Engineering craft machinist
Make metal parts for engines, appliances and medical equipment.
About the job
Salary
Source: National Careers Service
Weekly
£365
Entry level
£635
Experienced
Monthly
£1,583
Entry level
£2,750
Experienced
Yearly
£19,000
Entry level
£33,000
Experienced
16,700
people are currently employed
Low growth
600 fewer jobs in 5 years
These figures refer to this job and similar ones with comparable skills and qualifications. They only apply to Scotland. Source: Oxford Economics
What it's like
You would make metal parts and components for engines, appliances and medical equipment.
You’d follow engineering drawings and instructions. You’d use tools like grinders, millers, cutters, lathes, drills and presses to make the parts.
You would:
Choose and fit the correct machine tool for the job
Plan the different stages of the job following engineering instructions
Set the tolerance levels on the machine
Work out the cutting speeds
Place a pre-formed 'blank' part in the machine
Check the progress of the job
Check the quality of finished items
You’d use your maths skills to work out the cutting speeds taking into account the different strengths and properties of metals. Your work would need to be very accurate.
Increasingly, you are likely to use computer-numerically-controlled (CNC) machines for jobs. This involves programming instructions into a panel to control the cutting process.
Hours
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Top skills
Skills are things you're good at. Whether you know what yours are or not, everyone has them!
It's useful to learn which ones are important in a job so you know the areas you need to brush up on. It can also help you work out if you're suited to a career.
Here are some of the skills you'll need to do this job:
- reliable
- taking initiative
- managing resources
- concentrating
- attention to detail
- observation
- working with numbers
- working with technology
Your skills are important
Our unique skillsets are what make us stand out from the crowd. Learn about each skill in depth and discover what employers look for in your applications and interviews.
Getting in
Explore the sections shown for more information about getting into this career.
You might have qualifications which are not shown here but will allow you access to a course. You can compare your qualifications by looking at their SCQF Level. For more information about this, check out the SCQF website.
Always contact the college, university or training provider to check exactly what you'll need.
Colleges and universities will list subjects you'll need for entry to a course. Some useful subjects include:
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Design and Manufacture
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Engineering Science
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Practical Craft Skills
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Practical Electronics
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Practical Metalwork
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Skills for Work: Engineering Skills
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Skills for Work: Practical Experiences: Construction and Engineering
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Foundation Apprenticeship: Automotive
You can get a head start in this career by doing a Foundation Apprenticeship in S5 and S6.
You'll get an SCQF level 6 qualification which is the same level as a Higher. You'll also learn new skills and gain valuable experience in a work environment.
Discover what's on offer at your school on Apprenticeships.scot.
You would do a Modern Apprenticeship in Engineering, Engineering and Manufacturing or Preforming Engineering Operations (SCQF level 5/6).
Employers usually ask for National 4 or 5 qualifications. You usually need to pass an aptitude test to enter this apprenticeship.
Qualifications that show understanding and experience of the industry such as Skills for Work Engineering Skills (SCQF level 4).
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