Fitter and Turner

A Fitter and Turner works with detailed drawings to fabricate components that are needed for different machinery. Part of their work involves repairing and maintaining the machines. 

They work with a lot of metal and precision is extremely key, together with attention to detail.

A National Diploma, Diploma or Higher Certificate are all acceptable qualifications. However, some companies do accept a grade 9 high school certificate but most generally require one of the three mentioned qualifications. Experience is also required in this career.

Work hours are generally 40 hours a week but overtime is a common occurrence. Work hours can extend into the late night and include the weekend depending on the level of emergency.

If you’re interested in this career path, then it’s important that you know that the salary package ranges between R72 000 and R420 000, with an average salary of R247 634. Experience and level of skills are what contribute to boosting the salary package.

Here are a few things you can expect from a career as a Fitter and Turner:

• Long hours are a constant occurrence and in some cases working over public holidays is possible
• Standing for long hours during work hours happens regularly, the career is physically tiring
• Work environments are usually noisy, dirty and crowded, making it an even more dangerous environment. Safety is very important and needs to be practiced constantly