Metal working machine operative
Tasks
- Selects and secures polishing head to machine tool, prepares head with emery, grease or other substance, sets speed and angle of polishing head, and operates controls to feed polishing head to workpiece or vice versa.
- Smoothes rough surfaces with hand tools, abrasive belts and wheels, compressed air, jets of vapour, or blasting with shot, grit, sand or other abrasive material.
- Operates burning, chipping and grinding equipment to remove defects from metal parts, and files, chisels, burns and saws off surplus metal.
- Withdraws workpiece and examines accuracy using measuring instruments.
- Sets controls, starts machine and operates controls to feed tool to workpiece or vice versa and repositions workpiece during machining as required.
- Secures workpiece in drilling, boring, milling, planing, grinding, lapping, honing, electrochemical, or other shaping machines, or loads metal stock on to press.
Typical Education Level
Level 2 NVQ; GCSE at grades A*-C
Will retirement created job openings
In the UK, 21% in this profession are aged 55 or above.* They will likely retire in the next 10 years, creating a demand for new workers
*This is based on national data
£16,068 Average wage
Average annual earnings
The current average wage for metal working machine operative is £16,068
1,419 positions
Current Employment
The number of jobs in the career for the current year is 1,419. Job counts include both employed and self-employed persons, and do not distinguish between full- and part-time jobs.
jobs
Job Postings
Over the past year, jobs have been posted for metal working machine operative roles.
How well does it pay?
Normal pay for this occupation is £16,068 per year. That is about £1,339 per month or £8.24 per hour. New workers generally start on £16,716, while highly experienced workers can earn as much as £38,762
Is it growing or declining?
This career has remained the same over the last 2 years, and is expected to remain the same over the next 4 years. Currently, 1,419 people are employed in the region.
