machine Operator-Cnc/Setup Positions	Laconia, NH	06/09/2025	$39,570
Honeywell	Machine Setup Operator Junior	Freeport, IL	05/27/2025	$48,880
Amcor	Set-Up Machine Operator	Mundelein, IL	05/27/2025	$41,740
Aerotek	Press Brake Machine Set Up Operator	Oxnard, CA	05/24/2025	$41,740
Ga Richards	Davenport Screw Machine Setup Operator-1St. Shift	Zeeland, MI	05/21/2025	$41,740
Staffmark Group	CNC Machine Setup Operator	Duncan, SC	05/14/2025	$58,436

Machine set up operator salary FAQs

What state pays Machine Set Up Operators the most?

How do I know if I'm being paid fairly as a machine set up operator?

Have more questions? See all answers to common production and manufacturing questions.

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Updated January 8, 2025

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