CNC Machinist Salary in West Midlands
Official ONS earnings for West Midlands, covering 9,000 jobs.
Median salary — West Midlands
£33,427
gross, per year, all employees
▲ 1.2% change on the previous year
Mean
£34,057
Jobs measured
9,000
What a typical cnc machinist takes home
On the median of £33,427, 2026/27 tax year, England, Wales and Northern Ireland rates, no pension or student loan.
Take-home a month
£2,299
Take-home a year
£27,587
Income Tax
£4,171
National Insurance
£1,669
What most cnc machinists actually earn
Half of cnc machinists in West Midlands earn between £30,358 and £48,056. Earning above £48,056 puts you in the top quarter of the profession.
ONS suppresses the detailed spread for this occupation at regional level, so this range describes the wider “Metal Machining, Fitting and Instrument Making Trades” group in West Midlands.
The full pay range
Each bar is the salary at that percentile — the 25th means a quarter of cnc machinists earn less than this.
How West Midlands ranks for cnc machinist pay
3rd
of 3 GB regions with a published figure
West Midlands is the lowest-paying of the 3 regions ONS measures for this role, £3,663 behind Yorkshire and The Humber on £37,090.
Ranking compares published regional medians for the same occupation. It says nothing about cost of living — a higher median doesn't survive contact with rent. The cost of living calculator is the honest next step.
Where this figure comes from
- ONS occupation group
- Metal machining setters and setter-operators
- SOC 2020 code
- 5221
- Measure
- Gross annual pay, all employees
- Edition
- ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, 2026 provisional
ONS doesn't measure “cnc machinist” as its own category. These figures are for the wider group “Metal machining setters and setter-operators”, which includes this role alongside others. ONS measures metal machining setters and setter-operators.
Source: Office for National Statistics, Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Figures are estimates from a survey of PAYE jobs and are not financial advice.
CNC Machinist salary FAQs
What is the average CNC Machinist salary in West Midlands?
The median is £33,427 a year and the mean is £34,057, according to the ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings. Those cover all employees; ASHE publishes no full-time split at regional level.
How much does a cnc machinist earn per hour?
Across the UK the median hourly rate is £17.48 excluding overtime. ASHE publishes hourly pay by occupation nationally only, so there is no separate rate for West Midlands.
What is a good CNC Machinist salary?
Half of cnc machinists earn between £30,358 and £48,056. Anything above £48,056 is in the top quarter for the role.
What is the starting salary for a cnc machinist?
ASHE does not record experience, so there is no official starting salary. What it does show is that the lowest-paid 10% of cnc machinists earn under £23,744 and the lowest quarter under £30,358 — the range a new entrant is most likely to be offered.
Do cnc machinists in West Midlands earn more than the UK average?
The median in West Midlands is £33,427 against £36,048 across the UK, 7.3% lower, which places it lowest of the 3 GB regions with a precise estimate.
Has cnc machinist pay gone up in the last year?
ASHE puts the year-on-year change in the median at +1.2% for this occupation in West Midlands. That compares the latest survey with the one before it and is not adjusted for inflation.
How many cnc machinists are there in West Midlands?
ASHE counts around 9,000 employee jobs in “Metal machining setters and setter-operators” (SOC 5221) in West Midlands. Self-employed work is not included.
Is this figure official?
Yes. It comes from the ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, an accredited official statistic based on employer PAYE records.
Similar roles
Official figures show the market. Your salary shows what employers actually pay.
Add your salary anonymously