Food, drink and tobacco process operatives salary in North West
Full-time average annual pay in North West
£25,920
Based on ~15,000 employees · 2025 · moderate suppression
Median
£25,920
Mean
£25,569
| Statistic | Annual pay (gross) |
|---|---|
| Median | £25,920 |
| Mean | £25,569 |
Region-level range withheld by ONS — UK-wide, the middle half of food, drink and tobacco process operatives earn £22,837–£33,002. See full methodology →
Employment patterns
- 81% of Food, drink work full-time
- 6% are self-employed
- 91% of employees have permanent contracts
Understanding Food, drink and tobacco process operatives pay in North West
The typical food, drink and tobacco process operatives in North West earns a median salary of £25,920 in 2025/26, based on around 15,000 employees — 4.9% (£1,347) below the UK-wide median of £27,267. 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.
Across the UK, North West ranks 10th of 11 regions for food, drink and tobacco process operatives pay. Regional medians run from £25,873 in Yorkshire and the Humber up to £28,052 in West Midlands, a spread of £2,179 (8%).
The mean (average) salary is £25,569, close to the median — the two measures broadly agree for food, drink and tobacco process operatives in North West, and the median remains the clearest guide to typical pay.
To see what £25,920 means after income tax and National Insurance, use the take-home pay calculator below — it also factors in student loan repayments.
Take-home pay estimate
Tax year 2025/26| Monthly | Annual | |
|---|---|---|
| Gross salary | £2,160 | £25,920 |
| Income tax | £223 | £2,670 |
| National Insurance | £89 | £1,068 |
| Take-home pay | £1,849 | £22,182 |
Estimate only · 2025/26 HMRC rates · Standard tax code · No pension contribution · Not financial or tax advice
How Food, drink and tobacco process operatives pay varies by region
West Midlands is the highest-paying region for food, drink and tobacco process operatives at £28,052 — 3% above the UK median. Yorkshire and the Humber is lowest at £25,873.
UK median £27,267
| Region | Median payUK median £27,267 | Median | Mean | vs UK median |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| West Midlands | £28,052 | £28,052 | £28,333 | +3% |
| East of England | £27,917 | £27,917 | £27,422 | +2% |
| Scotland | £27,681 | £27,681 | £28,985 | +2% |
| North East | £27,669 | £27,669 | £30,603 | +1% |
| East Midlands | £27,521 | £27,521 | £27,557 | +1% |
| London | £27,451 | £27,451 | £27,071 | +1% |
| South West | £26,734 | £26,734 | £27,395 | -2% |
| Wales | £26,598 | £26,598 | £28,800 | -2% |
| South East | £26,527 | £26,527 | £25,528 | -3% |
| North West (current region) | £25,920 | £25,920 | £25,569 | -5% |
| Yorkshire and the Humber | £25,873 | £25,873 | £27,664 | -5% |
| Region | Median | vs UK |
|---|---|---|
| West Midlands £28,052 | £28,052Mean £28,333 | +3% |
| East of England £27,917 | £27,917Mean £27,422 | +2% |
| Scotland £27,681 | £27,681Mean £28,985 | +2% |
| North East £27,669 | £27,669Mean £30,603 | +1% |
| East Midlands £27,521 | £27,521Mean £27,557 | +1% |
| London £27,451 | £27,451Mean £27,071 | +1% |
| South West £26,734 | £26,734Mean £27,395 | -2% |
| Wales £26,598 | £26,598Mean £28,800 | -2% |
| South East £26,527 | £26,527Mean £25,528 | -3% |
| North West (current region) £25,920 | £25,920Mean £25,569 | -5% |
| Yorkshire and the Humber £25,873 | £25,873Mean £27,664 | -5% |
Sorted highest median to lowest. The vertical line marks the UK median (£27,267); ‘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.
How food, drink and tobacco process operatives pay in North West has changed over time
Median annual pay for food, drink and tobacco process operatives in North West by year, shown against the UK-wide median (Source: ONS ASHE). The shaded band is the UK-wide 25th–75th percentile range — ONS does not publish percentile ranges at region level.
North West median
UK median
▪ UK-wide 25th–75th percentile range
Pre-2021 figures mapped from SOC 2010 via ONS concordance table
How the figures are sourced
Data sources: Official UK earnings data (2025 provisional)(opens in new tab)
Related roles in Process Operatives
Other published roles in this occupation group. View category overview →