SOC 8144 Process, plant and machine operatives

Weighers, graders and sorters Salary

Median salary £29,141 per year (2025). Based on ONS ASHE data.

Gross pay, before deductions. See take-home pay on £29,000 after tax and National Insurance →

For weighers, graders and sorters, £30,918 is the typical (median) pay. That is below the UK full-time median of £39,039 — -21% versus the national average.

About this role

Weighers, graders and sorters weigh, measure, grade and sort raw materials, products and components according to weight, size, quality, colour or other criteria in manufacturing, processing and distribution settings.

Key responsibilities

Weighing and measuring products and materials accurately
Grading and sorting items according to quality criteria
Operating scales, measuring equipment and sorting machinery
Recording quantities and maintaining batch records
Identifying and separating non-conforming items

Qualifications and entry routes

No formal qualifications are usually required. On-the-job training is standard. Food hygiene certification is needed for food industry roles.

Career outlook

Automation is reducing some sorting and grading roles, but human judgement remains required for quality-sensitive products and complex grading.

Key skills

Accuracy Concentration Physical stamina Equipment operation Record keeping

Common industries

Food processing
Agriculture
Waste recycling
Manufacturing
Logistics

Data coverage

SOC code 8144

Data source ONS ASHE

Years available 2015–2025

Median Salary

£29,141

Mean Salary

£28,314

Jobs (000s)

N/A

Data Years

11 years

Salary Range (2025)

Median: £29,141

P10: --P25: --Median: £29kP75: --P90: --

Estimated Career Progression

Based on salary percentile distribution for this occupation

Mid Level

£29,141

3-7 years

Salary Trend (2015-2025)

Adjust for inflation

Nominal growth: +91.1%Real growth: +38.5%

Gender Pay Comparison (2025)

Full-time vs All Employees (2025)

All Employees

£29,141

Full-time Only

£30,918

Full-time premium: +£1,777

Weighers, graders and sorters salary: common questions

How much do weighers, graders and sorters earn in the UK?

Weighers, graders and sorters earn a median of £30,918 a year (ONS ASHE 2025).

Is £30,918 a good salary in the UK?

For weighers, graders and sorters, £30,918 is the typical (median) pay. That is below the UK full-time median of £39,039 — -21% versus the national average.

Have weighers, graders and sorters salaries kept up with inflation?

Since 2015, median weighers, graders and sorters pay has risen from £16,986 to £30,918 — +82% in cash terms, or +32% after CPIH inflation. That is ahead of inflation over the period.

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