Avoiding sets = major leak

I always seem to lose massive to sets as well as win massive from them. I figure if I can get good at avoiding the former it will make a huge difference. I hear above 10nl people will not pay you off as much for sets so they must be able to avoid them. My question is how?

I'm at 10nl

This is what i think a lot of people dont beat 5NL and 10NL probably also because of, when i started 5NL this is probably the reason i wasnt beating it!
I think once you have a good few hands on the tight people its not too hard to put them on sets, because they dont show resistance to anything and bet too hard compared to what they would with top pair top kicker or two pairs... also preflop you may notice them limping early positions and then flatting a raise just to set mine... It is harder to know if the loose aggressive players have one or not because theyre pretty happy to ship it in with top pair so, i think unless you have lots and lots of hands with them you would maybe struggle to put them on a set... saying that the loose fish tend to be the ones who slow play their monster hands so, when you're betting into them and they just call flop and turn and all of a sudden shove on the river id guess 90 percent of the time they have a made hand and i am happy to fold my top pair top kicker or w.e here. But yeah i havent tried 10NL yet but i guess theres more aware players but im sure set mining is still incredibly profitable.

I suggest you get hand histories on those sets (big winners and big losers) and see how you're playing them. Post them in the Hand Analysis section so that others can weigh in on how the play is.

Are you calling/raising too much preflop to get to see the flop?
If you miss the flop, are you getting too "sticky" and trying to bluff or calling raises in the hopes that the turn will help you?
What is the texture of the board when you miss big? Perhaps you're focused on your made set and not noticing that there are straight/flush hands out there that would have you beat?

Lots to consider so post some hands and we can give you specific suggestions.

debpes has got it