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Metal Working Machine Operatives

Metal working machine operatives operate machines to cut, shape, abrade and otherwise machine metal, use hand and power tools to remove surplus metal and rough surfaces from castings, forgings or other metal parts, and clean, smooth and polish metal workpieces.

Daily 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.
  • Smooths 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.

£20,790

Entry Level Salary

£24,610

Average Salary

£38,007.40

Potential Salary

Number of Jobs

157

Past two years

82

This year

612

7 year projection

What are the key skills for this job?

What course level do I need to study?

Required Level

Requirement Percent

Level 0

11%

Level 1

10%

Level 2

34%

Level 3

32%

Level 4-5 (Higher Education)

7%

Level 6 (Bachelors)

5%

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