Metal machining setters and setter-operators salary in London
Full-time average annual pay in London
£33,123
2025 · moderate suppression
Median
£33,123
Mean
£37,028
| Statistic | Annual pay (gross) |
|---|---|
| Median | £33,123 |
| Mean | £37,028 |
Region-level range withheld by ONS — UK-wide, the middle half of metal machining setters and setter-operators earn £29,047–£42,591. See full methodology →
Skilled Worker visa minimum
£34,600
Understanding Metal machining setters and setter-operators pay in London
The typical metal machining setters and setter-operators in London earns a median salary of £33,123 in 2025/26 — 6.4% (£2,271) below the UK-wide median of £35,394. These figures come from the ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE), so they reflect actual reported pay rather than self-reported estimates or job-advert ranges.
Across the UK, London ranks 8th of 11 regions for metal machining setters and setter-operators pay. Regional medians run from £28,496 in Wales up to £36,938 in South West, a spread of £8,442 (30%).
The mean (average) salary is higher, at £37,028. When the mean sits above the median like this, a smaller group of high earners pulls the average up, which is why the median is the better guide to what a typical metal machining setters and setter-operators in London actually earns.
To see what £33,123 means after income tax and National Insurance, use the take-home pay calculator below — it also factors in student loan repayments.
Take-home pay estimate
Tax year 2025/26| Monthly | Annual | |
|---|---|---|
| Gross salary | £2,760 | £33,123 |
| Income tax | £343 | £4,111 |
| National Insurance | £137 | £1,644 |
| Take-home pay | £2,281 | £27,368 |
Estimate only · 2025/26 HMRC rates · Standard tax code · No pension contribution · Not financial or tax advice
How Metal machining setters and setter-operators pay varies by region
South West is the highest-paying region for metal machining setters and setter-operators at £36,938 — 4% above the UK median. Wales is lowest at £28,496.
UK median £35,394
| Region | Median payUK median £35,394 | Median | Mean | vs UK median |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| South West | £36,938 | £36,938 | £36,456 | +4% |
| South East | £36,504 | £36,504 | £39,346 | +3% |
| Yorkshire and the Humber | £36,476 | £36,476 | £37,453 | +3% |
| Scotland | £36,394 | £36,394 | £40,156 | +3% |
| East of England | £35,836 | £35,836 | £36,228 | +1% |
| East Midlands | £35,387 | £35,387 | £37,028 | ±0% |
| North East | £33,847 | £33,847 | £37,158 | -4% |
| London (current region) | £33,123 | £33,123 | £37,028 | -6% |
| West Midlands | £33,025 | £33,025 | £33,158 | -7% |
| North West | £32,985 | £32,985 | £36,212 | -7% |
| Wales | £28,496 | £28,496 | £30,724 | -19% |
| Region | Median | vs UK |
|---|---|---|
| South West £36,938 | £36,938Mean £36,456 | +4% |
| South East £36,504 | £36,504Mean £39,346 | +3% |
| Yorkshire and the Humber £36,476 | £36,476Mean £37,453 | +3% |
| Scotland £36,394 | £36,394Mean £40,156 | +3% |
| East of England £35,836 | £35,836Mean £36,228 | +1% |
| East Midlands £35,387 | £35,387Mean £37,028 | ±0% |
| North East £33,847 | £33,847Mean £37,158 | -4% |
| London (current region) £33,123 | £33,123Mean £37,028 | -6% |
| West Midlands £33,025 | £33,025Mean £33,158 | -7% |
| North West £32,985 | £32,985Mean £36,212 | -7% |
| Wales £28,496 | £28,496Mean £30,724 | -19% |
Sorted highest median to lowest. The vertical line marks the UK median (£35,394); ‘Vs UK median’ compares each region’s median to it. Suppressed values mean ONS withheld this figure because the sample was too small to publish.
How metal machining setters and setter-operators pay in London has changed over time
Median annual pay for metal machining setters and setter-operators in London by year, shown against the UK-wide median (Source: ONS ASHE). The shaded band is the UK-wide 25th–75th percentile range — ONS does not publish percentile ranges at region level.
London median
UK median
▪ UK-wide 25th–75th percentile range
Pre-2021 figures mapped from SOC 2010 via ONS concordance table
How the figures are sourced
Data sources: Official UK earnings data (2025 provisional)(opens in new tab)
Related roles in Metal Machining, Fitting and Instrument Making Trades
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