Process, Plant & Machine Operatives Salaries (2025)

ONS ASHE 2025 (provisional) · BLS OES May 2025

106 job titles, sorted by UK median salary.

Job titleUK medianUS median
Nuclear Power Reactor Operators (US) $122,890
Power Distributors and Dispatchers (US) $106,730
Power Plant Operators (US) $102,040
Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers (US) $96,710
Gas Plant Operators (US) $87,820
Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators (US) $78,620
Chemical Plant and System Operators (US) $78,120
First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers (US) $74,450
Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Programmers (US) $68,120
Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers (US) $65,380
Tool and Die Makers (US) $64,050
Layout Workers, Metal and Plastic (US) $63,870
Model Makers, Metal and Plastic (US) $63,340
Fabric and Apparel Patternmakers (US) $62,750
Timing Device Assemblers and Adjusters (US) $62,620
Plant and System Operators, All Other (US) $62,470
Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators (US) $60,020
Patternmakers, Metal and Plastic (US) $58,000
Tire Builders (US) $57,390
Model Makers, Wood (US) $56,550
Engine and Other Machine Assemblers (US) $53,710
Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic (US) $52,800
Jewelers and Precious Stone and Metal Workers (US) $52,540
Pourers and Casters, Metal (US) $51,810
Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders (US) $51,610
Semiconductor Processing Technicians (US) $51,430
Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters (US) $51,330
Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators (US) $50,690
Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic (US) $50,620
Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders (US) $50,270
Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic (US) $50,140
Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners (US) $50,060
Patternmakers, Wood (US) $49,630
Dental Laboratory Technicians (US) $49,610
Drilling and Boring Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic (US) $49,080
Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic (US) $49,030
Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders (US) $48,990
Heat Treating Equipment Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic (US) $48,750
Prepress Technicians and Workers (US) $48,690
Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders (US) $48,540
Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders (US) $48,250
Foundry Mold and Coremakers (US) $48,110
Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders (US) $48,040
Medical Appliance Technicians (US) $48,030
Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders (US) $47,920
Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic (US) $47,720
Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic (US) $47,180
Fiberglass Laminators and Fabricators (US) $46,880
Cabinetmakers and Bench Carpenters (US) $46,680
Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders (US) $46,570
Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, & Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, & Tenders, Metal & Plastic (US) $46,550
Adhesive Bonding Machine Operators and Tenders (US) $46,460
Extruding and Forming Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Synthetic and Glass Fibers (US) $46,350
Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic (US) $46,330
Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic (US) $46,170
Metal Workers and Plastic Workers, All Other (US) $45,950
Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers (US) $45,850
Printing Press Operators (US) $45,780
Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders (US) $45,760
Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders (US) $44,810
Furniture Finishers (US) $44,540
Woodworkers, All Other (US) $44,530
Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic (US) $43,960
Cleaning, Washing, and Metal Pickling Equipment Operators and Tenders (US) $43,530
Etchers and Engravers (US) $43,310
Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood (US) $42,770
Grinding and Polishing Workers, Hand (US) $42,660
Food Batchmakers (US) $42,290
Tailors, Dressmakers, and Custom Sewers (US) $41,640
Painting, Coating, and Decorating Workers (US) $41,600
Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders (US) $41,590
Cooling and Freezing Equipment Operators and Tenders (US) $41,330
Photographic Process Workers and Processing Machine Operators (US) $40,610
Slaughterers and Meat Packers (US) $40,130
Production Workers, All Other (US) $40,110
Food Processing Workers, All Other (US) $39,680
Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians (US) $39,460
Water and sewerage plant operatives £39,057
Textile Cutting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders (US) $38,760
Textile Winding, Twisting, and Drawing Out Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders (US) $38,670
Mining and quarry workers and related operatives £38,301
Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers (US) $38,300
Textile Bleaching and Dyeing Machine Operators and Tenders (US) $38,180
Cutters and Trimmers, Hand (US) $38,020
Shoe and Leather Workers and Repairers (US) $37,800
Textile, Apparel, and Furnishings Workers, All Other (US) $37,280
Sewers, Hand (US) $36,480
Shoe Machine Operators and Tenders (US) $35,650
Pressers, Textile, Garment, and Related Materials (US) $35,060
Routine inspectors and testers £33,982
Chemical and related process operatives £33,531 $58,040
Metal making and treating process operatives £31,893 $54,430
Metal working machine operatives £31,344 $58,750
Assemblers (vehicles and metal goods) £31,041 $48,220
Process operatives n.e.c. £30,843
Tyre, exhaust and windscreen fitters £30,429 $37,710
Printing machine assistants £29,657
Plastics process operatives £29,644 $44,350
Paper and wood machine operatives £29,640 $43,380
Plant and machine operatives n.e.c. £29,142 $39,070
Weighers, graders and sorters £29,141 $48,570
Assemblers (electrical and electronic products) £28,241
Food, drink and tobacco process operatives £27,267 $43,220
Assemblers and routine operatives n.e.c. £26,975 $39,070
Textile process operatives £25,572 $39,530
Sewing machinists £22,767 $36,670

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Figures are gross annual pay before tax, for reference only. Sources: ONS ASHE 2025 (provisional), BLS OES May 2025.

Data: ONS ASHE Table 14/15, 2025 provisional · BLS OES, May 2025 · Page built 2026-07-18