How to become a skilled metal, electrical and electronic trades supervisor
Official title: Skilled metal, electrical and electronic trades supervisors
Also called: Craft supervisor, Electrical foreman, Service supervisor, Welding supervisor, Electronics foreman, Electrical supervisor, Mechanical supervisor, Electrical team leader, Engineering supervisor, Maintenance supervisor, Senior chief supervisor, Machine shop supervisor
Skilled metal, electrical and electronic trades supervisors oversee operations and directly supervise and coordinate the activities of workers in skilled metal, electrical and electronic trades.
Main tasks
- Directly supervises and coordinates the activities of skilled metal, electrical and electronic trades workers
- Establishes and monitors work schedules to meet productivity requirements
- Liaises with managers and other departments and contractors to resolve operational problems
- Determines or recommends staffing and other needs to meet productivity requirements
- Reports as required to managerial staff on departmental activities
How to become one
Academic qualifications may not be required, though some GCSEs/S grades or an equivalent qualification may be an advantage. NVQs/SVQs are available at levels 1, 2 and 3. Apprenticeships combining practical work experience and technical training would be required together with significant, relevant work experience.
Pay · Outlook
- Median full-time pay: £45,150 a year The middle half earn £37,945 to £53,837.
- About 46,000 people work in this job now, and about 43,400 are projected by 2035. (-5.6%)
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Questions people ask
How do I become a skilled metal, electrical and electronic trades supervisor?
Academic qualifications may not be required, though some GCSEs/S grades or an equivalent qualification may be an advantage. NVQs/SVQs are available at levels 1, 2 and 3. Apprenticeships combining practical work experience and technical training would be required together with significant, relevant work experience.
How much does a skilled metal, electrical and electronic trades supervisor earn in the UK?
Median full-time pay is £45,150 a year (Office for National Statistics). The middle half earn £37,945 to £53,837.
Is a skilled metal, electrical and electronic trades supervisor a growing career in the UK?
Employment is projected to fall 6% by 2035, from about 46,000 to about 43,400 people (Department for Education).
Do you need a degree to become a skilled metal, electrical and electronic trades supervisor?
Usually not. Only 13% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
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