How much does a Metal working machine operatives earn in the UK?
Official UK Average earnings data 2025
£31,344
Typical Annual pay range
Understanding Metal working machine operatives pay in the UK
The typical metal working machine operatives in the UK earns a median salary of £31,344 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 metal working machine operatives earnings fall between £26,355 and £38,689 a year. That spread reflects the usual gap between newer entrants and more experienced metal working machine operatives.
The mean (average) salary is higher, at £33,268. 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 metal working machine operatives actually takes home.
Where you work changes the picture: metal working machine operatives pay ranges from £24,610 in North East up to £34,117 in London, a difference of £9,507 (39%). The full regional breakdown is below.
Dig deeper: see metal working machine 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 metal working machine operatives at £34,117 — 9% above the UK median. North East is lowest at £24,610.
UK median £31,344
| Region | Median payUK median £31,344 | Median | Mean | vs UK median |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| London | £34,117 | £34,117 | £34,268 | +9% |
| Scotland | £32,642 | £32,642 | £37,417 | +4% |
| North West | £32,199 | £32,199 | £31,329 | +3% |
| Yorkshire and the Humber | £32,004 | £32,004 | £32,243 | +2% |
| Wales | £31,546 | £31,546 | £31,454 | +1% |
| West Midlands | £29,841 | £29,841 | £32,045 | -5% |
| South East | £29,822 | £29,822 | £35,186 | -5% |
| East Midlands | £29,370 | £29,370 | £37,048 | -6% |
| South West | £28,568 | £28,568 | £30,856 | -9% |
| East of England | £26,527 | £26,527 | £29,635 | -15% |
| North East | £24,610 | £24,610 | £25,274 | -21% |
| Region | Median | vs UK |
|---|---|---|
| London £34,117 | £34,117Mean £34,268 | +9% |
| Scotland £32,642 | £32,642Mean £37,417 | +4% |
| North West £32,199 | £32,199Mean £31,329 | +3% |
| Yorkshire and the Humber £32,004 | £32,004Mean £32,243 | +2% |
| Wales £31,546 | £31,546Mean £31,454 | +1% |
| West Midlands £29,841 | £29,841Mean £32,045 | -5% |
| South East £29,822 | £29,822Mean £35,186 | -5% |
| East Midlands £29,370 | £29,370Mean £37,048 | -6% |
| South West £28,568 | £28,568Mean £30,856 | -9% |
| East of England £26,527 | £26,527Mean £29,635 | -15% |
| North East £24,610 | £24,610Mean £25,274 | -21% |
Sorted highest median to lowest. The vertical line marks the UK median (£31,344); ‘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 metal working machine operatives pay and calculate your monthly take-home after tax on the local salary page.
Back to region listHow metal working machine operatives pay has changed over time
UK median annual pay for metal working machine operatives by year (ONS ASHE).
Median salary
▪ 25%–75% range
Pre-2021 figures mapped from SOC 2010 via ONS concordance table