Occupation 5221 · Skilled trades occupations
Metal machining setters and setter-operators operate machines to drill, bore, grind, cut, mill or otherwise shape metal workpieces.
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.
CNC machinist · CNC programmer · Centre lathe turner · Miller (metal trades) · Tool setter · Turner
| Measure | Hours | Basis | Period | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5221 : Metal machining setters and setter-operators | None | None | 2026-03 | 37,100.00 | ONS, Annual Population Survey - employment by occupation (SOC 2020) |
| 5221 : Metal machining setters and setter-operators | None | None | 2026-03 | 38,800.00 | ONS, Annual Population Survey - employment by occupation (SOC 2020) |
| 5221 : Metal machining setters and setter-operators | None | None | 2026-03 | 39,500.00 | ONS, Annual Population Survey - employment by occupation (SOC 2020) |
| 5221 : Metal machining setters and setter-operators | None | None | 2026-03 | 900.00 | ONS, Annual Population Survey - employment by occupation (SOC 2020) |
| 5221 : Metal machining setters and setter-operators | None | None | 2026-03 | 700.00 | ONS, Annual Population Survey - employment by occupation (SOC 2020) |
| 5221 : Metal machining setters and setter-operators | None | None | 2026-03 | 40,400.00 | ONS, Annual Population Survey - employment by occupation (SOC 2020) |
| 5221 : Metal machining setters and setter-operators | None | None | 2026-03 | 1,700.00 | ONS, Annual Population Survey - employment by occupation (SOC 2020) |
ONS does not publish occupational pay below region. Cells the survey could not support are shown as withheld, with its reason — adding a region split to a specific occupation leaves roughly a tenth of cells publishable.
| Region | Measure | Hours | Value | Period |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| East | 5221 : Metal machining setters and setter-operators | None | 3,400.00 | 2026-03 |
| East Midlands | 5221 : Metal machining setters and setter-operators | None | 5,400.00 | 2026-03 |
| London | 5221 : Metal machining setters and setter-operators | None | 1,400.00 | 2026-03 |
| North East | 5221 : Metal machining setters and setter-operators | None | 1,900.00 | 2026-03 |
| North West | 5221 : Metal machining setters and setter-operators | None | 2,700.00 | 2026-03 |
| Northern Ireland | 5221 : Metal machining setters and setter-operators | None | 900.00 | 2026-03 |
| Scotland | 5221 : Metal machining setters and setter-operators | None | 700.00 | 2026-03 |
| South East | 5221 : Metal machining setters and setter-operators | None | 3,200.00 | 2026-03 |
| South West | 5221 : Metal machining setters and setter-operators | None | 4,600.00 | 2026-03 |
| Wales | 5221 : Metal machining setters and setter-operators | None | 1,700.00 | 2026-03 |
| West Midlands | 5221 : Metal machining setters and setter-operators | None | 8,900.00 | 2026-03 |
| Yorkshire and The Humber | 5221 : Metal machining setters and setter-operators | None | 5,500.00 | 2026-03 |
ONS publishes regional pay for this occupation where the survey sample supports it — 12 of 12 cells on this page. The rest are withheld by ONS, and are shown as withheld with the reason, rather than left out.
The Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, published by the Office for National Statistics. Figures are shown exactly as ONS publishes them — we do not adjust, model or fill them in, and every number on this page carries the series and period it came from.
Air-conditioning and refrigeration installers and repairers · Metal working production and maintenance fitters and technicians · Precision instrument makers and repairers · Tool makers, tool fitters and markers-out