Assemblers (vehicles and metal goods): average salary and pay in the UK
Full-time assemblers (vehicles and metal goods) in the UK earned a median £31,919 in the year to 5 April 2025, according to the ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE): 18% less than the £39,039 median for all full-time jobs.
What the figures show
That puts it 244th of 382, in the middle third of occupations.
The middle half of full-time jobs paid between £26,562 and £40,274.
Median full-time pay: women £27,061 a year, men £33,142 a year.
ASHE counts roughly 47,000 employee jobs, 89% full-time.
Since 2021 it has risen 21.6%, from £26,243, slower than the 25.0% for all jobs.
The Annual Population Survey counts 23,600 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 | £23,785 | £481.70 | £12.42 | – | £399.80 | £12.21 |
| 20th percentile | £25,944 | £510.80 | £12.82 | £24,512* | £486.10 | £12.60 |
| 25th percentile | £26,562 | £526.50 | £13.00 | £25,744 | £501.00 | £12.83 |
| 30th percentile | £27,211 | £545.00 | £13.55 | £26,527 | £520.80 | £13.06 |
| 40th percentile | £29,034 | £583.20 | £14.33 | £28,277 | £559.90 | £14.00 |
| Median (50th percentile) | £31,919 | £627.60 | £15.33 | £31,041 | £608.50 | £15.02 |
| 60th percentile | £35,039 | £679.20 | £16.69 | £34,195 | £655.90 | £16.43 |
| 70th percentile | £38,877 | £737.50 | £18.20 | £37,319* | £720.30 | £17.59 |
| 75th percentile | £40,274 | £803.40 | £18.95 | £39,438* | £760.00 | £18.65 |
| 80th percentile | £42,037* | £830.40 | £20.47 | – | £820.40 | £19.92 |
| Mean | £34,352 | £683.30 | £16.69 | £32,854 | £642.10 | £16.53 |
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 | £26,243 | £507.50 | £11.51 | £25,311 | £491.50 | 26 |
| 2022 revised | £28,862* | £562.00 | £13.45 | £28,401* | £551.20 | 46 |
| 2023 revised | £33,165 | £681.10 | £16.31 | £31,711 | £651.60 | 41 |
| 2024 revised | £32,899 | £628.50 | £15.34 | £31,944 | £622.10 | 31 |
| 2025 provisional | £31,919 | £627.60 | £15.33 | £31,041 | £608.50 | 47 |
Assemblers (vehicles and metal goods) by region
UK: 23,600 (± 6,000), April 2025 to March 2026.
Annual Population Survey (Nomis)
What assemblers (vehicles and metal goods) do
Assemblers (vehicles and metal goods) undertake the routine assembly of vehicles and other metal goods or components such as frames, axles, wire brushes and wheels. (ONS SOC 2020, 8142)
Also covers: assembler (metal trades), car worker, lineworker (vehicle mfr), manufacturing operator (metal trades), process worker (metal trades: assembly), bicycle maker, bobbin capper, body mounter, brake assembler, brake fitter, brass assembler, car assembler, car sealer, cell operator, chair maker, cycle assembler, cycle hand and cycle maker (91 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 and hammering 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
No academic qualifications are required. In some cases candidates must take aptitude and dexterity tests. Normal colour vision is required for some jobs. Training varies according to the complexity of the work.
Related
Assemblers and routine operatives (median £29,992) · Assemblers (electrical and electronic products) · Routine inspectors and testers · salary percentile · UK average weekly earnings growth · Median
ASHE Table 14: 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 · coding index · notes · 15 October 2026