SOC 8114 Process, plant and machine operatives

Plastics process operatives Salary

Median salary £29,644 per year (2025). Based on ONS ASHE data.

Gross pay, before deductions. See take-home pay on £30,000 after tax and National Insurance →

For plastics process operatives, £32,644 is the typical (median) pay. That is below the UK full-time median of £39,039 — -16% versus the national average.

About this role

Chemical and related process operatives operate and monitor equipment in chemical plants, refineries, pharmaceutical manufacturing and water treatment facilities. They control chemical processes, manage safety systems and ensure compliance with strict operational procedures.

Key responsibilities

Operating and monitoring chemical processing equipment
Controlling process variables (temperature, pressure, flow)
Following strict safety and environmental procedures
Sampling and testing products against specifications
Maintaining logs and recording process data

Qualifications and entry routes

COGENT (now part of Science Industry Partnership) qualifications in process operations. NVQ Level 2/3 in Process Technology. COMAH site work requires specific safety training. Many employers prefer science A-levels or equivalent.

Career outlook

Steady demand in chemical and pharmaceutical manufacturing. Process safety expertise is highly valued. Automation is creating more monitoring and control-oriented roles.

Key skills

Process control Safety awareness Chemical handling Data monitoring Emergency response

Common industries

Chemical manufacturing
Oil refining
Pharmaceutical manufacturing
Water treatment
Petrochemicals

Data coverage

SOC code 8114

Data source ONS ASHE

Years available 2015–2025

Estimated jobs 12,000

Median Salary

£29,644

Mean Salary

£30,368

Jobs (000s)

12k

Data Years

11 years

Salary Range (2025)

P25: £23,591Median: £29,644

P10: --P25: £24kMedian: £30kP75: --P90: --

Estimated Career Progression

Based on salary percentile distribution for this occupation

Entry Level

£23,591

0-2 years

Mid Level

£23,591

3-7 years

Salary Trend (2015-2025)

Adjust for inflation

Nominal growth: +44.6%Real growth: +4.8%

Gender Pay Comparison (2025)

Gender pay gap: 30.7%

Full-time vs All Employees (2025)

All Employees

£29,644

Full-time Only

£32,644

Full-time premium: +£3,000

Plastics process operatives salary: common questions

How much do plastics process operatives earn in the UK?

Plastics process operatives earn a median of £32,644 a year (ONS ASHE 2025).

Is £32,644 a good salary in the UK?

For plastics process operatives, £32,644 is the typical (median) pay. That is below the UK full-time median of £39,039 — -16% versus the national average.

What is the starting salary for plastics process operatives?

Entry-level plastics process operatives typically start near the lower end of the range. The bottom 25% earn up to £23,591, though this varies by employer and region.

Have plastics process operatives salaries kept up with inflation?

Since 2015, median plastics process operatives pay has risen from £22,373 to £32,644 — +46% in cash terms, or +6.0% after CPIH inflation. That is ahead of inflation over the period.

Is there a gender pay gap for plastics process operatives?

Male plastics process operatives earn a median £33,518 and female plastics process operatives £23,235 — a gap of +31% in 2025.

Figures: ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, gross annual pay. UK full-time median £39,039 (2025).