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Skills that raise your rate

• CAM (computer-aided manufacturing) programming

  Mastercam, Fusion or similar. Programmers out-earn operators by a wide margin.

• Multi-axis machining

  Five-axis mills and mill-turn centres are complex and few people run them well.

• Tool and die or mould making

  Related Red Seal trades with higher pay and steadier work.

• Quality inspection

  CMM (coordinate measuring machine) programming and GD&T (geometric dimensioning and tolerancing) lead into quality roles.