Food, drink and tobacco process operatives Pay Data UK — 2025

Food, drink and tobacco process operatives roles in the UK earn a median of £28,165 per year, equivalent to £13.78 per hour as of 2025. This represents a 6.3% increase in annual pay compared to the previous year. Pay varies across the UK, ranging from £23,019 to £37,129 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 Food, drink and tobacco process operatives roles. The dashed line marks the national median.

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

About Food, drink and tobacco process operatives

Food, drink and tobacco process operatives set, operate and attend machinery to bake, freeze, heat, crush, mix, blend and otherwise process foodstuffs, beverages and tobacco leaves.

Typical Tasks and Duties

• sets, operates and attends machinery and ovens to mix, bake and otherwise prepare bread and flour confectionery products
• operates machinery to crush, mix, malt, cook and ferment grains and fruits to produce beer, wines, malt liquors, vinegar, yeast and related products
• attends equipment to make jam, toffee, cheese, processed cheese, margarine, syrup, ice, pasta, ice-cream, sausages, chocolate, maize starch, edible fats and dextrin
• operates equipment to cool, heat, dry, roast, blanch, pasteurise, smoke, sterilise, freeze, evaporate and concentrate foodstuffs and liquids used in food processing
• mixes, pulps, grinds, blends and separates foodstuffs and liquids with churning, pressing, sieving, grinding and filtering equipment
• processes tobacco leaves by hand or machine to make cigarettes, cigars, pipe and other tobacco products

Entry Routes and Qualifications

There are no formal academic entry requirements, though some GCSEs/S grades can be an advantage. Off and on-the-job training is available. Vocational qualifications related to food and drink manufacturing, including apprenticeships, are available at up to level 3.

Related Occupations

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