CNC Machinist
Also advertised as: CNC Machinist, CNC Operator, CNC Programmer, CNC Setter Operator, Machine Operator, Miller
Sets up and operates computer-controlled machines to produce precision components.
What the job involves
CNC machinists turn drawings into precise metal parts. You set tooling, load and edit programmes, check dimensions to microns and keep production running. Aerospace and medical work pays well for people who can hold tight tolerances.
Typical responsibilities
- Set up CNC machines and tooling
- Load, prove and edit machining programmes
- Inspect components against drawings
- Maintain machines and report faults
- Record production and quality data
Common employers
- Aerospace suppliers
- Automotive component makers
- Medical device firms
- Subcontract machine shops
Pay, hours and working environment
Typical pay
£24,000 – £30,000 a year
With experience
£34,000 – £45,000 a year
Typical hours
Shift based, often including nights
Working environment
Machine shop
Remote working
on_site
Demand for this work
high
Pay ranges are indicative guidance drawn from advertised UK vacancies and published careers information. They are not an offer, and actual pay varies by employer, location and experience.
Skills and qualifications
Core skills
- CNC setting
- Engineering drawing interpretation
- Metrology
- G-code basics
- Attention to detail
Transferable skills you may already have
- Machine operating
- Measuring accurately
- Following procedures
Requirements employers ask for
- CNC setting
- Engineering drawing interpretation
- Metrology
- G-code basics
- Attention to detail
- Level 2 or 3 engineering qualification
Useful but not essential
- Machine operating
- Measuring accurately
- Following procedures
- CNC programming courses
- Level 4 Machining Technician
Helpful qualifications
- CNC programming courses
- Level 4 Machining Technician
Ways into this career
A degree is only one route. Where an apprenticeship, work-experience or qualification route exists, it is listed here alongside the academic option.
Apprenticeships and work-based routes
- Machining Technician (Level 3)
- Engineering Operative (Level 2)
Degree and college routes
- Related subject: Mechanical engineering
- Related subject: Manufacturing
Where this career can lead
next
CNC Programmer
next
Manufacturing Engineer
next
Production Supervisor
The good parts and the hard parts
What people enjoy
- Skilled trade with strong shift pay
- Aerospace and medical work is stable
- Clear route to programming
What people find hard
- Noisy environment and shift patterns
- Repetitive production runs
Common questions
- Do you need a degree to become a cnc machinist?
- No. As well as degree routes, this career can be entered through an apprenticeship or by building experience and qualifications on the job. not_required
- How much does a cnc machinist earn in the UK?
- Typical advertised pay runs from £24,000 to £30,000 a year, rising towards £45,000 with experience. Figures are indicative guidance rather than an offer.
- What skills transfer into this career?
- Skills that transfer well include Machine operating, Measuring accurately, Following procedures.
Related careers
Process Engineer
Designs and optimises industrial processes such as chemical, food or pharmaceutical production.
Manufacturing Engineer
Designs and improves the processes used to build products on a production line.
Production Planner
Schedules manufacturing activity so materials, machines and people are ready when needed.
Quality Inspector
Checks parts and products against specifications to catch defects before they reach customers.
Machine Operator
Sets up and runs production machinery to manufacture parts or products.
Toolmaker
Makes and repairs the precision tools, jigs and moulds used in manufacturing.
Where this information comes from
- National Careers Service
- Institute for Apprenticeships
Last reviewed 14 September 2026.
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