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Plant and Machine Operatives

Job holders in this unit group operate a variety of plant and machinery.

Wages

New workers
AVERAGE
Experienced
£17,100
£24,900
£38,166

New workers start around £17,100. Normal pay is £24,900 per year.
Highly experienced workers can earn up to £38,166.

Available jobs

In the past year there were 27,079 vacancies for this type of job

2.86%

Projected job growth over the next 8 years

Related courses

People work towards these careers by taking these courses at college and uni.

What they do most days?

  • Inspects machines and equipment, and reports any faults.

  • Ensures that rollers in rope haulage system are well greased and running freely.

  • Fills grease gun with grease of appropriate grade, and applies grease or oil to grease points or lubrication holes in machinery or equipment and over bearings, axles and other similar parts.

  • Operates machines in the manufacture of nuts, bolts, nails, screws, pins, rivets, etc..

  • Bends, coils, crimps and spins metal wires in the manufacture of cables, springs, ropes and other wire goods.

  • Operates acetylene torches and other cutting equipment to dismantle boilers, cars, ships, railway track, engines, machinery and other scrap metal.

Hard Skills

Hard skills are specific, learnable, measurable, often industry or occupation-specific abilities related to a position.

Skills are ranked based on the number of job adverts that list them as required skills.

  • Machinery

  • Machining

  • Engineering Drawings

  • Computer Numerical Control (CNC)

  • Lathes

  • Milling

  • Tooling

  • CNC Machining

  • Housekeeping

  • Technical Drawing

Soft Skills

Soft skills can be self-taught and usually do not necessitate a certain completed level of education.

Skills are ranked based on the number of job adverts that list them as required skills.

  • Communication

  • Detail Oriented

  • Operations

  • Problem Solving

  • Management

  • Self-Motivation

  • Teamwork

  • Troubleshooting (Problem Solving)

  • English Language

  • Customer Service

How do I get a job like this?

People in these types of job started their career paths after studying courses like the ones below.