SOC 8142 Process, plant and machine operatives

Assemblers (vehicles and metal goods) Salary

Median salary £31,041 per year (2025). Based on ONS ASHE data.

Gross pay, before deductions. See take-home pay on £31,000 after tax and National Insurance →

For assemblers (vehicles and metal goods), £31,919 is the typical (median) pay. That is below the UK full-time median of £39,039 — -18% versus the national average. Experienced assemblers (vehicles and metal goods) (top 25%) earn over £39,438.

About this role

Assemblers (vehicles and metal goods) operate machinery, equipment or production lines in manufacturing, processing or industrial environments. They monitor processes, maintain quality standards, follow safety procedures and ensure production targets are met efficiently.

Key responsibilities

Setting up and operating machinery or production equipment
Monitoring production processes and output quality
Performing routine maintenance and reporting faults
Following health and safety procedures and wearing PPE
Meeting production targets and recording output data

Qualifications and entry routes

Formal qualifications are not always required, though NVQ Level 2 in relevant operations is common. Many roles provide comprehensive on-the-job training. Fork-lift truck (FLT) certification or specific machine certifications may be needed.

Career outlook

Automation is changing the nature of these roles, with increasing demand for operatives who can work with computerised and robotic systems.

Key skills

Machine operation Quality awareness Attention to detail Physical stamina Safety consciousness

Common industries

Manufacturing
Food processing
Automotive
Pharmaceuticals
Packaging

Data coverage

SOC code 8142

Data source ONS ASHE

Years available 2015–2025

Estimated jobs 40,000

Median Salary

£31,041

Mean Salary

£32,854

Jobs (000s)

40k

Data Years

11 years

Salary Range (2025)

P25: £25,744Median: £31,041P75: £39,438

P10: --P25: £26kMedian: £31kP75: £39kP90: --

Estimated Career Progression

Based on salary percentile distribution for this occupation

Entry Level

£25,744

0-2 years

Mid Level

£25,744

3-7 years

Senior

£39,438

8-15 years

Potential career growth: +53% from entry to leadership

Salary Trend (2015-2025)

Adjust for inflation

Nominal growth: +-0.9%Real growth: -28.2%

Gender Pay Comparison (2025)

Gender pay gap: 17.9%

Full-time vs All Employees (2025)

All Employees

£31,041

Full-time Only

£31,919

Full-time premium: +£878

Assemblers (vehicles and metal goods) salary: common questions

How much do assemblers (vehicles and metal goods) earn in the UK?

Assemblers (vehicles and metal goods) earn a median of £31,919 a year (ONS ASHE 2025). The middle half earn between £25,744 and £39,438.

Is £31,919 a good salary in the UK?

What is the starting salary for assemblers (vehicles and metal goods)?

Entry-level assemblers (vehicles and metal goods) typically start near the lower end of the range. The bottom 25% earn up to £25,744, and the lowest-paid 10% earn under £23,785.

Have assemblers (vehicles and metal goods) salaries kept up with inflation?

Since 2015, median assemblers (vehicles and metal goods) pay has risen from £32,136 to £31,919 — -1.0% in cash terms, or -28% after CPIH inflation. That is behind inflation over the period.

Is there a gender pay gap for assemblers (vehicles and metal goods)?

Male assemblers (vehicles and metal goods) earn a median £31,927 and female assemblers (vehicles and metal goods) £26,206 — a gap of +18% in 2025.

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