How much does a Paper and wood machine operatives earn in the UK?
Official UK Average earnings data 2025
£29,640
Typical Annual pay range
Understanding Paper and wood machine operatives pay in the UK
The typical paper and wood machine operatives in the UK earns a median salary of £29,640 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 paper and wood machine operatives earnings fall between £24,267 and £34,771 a year. That spread reflects the usual gap between newer entrants and more experienced paper and wood machine operatives.
Where you work changes the picture: paper and wood machine operatives pay ranges from £14,771 in North East up to £32,794 in Scotland, a difference of £18,023 (122%). The full regional breakdown is below.
Dig deeper: see paper and wood machine operatives pay in Scotland or read how we source and check this data.
How pay varies by region
Scotland is the highest-paying region for paper and wood machine operatives at £32,794 — 11% above the UK median. North East is lowest at £14,771.
UK median £29,640
| Region | Median payUK median £29,640 | Median | Mean | vs UK median |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scotland | £32,794 | £32,794 | £33,966 | +11% |
| South West | £31,862 | £31,862 | £33,120 | +7% |
| Yorkshire and the Humber | £29,810 | £29,810 | £30,512 | +1% |
| East of England | £28,633 | £28,633 | £28,259 | -3% |
| Wales | £28,493 | £28,493 | £32,897 | -4% |
| North West | £27,762 | £27,762 | £30,535 | -6% |
| London | £27,546 | £27,546 | £29,002 | -7% |
| East Midlands | £27,498 | £27,498 | £31,061 | -7% |
| South East | £25,929 | £25,929 | £26,136 | -13% |
| West Midlands | £17,334 | £17,334 | £18,721 | -42% |
| North East | £14,771 | £14,771 | £16,701 | -50% |
| Region | Median | vs UK |
|---|---|---|
| Scotland £32,794 | £32,794Mean £33,966 | +11% |
| South West £31,862 | £31,862Mean £33,120 | +7% |
| Yorkshire and the Humber £29,810 | £29,810Mean £30,512 | +1% |
| East of England £28,633 | £28,633Mean £28,259 | -3% |
| Wales £28,493 | £28,493Mean £32,897 | -4% |
| North West £27,762 | £27,762Mean £30,535 | -6% |
| London £27,546 | £27,546Mean £29,002 | -7% |
| East Midlands £27,498 | £27,498Mean £31,061 | -7% |
| South East £25,929 | £25,929Mean £26,136 | -13% |
| West Midlands £17,334 | £17,334Mean £18,721 | -42% |
| North East £14,771 | £14,771Mean £16,701 | -50% |
Sorted highest median to lowest. The vertical line marks the UK median (£29,640); ‘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 paper and wood machine operatives pay and calculate your monthly take-home after tax on the local salary page.
Back to region listHow paper and wood machine operatives pay has changed over time
UK median annual pay for paper and wood machine 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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