How to become a metal machining setter or setter-operator
Official title: Metal machining setters and setter-operators
Also called: Setter, Setter-up, Cnc setter, Die setter, Jig setter, Auto-setter, Auto setter, Roll setter, Tool setter, Metal miller, Cnc operator, Drill setter
Metal machining setters and setter-operators operate machines to drill, bore, grind, cut, mill or otherwise shape metal workpieces.
Main tasks
- 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
How to become one
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.
Ways in
- Apprenticeship (England): Engineering operative (level 2). England. Typically 12 months. Skills England standard ST0537.
Pay · Outlook
- Median full-time pay: £35,718 a year The middle half earn £30,059 to £42,873.
- About 27,400 people work in this job now, and about 25,800 are projected by 2035. (-5.6%)
Related jobs
- Tool makers, tool fitters and markers-out
- Metal working production and maintenance fitters and technicians
- Precision instrument makers and repairers
- Air-conditioning and refrigeration installers and repairers
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Questions people ask
How do I become a metal machining setter or setter-operator?
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.
How much does a metal machining setter or setter-operator earn in the UK?
Median full-time pay is £35,718 a year (Office for National Statistics). The middle half earn £30,059 to £42,873.
Is a metal machining setter or setter-operator a growing career in the UK?
Employment is projected to fall 6% by 2035, from about 27,400 to about 25,800 people (Department for Education).
Do you need a degree to become a metal machining setter or setter-operator?
Usually not. Only 14% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher. Ways in include: Engineering operative (level 2).
Sources
- Office for National Statistics: Annual Population Survey: employment by occupation (April 2025 to March 2026), OGL v3.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Office for National Statistics: SOC 2020 Volume 1: structure and descriptions (2026-08-27 edition), OGL v3.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Department for Education: Skills Imperative 2035: employment projections by occupation (2021 to 2035 (Warwick IER / Cambridge Econometrics)), OGL v3.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Office for National Statistics: Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, Table 14 (2025 provisional), OGL v3.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
Updated 2026-10-03