Food, drink and tobacco process operatives roles in the UK earn a median of £28,000 per year, equivalent to £13.79 per hour as of 2025. Pay increased 4.9% compared to the previous year. Regionally, pay ranges from £27,000 in North West to £29,500 in West Midlands. Pay has risen over the past 5 years. The ONS national median for this occupation is £28,243/yr (1% below our computed national average).
Median Annual Pay
£28,000
as of 2025
High confidenceMedian Hourly Pay
£13.79
per hour
Year-on-Year Change
+4.9%
vs 2024
Annual Pay Range
£24,000 – £34,000
25th – 75th percentile
There is currently not sufficient data available for this occupation to say anything about the labour market.
Median annual pay for Food, drink and tobacco process operatives across UK regions.
Source: ONS ASHE. Based on broad UK regions (NUTS1).
| Region | Median Pay |
|---|---|
| West Midlands | £29,500 |
| Yorkshire and The Humber | £29,000 |
| East Midlands | £29,000 |
| London | £29,000 |
| East | £28,500 |
| Scotland | £28,500 |
| South East | £28,000 |
| North East | £27,500 |
| South West | £27,000 |
| Wales | £27,000 |
| North West | £27,000 |
| UK | £28,000 |
Annual pay grew by +4.9% from 2024 to 2025.
National average (NUTS1 actuals) based on ONS ASHE April snapshot.
Annual percentage change in median pay for Food, drink and tobacco process operatives.
Percentage change from the prior year's April figure.
The median salary for a Food, drink and tobacco process operatives in the UK is £28,000 per year (about £13.79 per hour), based on official ONS data for 2025.
Most Food, drink and tobacco process operatives earn between £24,000 and £34,000 a year (the 25th to 75th percentile of UK pay).
Food, drink and tobacco process operatives pay rose by 4.9% from 2024 to 2025.
The highest median pay for Food, drink and tobacco process operatives is in West Midlands, at £29,500 per year.
For job seekers
Check your salary against official UK data for Food, drink and tobacco process operatives roles — broken down by region and seniority level. Free, instant, no sign-up required.
For employers & recruiters
Food, drink and tobacco process operatives set, operate and attend machinery to bake, freeze, heat, crush, mix, blend and otherwise process foodstuffs, beverages and tobacco leaves.
There are no formal academic entry requirements, though some GCSEs/S grades can be an advantage. Off and on-the-job training is available. Vocational qualifications related to food and drink manufacturing, including apprenticeships, are available at up to level 3.
Salary data is sourced from official UK pay datasets and updated periodically.