Set up worker vs heading machine operator

The differences between set up workers and heading machine operators can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a heading machine operator has an average salary of $38,675, which is higher than the $31,173 average annual salary of a set up worker.

The top three skills for a set up worker include meeting rooms, audio equipment and hand tools. The most important skills for a heading machine operator are hand tools, production run, and CNC.

Set up worker vs heading machine operator overview

	Set Up Worker	Heading Machine Operator
Yearly salary	$31,173	$38,675
Hourly rate	$14.99	$18.59
Growth rate	14%	7%
Number of jobs	21,220	59,193
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 38%	High School Diploma, 45%
Average age	45	44
Years of experience	-	-

Set up worker vs heading machine operator salary

Set up workers and heading machine operators have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Set Up Worker	Heading Machine Operator
Average salary	$31,173	$38,675
Salary range	Between $22,000 And $43,000	Between $12,000 And $121,000
Highest paying City	-	-
Highest paying state	-	-
Best paying company	-	-
Best paying industry	-	-

Differences between set up worker and heading machine operator education

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

	Set Up Worker	Heading Machine Operator
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 38%	High School Diploma, 45%
Most common major	Business	Business
Most common college	-	-

Set up worker vs heading machine operator demographics

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

	Set Up Worker	Heading Machine Operator
Average age	45	44
Gender ratio	Male, 84.4% Female, 15.6%	Male, 78.4% Female, 21.6%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 9.2% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 20.4% Asian, 7.3% White, 58.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9%	Black or African American, 11.7% Unknown, 3.4% Hispanic or Latino, 15.3% Asian, 7.5% White, 60.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.2%
LGBT Percentage	3%	5%

Differences between set up worker and heading machine operator duties and responsibilities

Set up worker example responsibilities.

Utilize distinctive tools, gauges and calipers to collect and input specification and quality data accurately.
Clean and sanitize processing equipment in preparation for USDA inspections.

Heading machine operator example responsibilities.

Use automate systems and RF units to pull, put away and load customer product, in addition to managing inventory
Set up, run and programe CNC machining centers using set up sheets.
Control & troubleshoot automate extrusion line adjusting speed & feed, monitoring temperature, & finish material specification per customers order.
Control & troubleshoot automate extrusion line adjusting speed & feed, monitoring temperature, & finish material specification per customers order.

Set up worker vs heading machine operator skills

Common set up worker skills

Meeting Rooms, 56%
Audio Equipment, 31%
Hand Tools, 7%
Report Deviations, 6%

Common heading machine operator skills

Hand Tools, 31%
Production RUN, 23%
CNC, 20%
Calipers, 14%
RAN, 3%
Embroidery, 2%

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Set Up Worker vs Heading Machine Operator

Updated January 8, 2025

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