SOC 5224 Skilled metal, electrical and electronic trades

Precision instrument makers and repairers Salary

Median salary £37,031 per year (2025). Based on ONS ASHE data.

Gross pay, before deductions. See take-home pay on £37,000 after tax and National Insurance →

For precision instrument makers and repairers, £40,062 is the typical (median) pay. That is around the UK full-time median of £39,039 — +3.0% versus the national average.

About this role

Precision instrument makers and repairers manufacture, adjust and repair delicate instruments and mechanisms including watches, clocks, surgical instruments, scientific equipment and optical devices.

Key responsibilities

Manufacturing precision components to extremely fine tolerances
Repairing and restoring instruments and mechanisms
Using specialist tools, lathes and measuring equipment
Testing and calibrating instruments to specification
Maintaining detailed records of work and calibration

Qualifications and entry routes

Typically requires an apprenticeship in instrument making or specialist training. British Horological Institute qualifications for watchmakers. Calibration engineers may hold measurement and calibration qualifications.

Career outlook

Niche profession with limited but stable demand. Luxury watchmaking, medical device manufacturing and calibration services offer career opportunities.

Key skills

Precision hand skills Fine measurement Patience and concentration Technical knowledge Manual dexterity

Common industries

Scientific instrument manufacturing
Watchmaking and horology
Surgical instrument manufacturing
Calibration services
Heritage restoration

Data coverage

SOC code 5224

Data source ONS ASHE

Years available 2015–2025

Estimated jobs 10,000

Median Salary

£37,031

Mean Salary

£42,784

Jobs (000s)

10k

Data Years

11 years

Salary Range (2025)

P25: £28,733Median: £37,031

P10: --P25: £29kMedian: £37kP75: --P90: --

Estimated Career Progression

Based on salary percentile distribution for this occupation

Entry Level

£28,733

0-2 years

Mid Level

£28,733

3-7 years

Salary Trend (2015-2025)

Adjust for inflation

Nominal growth: +32.2%Real growth: -4.2%

Gender Pay Comparison (2025)

Full-time vs All Employees (2025)

All Employees

£37,031

Full-time Only

£40,062

Full-time premium: +£3,031

Precision instrument makers and repairers salary: common questions

How much do precision instrument makers and repairers earn in the UK?

Precision instrument makers and repairers earn a median of £40,062 a year (ONS ASHE 2025).

Is £40,062 a good salary in the UK?

For precision instrument makers and repairers, £40,062 is the typical (median) pay. That is around the UK full-time median of £39,039 — +3.0% versus the national average.

What is the starting salary for precision instrument makers and repairers?

Entry-level precision instrument makers and repairers typically start near the lower end of the range. The bottom 25% earn up to £28,733, though this varies by employer and region.

Have precision instrument makers and repairers salaries kept up with inflation?

Since 2015, median precision instrument makers and repairers pay has risen from £28,247 to £40,062 — +42% in cash terms, or +3.0% after CPIH inflation. That is ahead of inflation over the period.

Figures: ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, gross annual pay. UK full-time median £39,039 (2025).