Precision mechanic
Also called precision process engineer, precision processing engineer, precision operations mechanic
Precision mechanics manufacture precision metal components for machines and assemble them into functional units. They also build electronic measuring and control components. Precision mechanics use milling, drilling, grinding and honing machines.
What you'd do
Toolmakers and related workers · ILO- Reading and interpreting engineering drawings and specifications of tools, dies, prototypes or models
- Preparing templates and sketches, and determining work processes
- Visualizing and computing dimensions, sizes, shapes and tolerances of assemblies, based on specifications
- Positioning, securing and measuring metal stock or castings to lay out for machining
- Setting up, operating and maintaining conventional and computer numerically controlled machine tools to cut, turn, mill, plane, drill, bore, grind or otherwise shape work pieces to prescribed dimensions and finish
- Fitting and assembling parts to make and repair jigs, fixtures and gauges
- Repairing and modifying sports guns and other small arms
- Making, fitting, assembling, repairing and installing lock parts and locks
- Making and repairing metal patterns for preparation of foundry moulds
- Laying out lines and reference points on metal stock to guide other workers who cut, turn, mill, grind or otherwise shape metal
- Verifying dimensions, alignments and clearances of finished parts for conformity with specifications, using precision measuring instruments and testing completed items for proper operation
- Indoors
- A mix of sitting and standing
- Lots of contact with people, mostly with colleagues
- Good freedom to decide
- Usually under 40 hours a week
- Deadlines now and then
- Varied tasks, little repetition
Will there be jobs?
Yes, good prospects12 EU countries are short of toolmakers and related workers now, but fewer jobs than in most work will need filling by 2035.
Solid: measured. Dashed: forecast.
What does it pay?
About averagePay depends a lot on the country: from about €1,200 a month (Bulgaria) to €5,100 (Denmark), before tax.
Pick a country at the top of the page to see typical pay there, for people under 30, and compared with all jobs.
Among craft and related trades workers in the EU, women earn 26% less per hour than men. Craft and related trades workers · Eurostat
What do I need to study?
Upper secondary or vocationalUpper secondary or vocational training in mechanics and metal trades is the usual route.
Pick a country at the top of the page to see where to study and the official course finders.
Will AI change it?
Very littleAI could help with only small parts of the tasks.
Average task score 0.20 on a scale from 0 (AI can't do it) to 1 (AI could do it fully).
See the score for each of the 11 tasks
Based on what AI could technically do when assessed in 2025. It is not a forecast for a future year, and not a forecast of job losses. Scores for toolmakers and related workers. Source: ILO (2025), adapted (credits).