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Machine setter salary
Average machine setter salary
$15.69
Understanding the Machine Setter Salary
The role of a machine setter involves setting up and calibrating machines for production runs, making it a vital position in manufacturing. As of October 2025, the average salary for machine setters is $32,625 per year, or about $16 per hour. However, salaries can vary significantly depending on factors such as experience level, location, and the specific industry.
Salary by Experience Level
Entry-level machine setters typically start at around $28,000, while those with several years of experience can earn upwards of $38,000. This progression highlights the potential for growth in this field. Additionally, machine setters who specialize in high-demand areas such as CNC machinery may command higher wages.
Location Matters
Geographic location plays a crucial role in salary levels. For instance, states like California and Texas often offer higher salaries due to the cost of living and demand for skilled labor. Cities such as San Francisco and Houston are known for their competitive pay rates in this profession.
Exploring job opportunities across various industries can also lead to increased earning potential. Many manufacturers are actively seeking skilled machine setters, making this a promising career path for job seekers.
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Where can a Machine Setter earn more?
Machine setter salaries by experience level
| Experience level | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level machine setter | $28,200 | $13.56 |
| Mid-level machine setter | $28,700 | $13.81 |
| Senior-level machine setter | $39,000 | $18.73 |
Average machine setter salary by state
The average machine setter salary in Hawaii, Maine, and California are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average machine setter salary states are South Dakota, Illinois, and Oregon.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for machine setters
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wisconsin | $33,314 | $16.02 |
| 2 | North Carolina | $31,111 | $14.96 |
| 3 | Pennsylvania | $30,994 | $14.90 |
| 4 | Indiana | $30,086 | $14.46 |
| 5 | Maine | $35,797 | $17.21 |
| 6 | Ohio | $29,902 | $14.38 |
| 7 | Arizona | $33,171 | $15.95 |
| 8 | Michigan | $29,528 | $14.20 |
| 9 | Minnesota | $29,045 | $13.96 |
| 10 | South Carolina | $29,548 | $14.21 |
| 11 | New Jersey | $32,522 | $15.64 |
| 12 | Florida | $29,845 | $14.35 |
| 13 | Kentucky | $28,092 | $13.51 |
| 14 | Louisiana | $29,831 | $14.34 |
| 15 | West Virginia | $29,819 | $14.34 |
| 16 | Mississippi | $28,943 | $13.91 |
| 17 | California | $33,336 | $16.03 |
| 18 | New Hampshire | $27,870 | $13.40 |
| 19 | New York | $30,634 | $14.73 |
| 20 | Tennessee | $27,057 | $13.01 |
| 21 | Maryland | $31,747 | $15.26 |
| 22 | Georgia | $27,844 | $13.39 |
| 23 | Virginia | $30,555 | $14.69 |
| 24 | Hawaii | $35,947 | $17.28 |
| 25 | Rhode Island | $27,895 | $13.41 |
| 26 | Alabama | $27,686 | $13.31 |
| 27 | Iowa | $26,252 | $12.62 |
| 28 | Arkansas | $26,680 | $12.83 |
| 29 | Connecticut | $27,598 | $13.27 |
| 30 | New Mexico | $27,705 | $13.32 |
| 31 | Massachusetts | $27,910 | $13.42 |
| 32 | Texas | $27,375 | $13.16 |
| 33 | Missouri | $26,879 | $12.92 |
| 34 | Utah | $26,260 | $12.63 |
| 35 | Kansas | $26,117 | $12.56 |
| 36 | South Dakota | $25,821 | $12.41 |
| 37 | Vermont | $27,614 | $13.28 |
| 38 | Wyoming | $26,809 | $12.89 |
| 39 | Nebraska | $26,085 | $12.54 |
| 40 | Oklahoma | $26,196 | $12.59 |
| 41 | Idaho | $26,749 | $12.86 |
| 42 | North Dakota | $26,310 | $12.65 |
| 43 | Washington | $26,316 | $12.65 |
| 44 | Illinois | $24,758 | $11.90 |
| 45 | Delaware | $26,451 | $12.72 |
| 46 | Oregon | $24,710 | $11.88 |
| 47 | Alaska | $24,640 | $11.85 |
| 48 | Colorado | $26,058 | $12.53 |
| 49 | Nevada | $24,580 | $11.82 |
| 50 | Montana | $24,609 | $11.83 |
| 51 | District of Columbia | $25,741 | $12.38 |
