Vocational.uk The route, drawn out

Engineering & Manufacturing

Engineering Fitter

Assemble, install and adjust mechanical assemblies and machinery so they run right.

Strong demand Level 3 apprenticeship
Typical pay once qualified
£32,000 – £48,000
Training length
3 years
Apprenticeship standard
Engineering fitter
Where to train
345 providers listed

The route, drawn out

DWG 60CA · 5 stops · 3 years to qualify
  1. Day one Start as an apprentice from £15.6k
  2. Year 2 Training continues, pay rises min. £21.2k+
  3. 3 years Fully qualified around £32k
  4. +3–5 years Experienced up to £48k
  5. Then Level 3 advanced fitting and maintenance… next step

The first figures are legal minimums: the apprentice rate (£8.00/hr) and the National Minimum Wage for 18–20s and 21+ from April 2026, on a 37.5-hour week. Qualified and experienced pay are indicative UK ranges — most employers pay apprentices above the minimum.

What the job is

Fitters build and set up machinery: aligning shafts, fitting bearings, assembling gearboxes, pipework and hydraulics, then testing and adjusting until the tolerances are right.

It is a versatile trade found in manufacturing, energy, water, food production and defence. Fitters who can also weld and read hydraulic and pneumatic schematics become extremely employable, and the work moves easily into maintenance and commissioning.

A typical day

  • Read engineering drawings and assembly instructions
  • Mark out, drill, tap, file and fit components to tolerance
  • Assemble mechanical systems including bearings, seals and drives
  • Install hydraulic and pneumatic systems and test them
  • Commission, adjust and hand over working equipment

How you get in

  • GCSE grade 3-4 (D-C) in maths and English is typical, or Functional Skills
  • Practical mechanical aptitude
  • Methodical approach and good hand skills
  • Aptitude test common for larger employers

Where it leads

  • Level 3 advanced fitting and maintenance qualifications
  • Commissioning engineer or field service engineer
  • Maintenance supervisor or team leader
  • HNC/HND in mechanical engineering

Where to train for this

345 colleges and training providers on our list cover Engineering Fitter training. Open your region to see them, then check current intakes with the provider directly.

East Midlands 17
East of England 19
London 19
North East 18
North West 33
South East 31
South West 26
UK-wide 72
West Midlands 26
Yorkshire and the Humber 23
East Scotland 6
North Scotland 7
West Scotland 9
North Wales 3
South Wales 13
West Wales 2
Northern Ireland 18
Channel Islands 2
Isle of Man 1

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