Food, drink and tobacco process operatives salary in Scotland
Full-time average annual pay in Scotland
£27,681
Based on ~13,000 employees · 2025 · moderate suppression
Median
£27,681
Mean
£28,985
| Statistic | Annual pay (gross) |
|---|---|
| Median | £27,681 |
| Mean | £28,985 |
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 Scotland
The typical food, drink and tobacco process operatives in Scotland earns a median salary of £27,681 in 2025/26, based on around 13,000 employees — 1.5% (£414) above 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, Scotland ranks 3rd 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 higher, at £28,985. When the mean sits above the median like this, a smaller group of high earners pulls the average up, which is why the median is the better guide to what a typical food, drink and tobacco process operatives in Scotland actually earns.
To see what £27,681 means after income tax and National Insurance, use the take-home pay calculator below — it also factors in student loan repayments and Scottish Income Tax rates.
Take-home pay estimate
Tax year 2025/26| Monthly | Annual | |
|---|---|---|
| Gross salary | £2,307 | £27,681 |
| Income tax | £250 | £2,996 |
| National Insurance | £101 | £1,209 |
| Student loan (Plan 4 (Scotland)) | £0 | £0 |
| Total deductions | £350 | £4,205 |
| Take-home pay | £1,956 | £23,476 |
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 (current region) | £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 | £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 (current region) £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 £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 Scotland has changed over time
Median annual pay for food, drink and tobacco process operatives in Scotland 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.
Scotland 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 →