Plant and machine operatives n.e.c.: average salary and pay in the UK
Full-time plant and machine operatives n.e.c. in the UK earned a median £29,259 in the year to 5 April 2025, according to the ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE): 25% 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 (93rd from the bottom).
Median full-time pay: women £24,627 a year, men £29,598 a year.
Paid hours are long: a full-time median of 41.1 a week including overtime, against 37.5 across all jobs.
ASHE counts roughly 13,000 employee jobs, 92% full-time.
From £23,896 in 2021, the median is up 22.4%, close to the 25.0% for all jobs.
The Annual Population Survey counts 22,500 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 | – | £491.50 | £12.38 | – | – | £12.37 |
| 20th percentile | – | £528.20 | £13.25 | £24,312 | £509.50 | £13.17 |
| 25th percentile | £26,586 | £539.80 | £13.72 | £25,724 | £535.00 | £13.63 |
| 30th percentile | £27,284 | £548.90 | £13.88 | £26,905 | £542.80 | £13.82 |
| 40th percentile | £28,461 | £570.60 | £14.13 | £28,280 | £567.60 | £14.11 |
| Median (50th percentile) | £29,259 | £631.10 | £14.50 | £29,142 | £626.10 | £14.47 |
| 60th percentile | £30,785* | £651.30 | £15.16 | £30,511 | £643.90 | £15.05 |
| 70th percentile | – | £680.30* | £15.43 | – | £676.80 | £15.39 |
| 75th percentile | – | £727.70* | £15.81* | – | £713.80* | £15.80* |
| Mean | £32,322 | £658.30 | £15.47 | £31,145 | £634.20 | £15.44 |
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 | £23,896 | £488.20 | £11.99 | £22,671 | £465.40 | 11* |
| 2022 revised | £24,155 | £508.20 | £12.21 | £23,328 | £493.50 | 13* |
| 2023 revised | £25,282 | £562.10 | £12.95 | £24,815 | £556.20 | 9* |
| 2024 revised | £27,172 | £574.10 | £13.44 | £27,009 | £565.40 | 12* |
| 2025 provisional | £29,259 | £631.10 | £14.50 | £29,142 | £626.10 | 13* |
Plant and machine operatives n.e.c. by region
UK: 22,500 (± 5,800), April 2025 to March 2026.
Annual Population Survey (Nomis)
What plant and machine operatives n.e.c. do
Job holders in this unit group operate a variety of plant and machinery not elsewhere classified in minor group 813: Plant and machine operatives. (ONS SOC 2020, 8139)
Also covers: bench hand (metal trades), cable maker (spring mfr), laser operator, manufacturer (metal goods mfr), saw doctor, accumulator charger, accumulator former, aerial installer, aerial rigger, anvil grinder, armouring assistant, armouring machinist, assistant glazer, assistant grinder, balustrade fitter, bar feeder, bar pointer and barrel setter (504 titles in the ONS coding index).
- Operates acetylene torches and other cutting equipment to dismantle boilers, cars, ships, railway track, engines, machinery and other scrap metal
- Bends, coils, crimps and spins metal wires in the manufacture of cables, springs, ropes and other wire goods
- Operates machines in the manufacture of nuts, bolts, nails, screws, pins, rivets, etc.
- Fills grease gun with grease of appropriate grade, and applies grease or oil to grease points or lubrication holes in machinery or equipment and over bearings, axles and other similar parts
- Ensures that rollers in rope haulage system are well greased and running freely
- Inspects machines and equipment, and reports any faults
There are no formal academic entry requirements. Training is typically provided on-the-job. NVQs/ SVQs are available in some areas.
Related
Plant and machine operatives (median £33,197) · Printing machine assistants · Water and sewerage plant operatives · salary percentile · Average weekly hours worked in the UK · Median
ASHE Table 14: 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 · coding index · notes · 15 October 2026