Paper and wood machine operatives Pay Data UK — 2024

Paper and wood machine operatives roles in the UK earn a median of £29,444 per year, equivalent to £13.96 per hour as of 2024. This represents a 3.3% increase in annual pay compared to the previous year. Pay varies across the UK, ranging from £23,645 to £44,364 per year.

How Pay Varies Across the UK

Each bar shows how many areas of the UK have a median annual pay in that range for Paper and wood machine operatives roles. The dashed line marks the national median.

Based on sub-regional area data. Want a precise figure for your area?

About Paper and wood machine operatives

Paper and wood machine operatives operate machines to treat and cut wood, to produce, treat and cut paper, paperboard, leatherboard, plasterboard and similar material, and to assemble and make wooden crates and containers.

Typical Tasks and Duties

• cuts and shapes wood using hand and power tools, assembles parts of wooden crates, barrels and other wooden containers using nails, bolts and staples, and fits metal strips and corner pieces to strengthen container as required
• examines job requirements, ascertains necessary ingredients and loads machines to beat, mix and crush wood, cork and pulp for further processing
• attends and operates ovens, kilns, milling, filtering, straining, calendering, coating, drying, finishing, winding and other machines to produce and/or treat wood, paper, paperboard, leatherboard and plasterboard
• sets and adjusts edge guides, stops and blades of cutting machine, threads material through rollers or loads into machine hopper, starts and monitors operation of machine, removes completed work and clears machine of waste material

Entry Routes and Qualifications

There are no formal academic entry requirements. Training is typically provided on-the-job. NVQs/ SVQs/vocational qualifications in Fibreboard Operations at levels 2 and 3, and apprenticeships are available. NVQs/SVQs/vocational- qualifications in Wood Machining are available at levels 2.

Related Occupations

Salary data is sourced from official UK pay datasets and updated periodically.