Metal machining setters and setter-operators: average salary and pay in the UK
Full-time metal machining setters and setter-operators in the UK earned a median £35,718 in the year to 5 April 2025, according to the ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE): £3,321 below the all-jobs median of £39,039.
What the figures show
That puts it 189th of 382, in the middle third of occupations.
The middle half of full-time jobs paid between £30,059 and £42,873.
Median full-time pay: women £31,709 a year, men £35,757 a year.
Paid hours are long: a full-time median of 40 a week including overtime, against 37.5 across all jobs.
ASHE counts roughly 51,000 employee jobs, 96% full-time.
From £28,597 in 2021, the median is up 24.9%, close to the 25.0% for all jobs.
The Annual Population Survey counts 40,400 people in this line of work across the UK.
Pay distribution, 2025 provisional
| Gross pay | Full-time, annual | Full-time, weekly | Full-time, hourly | All, annual | All, weekly | All, hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | £25,677 | £525.30 | £13.24 | £24,393 | £499.00 | £13.00 |
| 20th percentile | £28,625 | £566.00 | £14.53 | £28,324 | £552.30 | £14.51 |
| 25th percentile | £30,059 | £600.00 | £15.06 | £29,047 | £589.60 | £15.00 |
| 30th percentile | £30,811 | £618.70 | £15.62 | £30,429 | £606.10 | £15.58 |
| 40th percentile | £33,280 | £659.90 | £16.52 | £32,780 | £645.40 | £16.52 |
| Median (50th percentile) | £35,718 | £706.80 | £17.69 | £35,394 | £700.70 | £17.63 |
| 60th percentile | £38,257 | £770.10 | £18.36 | £37,832 | £763.30 | £18.28 |
| 70th percentile | £41,193 | £818.80 | £19.63 | £40,935 | £815.00 | £19.59 |
| 75th percentile | £42,873 | £855.00 | £20.13 | £42,591 | £848.20 | £20.12 |
| 80th percentile | £45,146 | £921.60 | £21.10 | £44,654 | £904.20 | £21.10 |
| Mean | £37,162 | £753.30 | £18.18 | £36,478 | £737.40 | £18.16 |
Pay since 2021
| ASHE year | Full-time, annual median | Full-time, weekly median | Full-time, hourly median | All, annual median | All, weekly median | Jobs (thousands, indicative) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 revised | £28,597 | £564.30 | £13.81 | £27,907 | £559.90 | 62 |
| 2022 revised | £30,316 | £590.90 | £14.48 | £29,994 | £582.00 | 55 |
| 2023 revised | £32,656 | £631.50 | £15.41 | £32,115 | £617.80 | 55 |
| 2024 revised | £34,601 | £672.30 | £16.65 | £34,302 | £663.30 | 56 |
| 2025 provisional | £35,718 | £706.80 | £17.69 | £35,394 | £700.70 | 51 |
Metal machining setters and setter-operators by region
UK: 40,400 (± 7,800), April 2025 to March 2026.
Annual Population Survey (Nomis)
What metal machining setters and setter-operators do
Metal machining setters and setter-operators operate machines to drill, bore, grind, cut, mill or otherwise shape metal workpieces. (ONS SOC 2020, 5221)
Also covers: CNC machinist, CNC programmer, centre lathe turner, miller (metal trades), tool setter, turner, air driller, auto setter, automatic setter, axle grinder, axle turner, barrel driller, bayonet miller, bolster grinder, broaching miller, bush maker, cam-bowl grinder and camshaft grinder (240 titles in the ONS coding index).
- Examines drawings and specifications to determine appropriate method, sequence of operations and machine setting
- Selects and fixes work-holding devices and appropriate cutting, shaping, grinding and/or forming tools
- Sets machine controls for rotation speeds, depth of cut and stroke, and adjusts machine table, stops and guides
- Operates automatic or manual controls to feed tool to workpiece or vice versa and checks accuracy of machining
- Repositions workpiece, changes tools and resets machine as necessary during production run
- Instructs operators on the safe and correct method of operation of the machine
There are no formal academic requirements although some employers may require GCSEs/S grades. Engineering apprenticeships, BTEC and City and Guilds qualifications are available together with on-the-job training. NVQs/ SVQs at level 2 and 3 are available.
Related
Metal machining, fitting and instrument making trades (median £39,947) · Tool makers, tool fitters and markers-out · Metal working production and maintenance fitters and technicians · salary percentile · Average weekly hours worked in the UK · Median
ASHE Table 14: 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 · coding index · notes · 15 October 2026