Set-up operator demographics and statistics in the US
Set-up operator demographics research summary. Zippia estimates set-up operator demographics and statistics in the United States by using a database of 30 million profiles. Our set-up operator estimates are verified against BLS, Census, and current job openings data for accuracy. Zippia's data science team found the following key facts about set-up operators after extensive research and analysis:
- There are over 707,303 set-up operators currently employed in the United States.
- 14.4% of all set-up operators are women, while 85.6% are men.
- The average set-up operator age is 43 years old.
- The most common ethnicity of set-up operators is White (68.0%), followed by Hispanic or Latino (14.8%), Asian (6.0%) and Unknown (5.4%).
- Set-up operators are most in-demand in Columbus, NE.
- The automotive industry is the highest-paying for set-up operators.
- Rochester, NY pays an annual average wage of $47,435, the highest in the US.
- In 2022, women set-up operators earned 87% of what men earned.
- 6% of all set-up operators are LGBT.
- Massachusetts is the best state for set-up operators to live.
- Set-up operators are 68% more likely to work at private companies in comparison to public companies.
On this page
Set-up operator demographics by:
Set-up operator gender statistics
14.4% of set-up operators are women and 85.6% of set-up operators are men.
- Male, 85.6%
- Female, 14.4%
Set-up operator gender ratio
| Gender | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Male | 85.6% |
| Female | 14.4% |
Set-up operator gender pay gap
Women earn 87¢ for every $1 earned by men
Male income
$42,092
Female income
$36,479
Set-up operator gender ratio over time
This data breaks down the percentage of men and women in set-up operator positions over time. Currently, 14.4% of set-up operators are female.
Set-up operator gender ratio by year
| Year | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 86.75% | 13.25% |
| 2011 | 87.25% | 12.75% |
| 2012 | 86.64% | 13.36% |
| 2013 | 88.90% | 11.10% |
| 2014 | 85.81% | 14.19% |
| 2015 | 88.18% | 11.82% |
| 2016 | 85.93% | 14.07% |
| 2017 | 87.85% | 12.15% |
| 2018 | 88.34% | 11.66% |
| 2019 | 88.20% | 11.80% |
| 2020 | 87.45% | 12.55% |
| 2021 | 85.57% | 14.43% |
Set-up operator related jobs gender ratio
We compared set-up operators with similar job titles to see how gender ratios vary. As you can see, head machinist and die repair machinist have the biggest gender ratio gaps.
| Job title | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| Special Process Person | 31% | 69% |
| Set-Up Operator | 86% | 14% |
| Research And Development Machinist | 99% | 1% |
| Die Repair Machinist | 99% | 1% |
| Head Machinist | 99% | 1% |
Male
Female
100%
75%
50%
25%
0%
0%
25%
50%
75%
100%
Set-up operator demographics by race
The most common ethnicity among set-up operators is White, which makes up 68.0% of all set-up operators. Comparatively, 14.8% of set-up operators are Hispanic or Latino and 6.0% of set-up operators are Asian.
- White, 68.0%
- Hispanic or Latino, 14.8%
- Asian, 6.0%
- Unknown, 5.4%
- Black or African American, 4.9%
- American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9%
Set-up operator race
| Set-up operator race | Percentages |
|---|---|
| White | 68.0% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 14.8% |
| Asian | 6.0% |
| Unknown | 5.4% |
| Black or African American | 4.9% |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 0.9% |
Set-up operator race and ethnicity over time
See how set-up operator racial and ethnic diversity trended since 2010 according to the United States Census Bureau data.
Set-up operator race and ethnicity by year
| Year | White | Black or African American | Asian | Hispanic or Latino |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 72.87% | 7.66% | 6.60% | 11.06% |
| 2011 | 74.87% | 6.46% | 4.84% | 12.51% |
| 2012 | 75.14% | 5.51% | 4.83% | 12.90% |
| 2013 | 72.72% | 5.14% | 5.49% | 14.49% |
| 2014 | 72.74% | 5.19% | 5.63% | 14.06% |
| 2015 | 73.51% | 5.97% | 5.94% | 12.67% |
| 2016 | 72.12% | 5.87% | 6.02% | 14.39% |
| 2017 | 73.61% | 5.49% | 5.30% | 13.47% |
| 2018 | 73.49% | 5.18% | 5.33% | 13.89% |
| 2019 | 69.89% | 5.37% | 6.67% | 15.02% |
| 2020 | 66.45% | 7.65% | 5.63% | 15.38% |
| 2021 | 68.00% | 4.87% | 6.04% | 14.78% |
Set-up operator wage gap by race
According to our data, white set-up operators have the highest average salary compared to other ethnicities. Hispanic or latino set-up operators have the lowest average salary at $40,820.
| Ethnicity | Salary |
|---|---|
| Unknown | $42,679 |
| White | $42,855 |
| Black or African American | $41,967 |
| Asian | $42,172 |
| Hispanic or Latino | $40,820 |
Average set-up operator age
See how the average age of set-up operators varies based on ethnicity and gender.
