Assemblers and routine operatives n.e.c.: average salary and pay in the UK
Full-time assemblers and routine operatives n.e.c. in the UK earned a median £27,962 in the year to 5 April 2025, according to the ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE): 28% less than the £39,039 median for all full-time jobs.
What the figures show
It is in the lowest-paid third of the 382 occupations (64th from the bottom).
The middle half of full-time jobs paid between £24,828 and £33,242.
Median full-time pay: women £26,073 a year, men £28,878 a year.
ASHE counts roughly 54,000 employee jobs, 89% full-time.
From £22,372 in 2021, the median is up 25.0%, close to the 25.0% for all jobs.
The Annual Population Survey counts 26,300 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 | £22,746 | £469.10 | £12.38 | £18,229 | £405.40 | £12.30 |
| 20th percentile | £24,209 | £494.20 | £12.84 | £22,981 | £480.10 | £12.78 |
| 25th percentile | £24,828 | £505.90 | £13.08 | £23,828 | £488.90 | £13.02 |
| 30th percentile | £25,319 | £518.00 | £13.29 | £24,513 | £499.70 | £13.20 |
| 40th percentile | £26,465 | £543.10 | £13.88 | £25,683 | £530.10 | £13.80 |
| Median (50th percentile) | £27,962 | £574.90 | £14.42 | £26,975 | £559.30 | £14.32 |
| 60th percentile | £29,997 | £619.40 | £15.27 | £29,166 | £599.20 | £15.16 |
| 70th percentile | £32,278 | £658.00 | £16.07 | £31,286 | £643.60 | £15.97 |
| 75th percentile | £33,242 | £668.90 | £16.69 | £32,786 | £664.90 | £16.63 |
| 80th percentile | £35,121 | £697.70 | £17.34 | £34,255 | £681.20 | £17.35 |
| Mean | £29,684 | £608.40 | £15.33 | £28,031 | £575.60 | £15.31 |
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 | £22,372 | £440.00 | £10.95 | £21,806 | £424.10 | 84 |
| 2022 revised | £24,647 | £497.20 | £12.19 | £24,302 | £478.40 | 102 |
| 2023 revised | £25,364 | £512.10 | £12.92 | £24,854 | £497.50 | 63 |
| 2024 revised | £26,626 | £539.90 | £13.56 | £25,796 | £525.40 | 59 |
| 2025 provisional | £27,962 | £574.90 | £14.42 | £26,975 | £559.30 | 54 |
Assemblers and routine operatives n.e.c. by region
UK: 26,300 (± 6,300), April 2025 to March 2026.
Annual Population Survey (Nomis)
What assemblers and routine operatives n.e.c. do
Job holders in this unit group perform assembly and routine operative tasks not elsewhere classified in minor group 814: Assemblers and routine operatives. (ONS SOC 2020, 8149)
Also covers: assembler, gluer (furniture mfr), paint line operator, production assistant, riveter (soft toy mfr), aircraft assembler, ammeter assembler, art decorator, bag framer, bag machinist, bag tackler, bale marker, basket liner, bead stringer, belt maker, bench assembler, bench hand and bi-focal assembler (339 titles in the ONS coding index).
- Follows instructions and drawings and positions components on work bench or in assembly machine
- Assembles prepared components in sequence by soldering, bolting, fastening, spot-welding, screwing, nailing, stapling, dipping and fastening using power and hand tools or assembly machine
- Rejects faulty assembly components, inspects finished article for faults, monitors assembly machine operation and reports any faults
- Applies enamel to jewellery and coats, lacquers, dips and touches up articles (other than ceramic)
- Sets up and operates machines to apply colour to wallpaper and to coat articles (other than ceramic) with paint, cellulose or other protective/ decorative material
- Performs miscellaneous painting and coating tasks not elsewhere classified including, staining articles, applying transfers, operating French polishing machines, removing surplus enamel from components and marking design outlines on articles
There are no formal academic entry requirements, though some employers may require GCSEs/S grades. Some employers may set dexterity and aptitude tests for entrants. Normal colour vision may be required for some posts. NVQs/SVQs at levels 1, 2 and 3 are available in a variety of areas.
Related
Assemblers and routine operatives (median £29,992) · Sewing machinists · Tyre, exhaust and windscreen fitters · salary percentile · UK average weekly earnings growth · Median
ASHE Table 14: 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 · coding index · notes · 15 October 2026