How much does a Air transport operatives earn in the UK?
Official UK Average earnings data 2025
£32,376
Typical Annual pay range
Employment patterns
- 92% of Air transport operatives work full-time
- 100.0% of employees have permanent contracts
Understanding Air transport operatives pay in the UK
The typical air transport operatives in the UK earns a median salary of £32,376 in 2025/26. These figures come from the ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE), so they reflect actual reported pay rather than self-reported estimates or job-advert ranges.
The middle half of air transport operatives earnings fall between £27,851 and £41,068 a year. That spread reflects the usual gap between newer entrants and more experienced air transport operatives.
The mean (average) salary is higher, at £34,904. When the mean sits above the median like this, a smaller group of high earners is pulling the average up, which is why the median is the better guide to what a typical air transport operatives actually takes home.
Where you work changes the picture: air transport operatives pay ranges from £23,772 in West Midlands up to £35,791 in London, a difference of £12,019 (51%). The full regional breakdown is below.
Dig deeper: see air transport operatives pay in London or read how we source and check this data.
How pay varies by region
London is the highest-paying region for air transport operatives at £35,791 — 11% above the UK median. West Midlands is lowest at £23,772.
UK median £32,376
| Region | Median payUK median £32,376 | Median | Mean | vs UK median |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| London | £35,791 | £35,791 | £38,584 | +11% |
| South East | £35,533 | £35,533 | £39,552 | +10% |
| East Midlands | £31,225 | £31,225 | £31,813 | -4% |
| North West | £29,435 | £29,435 | £30,517 | -9% |
| East of England | £27,939 | £27,939 | £26,354 | -14% |
| Yorkshire and the Humber | £26,802 | £26,802 | £26,754 | -17% |
| Scotland | £25,000 | £25,000 | £30,463 | -23% |
| West Midlands | £23,772 | £23,772 | £25,106 | -27% |
| Region | Median | vs UK |
|---|---|---|
| London £35,791 | £35,791Mean £38,584 | +11% |
| South East £35,533 | £35,533Mean £39,552 | +10% |
| East Midlands £31,225 | £31,225Mean £31,813 | -4% |
| North West £29,435 | £29,435Mean £30,517 | -9% |
| East of England £27,939 | £27,939Mean £26,354 | -14% |
| Yorkshire and the Humber £26,802 | £26,802Mean £26,754 | -17% |
| Scotland £25,000 | £25,000Mean £30,463 | -23% |
| West Midlands £23,772 | £23,772Mean £25,106 | -27% |
Sorted highest median to lowest. The vertical line marks the UK median (£32,376); ‘Vs UK median’ compares each region’s median to it. Suppressed values mean ONS withheld this figure because the sample was too small to publish.
Make it local
Calculate take-home pay for your region
Choose a region above to see local air transport operatives pay and calculate your monthly take-home after tax on the local salary page.
Back to region listHow air transport operatives pay has changed over time
UK median annual pay for air transport operatives by year (ONS ASHE).
Median salary
▪ 25%–75% range
Pre-2021 figures mapped from SOC 2010 via ONS concordance table
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