Male
Female
Set-up operator age by race and gender
| Race | Male age | Female age |
|---|---|---|
| Unknown | 42 | |
| White | 43 | 48 |
| Black or African American | 38.5 | |
| Asian | 48 | |
| Hispanic or Latino | 46.5 |
Set-up operator age breakdown
The average age of set-up operators is 40+ years years old, representing 60% of the set-up operator population.
Set-up operator age breakdown
| Set-Up Operator Years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| 40+ years | 60% |
| 30-40 years | 27% |
| 20-30 years | 13% |
Set-up operator educational attainment
The most common degree for set-up operators is high school diploma, with 44% of set-up operators earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are associate degree degree at 25% and associate degree degree at 12%.
- High School Diploma, 44%
- Associate, 25%
- Diploma, 12%
- Bachelor's, 12%
- Other Degrees, 7%
Set-up operators by degree level
| Set-up operator degree | Percentages |
|---|---|
| High School Diploma | 44% |
| Associate | 25% |
| Diploma | 12% |
| Bachelor's | 12% |
| Other Degrees | 7% |
Set-up operator jobs you might like
Set-up operator wage gap by degree level
| Education | Salary |
|---|---|
| High School Diploma or Less | $38,994 |
| Some College/ Associate Degree | $40,661 |
Set-up operator employment statistics
Most set-up operators work for a private in the manufacturing industry.
Company size where set-up operators work
Below, you can see the size of companies where set-up operators work.
Set-up operator jobs by employer size
| Company size | Percentages |
|---|---|
| < 50 employees | 4% |
| 50 - 100 employees | 11% |
| 100 - 500 employees | 28% |
| 500 - 1,000 employees | 9% |
| 1,000 - 10,000 employees | 23% |
| > 10,000 employees | 25% |
Set-up operator jobs by company type
Employees with the set-up operator job title have their preferences when it comes to working for a company. For instance, most set-up operators prefer to work at private companies over public companies.
Set-up operator jobs by sector
| Company type | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Education | 1% |
| Public | 30% |
| Private | 68% |
| Government | 1% |
Set-up operator jobs by industry
The most common industries for set-up operators are manufacturing, professional and automotive.
Set-up operator industry statistics
| Industry | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 38% |
| Professional | 10% |
| Fortune 500 | 10% |
| Automotive | 9% |
| Transportation | 5% |
| Construction | 5% |
| Technology | 5% |
| Health Care | 3% |
| Retail | 3% |
| Finance | 2% |
| Pharmaceutical | 1% |
| Media | 1% |
| Government | 1% |
| Utilities | 1% |
| Hospitality | 1% |
| Telecommunication | 1% |
| Start-up | 1% |
| Real Estate | 1% |
| Education | 1% |
| Energy | 1% |
Set-up operator turnover and employment statistics
Set-up operator unemployment rate over time
The unemployment rate for set-up operators between 2008 and the most recent data has varied, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Set-up operator unemployment rate by year
| Year | Set-up operator unemployment rate |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 13.77% |
| 2011 | 9.31% |
| 2012 | 5.79% |
| 2013 | 4.30% |
| 2014 | 5.56% |
| 2015 | 4.10% |
| 2016 | 3.78% |
| 2017 | 3.88% |
| 2018 | 2.90% |
| 2019 | 1.69% |
| 2020 | 5.66% |
| 2021 | 4.45% |
Average set-up operator tenure
The average set-up operator stays at their job for 1-2 years, based on the 4,373 set-up operators resumes in Zippia's database.
Set-up operator tenure statistics
| Number of years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Less than 1 year | 17% |
| 1-2 years | 28% |
| 3-4 years | 16% |
| 5-7 years | 16% |
| 8-10 years | 7% |
| 11+ years | 16% |
Set-up operator LGBT ratio compared to similar jobs
Review the percent of set-up operators that are members of the LGBT community. You can see how this compares to similar jobs in the chart below.
| Job title | LGBT | Job openings |
|---|---|---|
| Blow Torch Burner | 2.57% | 203 |
| Jigman | 2.99% | - |
| Plating Machine Operator | 3.20% | 57,471 |
| Wind Turbine Machinist | 3.26% | 9,915 |
| Sheet Roller Operator | 3.27% | 28,396 |
| Set-Up Operator | 5.87% | - |
| Water Sander | 6.48% | 4,164 |
Similar set-up operator jobs LGBT demographics
| Profession | Percentages of LGBT | Job openings |
|---|---|---|
| Blow Torch Burner | 2.57% | 203 |
| Jigman | 2.99% | |
| Plating Machine Operator | 3.20% | 57,471 |
| Wind Turbine Machinist | 3.26% | 9,915 |
| Sheet Roller Operator | 3.27% | 28,396 |
| Water Sander | 6.48% | 4,164 |
Foreign languages spoken by set-up operators
The most common foreign language among set-up operators is Spanish at 82.6%. The second-most popular foreign language spoken is German at 4.3% and Comanche is the third-most popular at 2.2%.
- Spanish, 82.6%
- German, 4.3%
- Comanche, 2.2%
- Vietnamese, 2.2%
- French, 2.2%
- Other, 6.5%
Set-up operator languages spoken
| Foreign language | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Spanish | 82.6% |
| German | 4.3% |
| Comanche | 2.2% |
| Vietnamese | 2.2% |
| French | 2.2% |
| Other | 6.5% |
