Plastics process operatives: average salary and pay in the UK
Full-time plastics process operatives in the UK earned a median £32,644 in the year to 5 April 2025, according to the ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE): 16% less than the £39,039 median for all full-time jobs.
What the figures show
That puts it 234th of 382, in the middle third of occupations.
Median full-time pay: women £24,070 a year, men £34,091 a year.
Paid hours are long: a full-time median of 40 a week including overtime, against 37.5 across all jobs.
ASHE counts roughly 13,000 employee jobs, 92% full-time.
Since 2021 the median has risen 46.5% (from £22,277), faster than the 25.0% for all jobs.
The Annual Population Survey counts 18,200 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 | – | – | – | – | £409.20* | – |
| 20th percentile | £23,798* | £509.30 | £12.76 | £22,913* | £489.00 | £12.73 |
| 25th percentile | £24,377 | £528.50 | £13.16 | £23,591* | £506.30 | £12.87 |
| 30th percentile | £26,553 | £550.80 | £13.59 | £24,073* | £526.20 | £13.25 |
| 40th percentile | £28,838 | £577.30 | £13.92 | £27,365 | £562.20 | £13.90 |
| Median (50th percentile) | £32,644 | £601.50 | £14.67 | £29,644 | £589.70 | £14.42 |
| 60th percentile | £34,522 | £656.80 | £15.97 | £34,192 | £631.00 | £15.16 |
| 70th percentile | £35,954* | £726.30 | £16.69 | £34,889* | £701.50 | £16.63 |
| 75th percentile | – | £745.80* | £17.24* | – | £728.90* | £17.20* |
| 80th percentile | – | – | – | – | £757.60* | £17.62* |
| Mean | £32,064 | £652.00 | £15.64 | £30,368 | £621.40 | £15.60 |
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 | £22,277 | £455.70 | £11.23 | £22,214 | £442.30 | 9* |
| 2022 revised | £23,333 | £478.70 | £12.00 | £23,186 | £466.10 | 13* |
| 2023 revised | £25,775 | £516.90 | £12.59 | £25,249 | £507.60 | 15* |
| 2024 revised | £25,914 | £544.00 | £13.55 | £25,419 | £515.90 | 13* |
| 2025 provisional | £32,644 | £601.50 | £14.67 | £29,644 | £589.70 | 13* |
Plastics process operatives by region
UK: 18,200 (± 5,200), April 2025 to March 2026.
Annual Population Survey (Nomis)
What plastics process operatives do
Plastics process operatives attend and operate moulding, extruding, thermoforming, calendering, covering, cutting and other process equipment to make and repair plastic products. (ONS SOC 2020, 8114)
Also covers: extrusion operator (plastics mfr), fabricator (plastics mfr), injection moulder, laminator (fibreglass), process worker (plastic goods mfr), bakelite maker, bakelite moulder, bakelite polisher, bakelite trimmer, ball maker, bench hand, bench worker, block presser, bottle maker, buffing machinist, button cleaner, button driller and cable extruder (147 titles in the ONS coding index).
- Prepares machine for operation by affixing any necessary attachments
- Weighs and mixes ingredients, loads machine with plastic to be worked or regulates flow from feed conveyor or hopper
- Monitors controls regulating temperature, pressure, etc. and operates moulding, extruding, calendering, thermoforming and covering machines
- Inspects plastic products for defects, takes measurements and repairs plastic belting and sheathing
- Trims, cuts and performs other finishing operations on plastic using hand and machine tools
- Makes artificial eyes and contact lens discs, and makes and repairs spectacle frames and plastic parts of artificial limbs and other orthopaedic appliances
There are no formal academic entry requirements. Training is typically provided on-the-job, supplemented by specialised courses. NVQs/SVQs in Performing Manufacturing Operations at levels 1 and 2 and apprenticeships are available.
Related
Process operatives (median £29,530) · Chemical and related process operatives · Metal making and treating process 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