CNC machinist salary in the UK
The median pay for full-time cnc setters and setter-operators, the ONS group that includes a CNC machinist, is £36,342 a year (ONS ASHE 2026, provisional, published 22 October 2026).
Checked 28 October 2026. 23 jobs live now. We never estimate pay.
The figures
Published figures, with sources
| What it measures | Source | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Median gross annual pay for full-time cnc setters and setter-operators was £36,342 in April 2026. Provisional. | ONS, Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings 2026, table 14.7a (SOC) (opens in a new tab) | 22 October 2026 |
What changes pay
What changes a CNC machinist's pay
- Shift patternNights, rotating shifts and on-call usually carry a premium over days-only work, and an advert's headline pay may or may not include it.
- RegionLondon and the South East pay more than the North and the Midlands for most engineering roles. Compare like with like: the same hours and the same region.
- SectorPharmaceuticals, energy and nuclear often pay more than general manufacturing, and the platform or qualification the job needs matters too. The ONS figure is for CNC setters and setter-operators; a programmer or a night-shift setter can earn more or less.
Live jobs
23 jobs: CNC machinist jobs
A job card shows pay only when the advert states it.
CNC Commissioning Engineer, CV Technical, UK, £40,000 to £70,000 a year
CNC Field Service Engineer – Electrical / Controls, Thomas Lee Recruitment, UK, £40,000 to £45,000 a year
- Agency. This advert was placed by a recruitment agency, not by the employer.
CNC Field Service Engineer – Electrical / Controls, Thomas Lee Recruitment Limited, Chorley, £40,000 to £45,000 a year
- Agency. This advert was placed by a recruitment agency, not by the employer.
Maintenance Technician - Machine Shop, Renishaw PLC, UK, Up to £5 a year
- Licensed visa sponsor. This employer is on the Home Office register of licensed sponsors. That does not mean this job is sponsored. Ask the employer.
Field Service Engineer – Electrical/Electronic CNC experience, Candidate Source, UK
Field Service Engineer - CNC Woodcutting, CV Technical, UK
FAQ
Questions people ask
What is the median salary for a CNC machinist in the UK?
The median pay for full-time cnc setters and setter-operators, the ONS group that includes a CNC machinist, is £36,342 a year (ONS ASHE 2026, provisional, published 22 October 2026). The ONS median covers all full-time employees in the occupation group, and the advertised figure covers the adverts ITJobsWatch counted, so the two will not match.
Why do CNC machinist salaries differ so much between jobs?
Pay moves with shift pattern (nights and rotating shifts pay a premium), region (London and the South East pay more than the North and the Midlands for most engineering roles), sector (pharmaceuticals, energy and nuclear often pay more than general manufacturing) and the qualifications and platforms the job needs. The ONS figure is for CNC setters and setter-operators; a programmer or a night-shift setter can earn more or less.
How do I compare a CNC machinist offer with these figures?
Compare like with like: the same hours (the ONS median is for full-time work), base pay without overtime and allowances, and the same region. A job card on EDWartens shows pay only when the advert states it, and we never estimate it.
Can a CNC machinist get a Skilled Worker visa?
5221 cnc setters and setter-operators is a medium-skilled occupation that is not on the Temporary Shortage List, although the Migration Advisory Committee recommended adding it for 18 months (23 July 2026). A medium-skilled job qualifies only if it is on that list or the Immigration Salary List. A sponsor licence is not a promise of sponsorship for this job, and whether a particular job qualifies depends on its duties, its occupation code and its pay, which the employer and the Home Office decide. You should never pay an employer or agent for a job or for sponsorship. This is not immigration advice (rules checked 28 October 2026).
Related