SOC 9132 Elementary trades and related occupations

Packers, bottlers, canners and fillers Salary

Median salary £25,087 per year (2025). Based on ONS ASHE data.

Gross pay, before deductions. See take-home pay on £25,000 after tax and National Insurance →

For packers, bottlers, canners and fillers, £26,152 is the typical (median) pay. That is well below the UK full-time median of £39,039 — -33% versus the national average. Experienced packers, bottlers, canners and fillers (top 25%) earn over £29,816.

About this role

Industrial cleaning process occupations clean and maintain industrial environments including factories, warehouses, processing plants and commercial kitchens. They use industrial cleaning equipment and chemicals to maintain hygienic and safe working conditions.

Key responsibilities

Cleaning and sanitising industrial equipment and work areas
Operating industrial cleaning machinery and equipment
Following COSHH regulations for chemical handling
Maintaining hygiene standards in food production environments
Disposing of waste materials safely

Qualifications and entry routes

No formal qualifications required. COSHH training and site-specific inductions are standard. Food industry roles require Food Safety Level 2. BICSc cleaning qualifications are available.

Career outlook

Steady demand. Hygiene requirements in food manufacturing and healthcare sustain need for trained industrial cleaning operatives.

Key skills

Industrial cleaning methods COSHH awareness Physical fitness Reliability Attention to detail

Common industries

Food manufacturing
Pharmaceutical manufacturing
Warehousing
NHS
Schools and universities

Data coverage

SOC code 9132

Data source ONS ASHE

Years available 2015–2025

Estimated jobs 61,000

Median Salary

£25,087

Mean Salary

£25,074

Jobs (000s)

61k

Data Years

11 years

Salary Range (2025)

P25: £21,914Median: £25,087P75: £29,816

P10: £12kP25: £22kMedian: £25kP75: £30kP90: --

Estimated Career Progression

Based on salary percentile distribution for this occupation

Entry Level

£12,445

0-2 years

Mid Level

£21,914

3-7 years

Senior

£29,816

8-15 years

Potential career growth: +140% from entry to leadership

Salary Trend (2015-2025)

Adjust for inflation

Nominal growth: +51.9%Real growth: +10.1%

Gender Pay Comparison (2025)

Gender pay gap: 7.3%

Full-time vs All Employees (2025)

All Employees

£25,087

Full-time Only

£26,152

Full-time premium: +£1,065

Packers, bottlers, canners and fillers salary: common questions

How much do packers, bottlers, canners and fillers earn in the UK?

Packers, bottlers, canners and fillers earn a median of £26,152 a year (ONS ASHE 2025). The middle half earn between £21,914 and £29,816.

Is £26,152 a good salary in the UK?

What is the starting salary for packers, bottlers, canners and fillers?

Entry-level packers, bottlers, canners and fillers typically start near the lower end of the range. The bottom 25% earn up to £21,914, and the lowest-paid 10% earn under £12,445.

Have packers, bottlers, canners and fillers salaries kept up with inflation?

Since 2015, median packers, bottlers, canners and fillers pay has risen from £17,439 to £26,152 — +50% in cash terms, or +9.0% after CPIH inflation. That is ahead of inflation over the period.

Is there a gender pay gap for packers, bottlers, canners and fillers?

Male packers, bottlers, canners and fillers earn a median £25,999 and female packers, bottlers, canners and fillers £24,107 — a gap of +7.0% in 2025.

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