Metal plate workers, smiths, moulders and related occupations: average salary and pay in the UK
Full-time metal plate workers, smiths, moulders and related occupations in the UK earned a median £37,058 in the year to 5 April 2025, according to the ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE): £1,981 below the all-jobs median of £39,039.
What the figures show
That puts it 170th 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 5,000 employee jobs, 100% full-time.
From £29,634 in 2021, the median is up 25.1%, close to the 25.0% for all jobs.
The Annual Population Survey counts 10,700 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30th percentile | £32,985* | £650.40 | £15.96 | £32,967* | £641.80* | £15.75 |
| 40th percentile | £34,941* | £673.10* | £16.70 | £34,586* | £666.70* | £16.65 |
| Median (50th percentile) | £37,058* | £734.20* | £18.42* | £37,035* | £705.80* | £18.37* |
| 60th percentile | £40,527* | £816.10* | £19.88* | £40,302* | £807.90* | £19.85* |
| Mean | £40,114 | £789.70 | £19.49 | £39,106 | £770.70 | £19.40 |
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 | £29,634 | £536.40* | £13.43 | £28,628 | £527.80* | 11* |
| 2022 revised | £28,807* | £560.10* | £13.99 | £28,807* | £560.10* | – |
| 2023 revised | £31,753* | £612.20 | £15.33 | £31,147* | £587.70 | 7* |
| 2024 revised | £36,687* | £642.00* | £16.27 | £32,206* | £625.50* | 6* |
| 2025 provisional | £37,058* | £734.20* | £18.42* | £37,035* | £705.80* | 5* |
Metal plate workers, smiths, moulders and related occupations by region
UK: 10,700 (± 4,000), April 2025 to March 2026.
Annual Population Survey (Nomis)
What metal plate workers, smiths, moulders and related occupations do
Metal plate workers, smiths, moulders and related occupations mark off, drill, shape, position, rivet and seal metal plates and girders to form structures and frameworks operate power hammers and presses to shape heated metal to requirements and to make and repair a variety of metal articles and make moulds and cores for casting metal and pour or inject molten metal into dies. (ONS SOC 2020, 5212)
Also covers: boiler maker, core Maker (metal trades), die Caster, chain repairer, farrier, moulder and coremaker, pewtersmith, pipe Maker (foundry), steel presser, aluminium moulder, axle setter, axle straightener, bench moulder, boiler erector, boiler plater, boiler repairer, boiler smith and brass moulder (186 titles in the ONS coding index).
- Examines drawings and specifications to determine operational requirements
- Marks out metal plate with guidelines and reference points and cuts metal plate using hand or machine tools
- Uses machine tools to bend, curve, punch, drill and straighten metal plate as required
- Uses hydraulic jacks to position and align metal platework or frame for welding and bolting and rivets together metal plate and girders
- Creates mould units out of sand, loam or plaster by hand or machine and fits cores into mould to form hollow parts in casting
- Seals seams with caulking compound, smooths welds, fixes metal doors, metal collars, portholes, tank and hatch covers and performs other metal plate finishing tasks using a variety of hand and power tools
Entrants typically possess GCSEs/S grades. Training is usually via apprenticeship including practical experience and technical training. NVQs at levels 2 and 3 are available.
Related
Metal forming, welding and related trades (median £35,122) · Sheet metal workers · Welding trades · salary percentile · UK average weekly earnings growth · Median
ASHE Table 14: 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 · coding index · notes · 15 October 2026