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Job outlook for set-up operators in the United States
Set-up operator job growth summary. After extensive research, interviews, and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
The projected set-up operator job growth rate is -8% from 2018-2028.
About -83,800 new jobs for set-up operators are projected over the next decade.
Set-up operator salaries have increased 11% for set-up operators in the last 5 years.
There are over 707,303 set-up operators currently employed in the United States.
There are 55,670 active set-up operator job openings in the US.
The average set-up operator salary is $39,269.
Are set-up operator jobs in demand?
Set-up operator job and salary trends over time
Set-up operator jobs over time
Set-up operator job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 707,303 | 0.21% |
| 2020 | 128,007 | 0.04% |
| 2019 | 770,107 | 0.23% |
| 2018 | 106,705 | 0.03% |
| 2017 | 98,112 | 0.03% |
Average set-up operator salary over time
Set-up operator salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $39,269 | $18.88 | +3.4% |
| 2024 | $37,978 | $18.26 | +1.4% |
| 2023 | $37,458 | $18.01 | +2.1% |
| 2022 | $36,673 | $17.63 | +3.6% |
| 2021 | $35,411 | $17.02 | +2.3% |
Set-up operator jobs by state
Most common states for set-up operators
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 1,345 | 20% |
| 2 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 121 | 17% |
| 3 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 213 | 16% |
| 4 | Rhode Island | 1,059,639 | 159 | 15% |
| 5 | Wisconsin | 5,795,483 | 725 | 13% |
| 6 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 706 | 13% |
| 7 | Alaska | 739,795 | 97 | 13% |
| 8 | New Jersey | 9,005,644 | 888 | 10% |
| 9 | Indiana | 6,666,818 | 619 | 9% |
| 10 | Iowa | 3,145,711 | 289 | 9% |
| 11 | Ohio | 11,658,609 | 907 | 8% |
| 12 | Nebraska | 1,920,076 | 138 | 7% |
| 13 | Maine | 1,335,907 | 95 | 7% |
| 14 | North Carolina | 10,273,419 | 610 | 6% |
| 15 | Connecticut | 3,588,184 | 224 | 6% |
| 16 | Hawaii | 1,427,538 | 92 | 6% |
| 17 | South Dakota | 869,666 | 51 | 6% |
| 18 | Vermont | 623,657 | 35 | 6% |
| 19 | Pennsylvania | 12,805,537 | 636 | 5% |
| 20 | Oregon | 4,142,776 | 208 | 5% |
Most common cities for set-up operators
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Orchard Park | 2 | 7% | $47,675 |
| 2 | Macomb | 2 | 3% | $38,673 |
| 3 | Essex | 1 | 3% | $44,833 |
| 4 | Brea | 1 | 2% | $41,362 |
| 5 | Conway | 1 | 2% | $38,258 |
| 6 | Lancaster | 1 | 2% | $47,606 |
| 7 | Rochester | 2 | 1% | $47,435 |
| 8 | Elgin | 1 | 1% | $37,887 |
| 9 | Buffalo | 1 | 0% | $47,617 |
Set-Up Operator job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of set-up operator experts
Precision Machined Products Association
What type of skills will young Set-Up Operators need?
Miles Free: Skills are essential, but most of our precision machining shops hire for attitude. We will help reliable candidates develop the skills that they need. If we look at employers having wants and needs: want - someone that knows their software. Needs - someone that knows how to adjust code; we'll teach them our software. Wants - excellent math skills. Requires the ability to do high school algebra, geometry, and trig.
Needs - people that can communicate an issue verbally and in writing.
That's where we see it. Critical thinking, ability to understand problems and their potential causes, ability to work well with others, without this, even a super-competent technically skilled person will probably find themselves changing jobs many times.