Air transport operatives: average salary and pay in the UK
Full-time air transport operatives in the UK earned a median £34,700 in the year to 5 April 2025, according to the ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE): £4,339 below the all-jobs median of £39,039.
What the figures show
That puts it 205th of 382, in the middle third of occupations.
A full-time median is published for men only; the sample of women is too small.
ASHE counts roughly 16,000 employee jobs, 81% full-time.
Since 2021 the median has risen 45.6% (from £23,840), faster than the 25.0% for all jobs.
The Annual Population Survey counts 15,600 people in this line of work across the UK.
Pay distribution, 2025 provisional
| Gross pay | Full-time, annual | Full-time, weekly | Full-time, hourly | All, annual | All, weekly | All, hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | £26,837* | £506.90 | £13.20 | £22,954* | £322.90* | £13.13 |
| 20th percentile | £29,411 | £541.90 | £13.94 | £25,254 | £482.10 | £13.56 |
| 25th percentile | £29,587 | £569.20 | £14.24 | £27,851 | £503.90 | £13.95 |
| 30th percentile | £30,571 | £584.20 | £15.07 | £29,119 | £522.80 | £14.32 |
| 40th percentile | £32,317 | £649.60 | £15.59 | £30,436 | £571.90 | £15.33 |
| Median (50th percentile) | £34,700 | £670.70 | £16.27 | £32,376 | £645.40 | £15.79 |
| 60th percentile | £37,385 | £711.40 | £17.83 | £34,748 | £671.80 | £16.88 |
| 70th percentile | £41,222* | £762.00 | £18.86 | £39,066* | £721.40 | £18.13 |
| 75th percentile | – | £778.70* | £19.23* | £41,068* | £746.70* | £18.89* |
| 80th percentile | – | – | – | – | – | £19.37* |
| Mean | £37,726 | £724.00 | £17.85 | £34,904 | £649.90 | £17.47 |
Pay since 2021
| ASHE year | Full-time, annual median | Full-time, weekly median | Full-time, hourly median | All, annual median | All, weekly median | Jobs (thousands, indicative) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 revised | £23,840* | £467.50* | £11.91* | £22,772* | £461.60* | – |
| 2022 revised | £27,135 | £550.90 | £13.60 | £25,399 | £530.20 | 9* |
| 2023 revised | £27,642* | £551.80 | £14.00 | £26,949 | £495.50 | 8* |
| 2024 revised | £32,578 | £603.40 | £15.11 | £30,746 | £536.00 | 13* |
| 2025 provisional | £34,700 | £670.70 | £16.27 | £32,376 | £645.40 | 16* |
Air transport operatives by region
UK: 15,600 (± 4,800), April 2025 to March 2026.
Annual Population Survey (Nomis)
What air transport operatives do
Air transport operatives refuel, load and unload aircraft, direct the movement of aircraft at airports, and positions gangways or staircases to allow passengers to board and disembark aircraft. (ONS SOC 2020, 8233)
Also covers: aircraft dispatcher, baggage handler, cargo handler (airport), controller, airfield, ground staff (airport), ramp agent, refueller (airport), aerodrome attendant, aircraft despatcher, aircraft hand, aircraft handler, aircraft loader, aircraft marshaller, aircraft refueller, airfield controller, airfield operator, airport hand and airport superintendent (42 titles in the ONS coding index).
- Refuels aircraft from mobile tankers
- Directs the ground movement of aircraft at airports
- Responds to emergencies or incidents on the airfield and completes runway inspections
- Loads and unloads conveyor belts to transport luggage between terminal buildings and aircraft, monitors conveyor belts and clears any blockages
- Loads aircraft with luggage, in-flight meals, refreshments and other items
- Operates retractable gangway or positions mobile staircases to enable passengers and crew to board and disembark aircraft
There are no formal academic entry requirements, though employers may require entrants to possess GCSEs/S grades for some posts. Training is provided Off and on-the-job. Vocational qualifications in Aviation Operations on the Ground at level 2 and 3 and apprenticeships are available.
Related
Other drivers and transport operatives (median £59,772) · Marine and waterways transport operatives · Rail transport operatives · salary percentile · UK average weekly earnings growth · Median
ASHE Table 14: 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 · coding index · notes · 15 October 2026