How to become a metal working production and maintenance fitter or technician
Official title: Metal working production and maintenance fitters and technicians
Also called: Fitter, Fitter-up, Car fitter, Gun fitter, Keg fitter, Axle fitter, Beam fitter, Cock fitter, Dock fitter, Duct fitter, Gear fitter, Lift fitter
Metal working production and maintenance fitters and technicians erect, install and repair electrical and mechanical plant and industrial machinery, fit and assemble parts and sub-assemblies in the manufacture of metal products and test and adjust new motor vehicles and engines.
Main tasks
- Examines drawings and specifications to determine appropriate methods and sequence of operations
- Fits and assembles parts and/or metal sub-assemblies to fine tolerances to make marine engines, prototype metal products, agricultural machinery and machine tools
- Fits and assembles, other than to fine tolerances, prepared parts and sub-assemblies to make motor vehicles, printing and agricultural machinery, orthopaedic appliances and other metal goods
- Examines operation of, and makes adjustments to internal combustion engines and motor vehicles
- Erects, installs, repairs and services plant and industrial machinery, including railway stock, textile machines, coin operated machines, locks, sewing machines, bicycles and gas and oil appliances
How to become one
Entrants usually possess GCSEs/S grades or a BTEC/SQA award. Apprenticeships in Engineering Maintenance at NVQ/SVQ level 3 are available.
Ways in
- Apprenticeship (England): Bicycle mechanic (level 2). England. Typically 18 months. Skills England standard ST0622.
- Apprenticeship (England): Construction equipment maintenance mechanic (level 2). England. Typically 24 months. Skills England standard ST0805.
- Apprenticeship (England): Powered pedestrian door installer and service engineer (level 2). England. Typically 24 months. Skills England standard ST0373.
- Apprenticeship (England): Stairlift, platform lift, service lift electromechanic (level 2). England. Typically 24 months. Skills England standard ST0251.
Pay · Outlook
- Median full-time pay: £40,760 a year The middle half earn £31,226 to £52,357.
- About 160,400 people work in this job now, and about 151,400 are projected by 2035. (-5.6%)
Related jobs
- Metal machining setters and setter-operators
- Tool makers, tool fitters and markers-out
- 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 working production and maintenance fitter or technician?
Entrants usually possess GCSEs/S grades or a BTEC/SQA award. Apprenticeships in Engineering Maintenance at NVQ/SVQ level 3 are available.
How much does a metal working production and maintenance fitter or technician earn in the UK?
Median full-time pay is £40,760 a year (Office for National Statistics). The middle half earn £31,226 to £52,357.
Is a metal working production and maintenance fitter or technician a growing career in the UK?
Employment is projected to fall 6% by 2035, from about 160,400 to about 151,400 people (Department for Education).
Do you need a degree to become a metal working production and maintenance fitter or technician?
Usually not. Only 14% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher. Ways in include: Bicycle mechanic (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