Air transport operatives roles in the UK earn a median of £32,500 per year, equivalent to £15.76 per hour as of 2025. Pay increased 10.0% compared to the previous year. Regionally, pay ranges from £24,000 in West Midlands to £40,000 in London. Pay has risen over the past 5 years. The ONS national median for this occupation is £34,700/yr (6% below our computed national average).
Median Annual Pay
£32,500
as of 2025
High confidenceMedian Hourly Pay
£15.76
per hour
Year-on-Year Change
+10.0%
vs 2024
Annual Pay Range
£25,000 – £53,500
25th – 75th percentile
There is currently not sufficient data available for this occupation to say anything about the labour market.
Median annual pay for Air transport operatives across UK regions.
Source: ONS ASHE. Based on broad UK regions (NUTS1).
| Region | Median Pay |
|---|---|
| London | £40,000 |
| South East | £37,500 |
| Scotland | £35,000 |
| South West | £33,500 |
| East Midlands | £33,000 |
| Wales | £33,000 |
| North East | £32,500 |
| North West | £29,500 |
| East | £28,500 |
| Yorkshire and The Humber | £27,000 |
| West Midlands | £24,000 |
| UK | £32,500 |
Annual pay grew by +10.0% from 2024 to 2025.
National average (NUTS1 actuals) based on ONS ASHE April snapshot.
Annual percentage change in median pay for Air transport operatives.
Percentage change from the prior year's April figure.
The median salary for a Air transport operatives in the UK is £32,500 per year (about £15.76 per hour), based on official ONS data for 2025.
Most Air transport operatives earn between £25,000 and £53,500 a year (the 25th to 75th percentile of UK pay).
Air transport operatives pay rose by 10.0% from 2024 to 2025.
The highest median pay for Air transport operatives is in London, at £40,000 per year.
For job seekers
Check your salary against official UK data for Air transport operatives roles — broken down by region and seniority level. Free, instant, no sign-up required.
For employers & recruiters
Air transport operatives refuel, load and unload aircraft, direct the movement of aircraft at airports, and positions gangways or staircases to allow passengers to board and disembark aircraft.
There are no formal academic entry requirements, though employers may require entrants to possess GCSEs/S grades for some posts. Training is provided Off and on-the-job. Vocational qualifications in Aviation Operations on the Ground at level 2 and 3 and apprenticeships are available.
Salary data is sourced from official UK pay datasets and updated periodically.