Metal Working Machine Tool Setters and Operators: Jobs in Demand in Europe (2025)

Pay in the UK for this job

UK occupation used: Metal machining setters and setter-operators (SOC 2020 code 5221). Placeivo matched this to ISCO-08 7223 by job title and duties; the UK and international occupation lists do not line up exactly. National figure for the whole United Kingdom, in pounds sterling (GBP), before income tax and National Insurance.

Source: Office for National Statistics, Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE) 2025 provisional, Table 14 (occupation by 4-digit SOC 2020): tables 14.7a (annual pay, gross) and 14.1a (weekly pay, gross), full-time employee jobs, United Kingdom. Weekly pay is for April 2025; annual pay is for the tax year ending 5 April 2025, employees in the same job for at least a year. Retrieved 2026-10-13.

See the ONS earnings tables by occupation

UK Skilled Worker visa for this job

This occupation (UK code 5221, Metal machining setters and setter-operators) is a medium-skilled job. GOV.UK says a new visa for a medium-skilled job is usually possible only if the job is on the Immigration Salary List or the Temporary Shortage List, with their own conditions; some people extending a visa they already hold have different rules. Check both lists before applying. GOV.UK says the lower going rate applies if you apply for a Health and Care Worker visa in certain occupations, or got the certificate of sponsorship for your first Skilled Worker visa before 4 April 2024 and have held one ever since. Going rates are for a 37.5-hour week and are pro-rated for other hours. Placeivo matched this UK code to ISCO-08 7223 by job title; the lists do not line up exactly.

This is a summary of official rules, not legal advice. Rules change and some people (for example those already on a Skilled Worker visa) have different rules. Always check GOV.UK before you apply.

Source: UK Visas and Immigration, GOV.UK tables "Skilled Worker visa: eligible occupations and codes" and "Skilled Worker visa: going rates for eligible occupation codes", updated 2025-07-22, retrieved 2026-10-15. General minimum salary from GOV.UK "Skilled Worker visa: Your job", checked 2026-10-15.

Compare UK visa going rates by job · Eligible occupations (GOV.UK) · Going rates (GOV.UK) · Salary rules (GOV.UK)

Latest metal working machine tool setters and operators job ads

Real vacancies from the official public employment services, updated daily. Job titles are translated into English automatically; the full ad opens on the official site in German or Swedish (your browser's translate button turns it into English).

• CNC machinist
  German title: Zerspanungsmechaniker
  GeAT mbH Aschersleben · Halle (Saale) · Posted 2026-10-18
• CNC machinist
  German title: Zerspanungsmechaniker
  TH. WITT Kältemaschinenfabrik GmbH · Aachen · Posted 2026-10-18
• CNC machinist
  German title: Zerspanungsmechaniker
  AAQUILA Personalservice GmbH · Perlesreut · Posted 2026-10-18
• CNC machinist
  German title: Zerspanungsmechaniker
  AUREA GmbH · Leverkusen · Posted 2026-10-17
• CNC machinist
  German title: Zerspanungsmechaniker
  I.K. Hofmann GmbH Niederlassung Erlangen · Erlangen · Posted 2026-10-17
• CNC machinist
  German title: Zerspanungsmechaniker
  ZAG Zeitarbeits-Gesellschaft GmbH Plettenberg · Finnentrop · Posted 2026-10-16

Source: Bundesagentur für Arbeit (German Federal Employment Agency). Ads are written by employers; Placeivo does not check them. See all ads in Germany

• Experienced press brake!
  Swedish title: Erfaren kantpressare!
  NearYou Sverige AB · Mullsjö · Posted 2026-10-18
• Machine operator to technically advanced production
  Swedish title: Maskinoperatör till tekniskt avancerad produktion
  NearYou Sverige AB · Nässjö · Posted 2026-10-18
• Machine operator
  Swedish title: Maskinoperatör!
  NearYou Sverige AB · Vetlanda · Posted 2026-10-18
• CNC operator to customer in Varberg!
  Swedish title: CNC-operatör till kund i Varberg!
  NearYou Sverige AB · Varberg · Posted 2026-10-16
• Press brake wanted - work Monday to Thursday!
  Swedish title: Kantpressare sökes - jobba måndag till torsdag!
  WRKFRC Bemanning & Rekrytering AB · Göteborg · Posted 2026-10-16
• Workshop Manager
  Swedish title: Verkstadsansvarig
  XXL Sport & Vildmark AB · Trollhättan · Posted 2026-10-16

Source: Arbetsförmedlingen (Swedish Public Employment Service). Ads are written by employers; Placeivo does not check them. See all ads in Sweden

Where metal working machine tool setters and operators are needed in Europe

Pay: Eurostat Structure of Earnings Survey 2022, mean gross monthly earnings of all craft and related trades workers in each country, in euros. This is the average for the whole occupation group, not for metal working machine tool setters and operators alone, and before tax. * Firms with 10 or more employees only. Rent: Eurostat, good-quality 1-bedroom flat in the capital, 2025.

Finding metal working machine tool setters and operators jobs in Europe

• EURES is the official job portal of the EU public employment services. The search above looks for "Machine tool setter".
• Some jobs are regulated professions: before you can work, your qualification may need to be recognised in the new country.
• If you are not an EU/EEA citizen you will usually need a work permit or a visa such as the EU Blue Card. Check the rules of the country's immigration authority.