What is a machinist-set-up and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
2 min read
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There is more than meets the eye when it comes to being a machinist-set-up. For example, did you know that they make an average of $20.46 an hour? That's $42,559 a year! Between 2018 and 2028, the career is expected to grow 1% and produce 3,900 job opportunities across the U.S.
ScoreMachinist-Set-UpUS Average
Salary
3.3

Avg. Salary $42,559

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability Level
5.8

Growth Rate 1%

Growth Rate 0.3%

Diversity
4.2
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.52%

Asian 6.49%

Black or African American 4.19%

Hispanic or Latino 13.70%

Unknown 3.74%

White 71.36%

Gender

female 5.55%

male 94.45%

Age - 49
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 49
Stress Level
5.8

Stress level is manageable

7.1 - high

Complexity Level
6.3

Complexity Level is intermediate

7 - challenging

Work Life Balance
6.7

Work Life balance is good

6.4 - fair

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Machinist-Set-Up career paths

Key steps to become a machinist-set-up

  1. Explore machinist-set-up education requirements

    Most common machinist-set-up degrees

    High School Diploma

    39.0 %

    Associate

    30.0 %

    Diploma

    12.9 %
  2. Start to develop specific machinist-set-up skills

    Skills
    ascdesc
    Percentages
    ascdesc
    CNC Machines14.69%
    Tolerances8.61%
    Calipers8.58%
    Lathe Machines7.69%
    Grinders7.34%
  3. Complete relevant machinist-set-up training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of 3-6 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New machinist-set ups learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a machinist-set-up based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real machinist-set-up resumes.
  4. Research machinist-set-up duties and responsibilities

    • Manage output according to company quality standards and corresponding ISO certification.
    • Set up and run CNC lathe with dual spindles and live tooling, run parts with Tol.
    • Experience setting up and running Haas mill production.
    • Program, setup and operation of Haas milling machines
  5. Prepare your machinist-set-up resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your machinist-set-up resume.

    You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a machinist-set-up resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

    Choose From 10+ Customizable Machinist-Set-Up Resume templates

    Build a professional Machinist-Set-Up resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your Machinist-Set-Up resume.
    Machinist-Set-Up Resume
    Machinist-Set-Up Resume
    Machinist-Set-Up Resume
    Machinist-Set-Up Resume
    Machinist-Set-Up Resume
    Machinist-Set-Up Resume
    Machinist-Set-Up Resume
    Machinist-Set-Up Resume
    Machinist-Set-Up Resume
  6. Apply for machinist-set-up jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a machinist-set-up job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

How Did You Land Your First Machinist-Set-Up Job

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Average machinist-set-up salary

The average Machinist-Set-Up salary in the United States is $42,559 per year or $20 per hour. Machinist-set-up salaries range between $31,000 and $58,000 per year.

Average Machinist-Set-Up Salary
$42,559 Yearly
$20.46 hourly

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How do machinist-set ups rate their job?

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Machinist-Set-Up reviews

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A zippia user wrote a review on Jun 2020
Pros

Constant Challenge making each day unique and fun. Not hard physical labor but mentally challenging. Constantly evolving skillset in an industry that is always changing and growing.

Cons

Some places are straight production shops and there will be limited opportunities to grow in them. When you make a mistake it can be huge and cost 10s of thousands of dollars to fix so you are often on edge.


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A zippia user wrote a review on May 2019
Cons

Poor communication with the engineering department and faulty equipment.


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A zippia user wrote a review on Feb 2019
Cons

There was nothing I could say I didn't like about the job I had a lot of opportunity l was able to learn a lot and I really enjoyed it and it didn't feel like a job to me at the time


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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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