Highest paying cities for machine setters
The highest-paying cities for machine setters are Los Angeles, CA, Santa Ana, CA, and Anaheim, CA.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Los Angeles, CA | $33,754 | $16.23 |
| 2 | Santa Ana, CA | $33,646 | $16.18 |
| 3 | Anaheim, CA | $33,622 | $16.16 |
| 4 | Corona, CA | $33,419 | $16.07 |
| 5 | Lexington, NC | $30,944 | $14.88 |
| 6 | Islandia, NY | $30,822 | $14.82 |
| 7 | New York, NY | $30,605 | $14.71 |
| 8 | North, SC | $29,513 | $14.19 |
| 9 | Lancaster, SC | $29,352 | $14.11 |
| 10 | Stuart, VA | $29,064 | $13.97 |
| 11 | Exeter, NH | $27,893 | $13.41 |
| 12 | Newington, NH | $27,883 | $13.41 |
| 13 | Jarrell, TX | $27,573 | $13.26 |
| 14 | Arcadia, MO | $27,357 | $13.15 |
| 15 | Pine Bluff, AR | $27,056 | $13.01 |
| 16 | Rogers, AR | $26,372 | $12.68 |
| 17 | Hurst, TX | $26,366 | $12.68 |
| 18 | Saginaw, TX | $26,363 | $12.67 |
| 19 | Bedford, TX | $26,358 | $12.67 |
| 20 | Newark, TX | $26,291 | $12.64 |
Machine setter salary details
A machine setter's salary ranges from $23,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $46,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a machine setter's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $46,000 | $3,833 | $22 |
| 75th Percentile | $39,000 | $3,250 | $19 |
| Average | $32,625 | $2,719 | $16 |
| 25th Percentile | $27,000 | $2,250 | $13 |
| 10th Percentile | $23,000 | $1,917 | $11 |
Highest paying machine setter jobs
The highest paying types of machine setters are envelope adjuster, machine adjuster, and cup operator.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Setter | $34,789 | $2,899 | $16.73 | 1,950 |
Top companies hiring machine setters now:
Which companies pay machine setters the most?
Machine setter salaries at Adecco and Staffing Resources are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average machine setter salary at companies like Staffmark and Churchill Living are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Adecco | $32,955 | $15.84 |
| 2 | Staffing Resources | $32,464 | $15.61 |
| 3 | Staffmark | $32,344 | $15.55 |
| 4 | Churchill Living | $31,076 | $14.94 |
| 5 | Trc Staffing Services | $29,520 | $14.19 |
| 6 | Ventura Foods | $25,239 | $12.13 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Machine setter salary trends
The average machine setter salary has risen by $4,547 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average machine setter earned $28,078 annually, but today, they earn $32,625 a year. That works out to a 8% change in pay for machine setters over the last decade.
Compare machine setter salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average machine setter salary over time
Compare machine setter salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Machine setter salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $32,600 | $15.69 | +1.5% |
| 2024 | $32,100 | $15.45 | +1.2% |
| 2023 | $31,700 | $15.26 | +2.2% |
| 2022 | $31,000 | $14.93 | +2.4% |
| 2021 | $30,300 | $14.57 | +3.5% |
Recently added machine setter salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| North America | Industrial Machine Setter | Mount Carmel, PA | 03/26/2025 | $43,076 |
| Aerotek | CNC Machine Setter | Omaha, NE | 12/12/2024 | $39,653 |
| Careergps.com | Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | Brewer, ME | 10/21/2024 | $27,910 |
| Georgia-Pacific | Machine Setter | Talladega, AL | 10/18/2024 | $49,045 |
| Stanley Black & Decker | Machine Setter-2Nd Shift | New Britain, CT | 10/17/2024 | $50,965 |
| Stanley Black & Decker | Machine Setter-2Nd Shift | New Britain, CT | 09/27/2024 | $50,965 |
| QPS Employment Group | Die & Machine Setter A | Rockford, IL | 08/28/2024 | $53,000 |
| Randstad Us | Machine Setter | Solon, OH | 02/22/2024 | $48,001 |
| Stanley Black and Decker | Lead Machine Setter 2Nd Shift M-F 3P-11P at | New Britain, CT | 02/16/2024 | $48,627 |
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