How much does a Water and sewerage plant operatives earn in the UK?
Official UK Average earnings data 2025
£39,057
Typical Annual pay range
Understanding Water and sewerage plant operatives pay in the UK
The typical water and sewerage plant operatives in the UK earns a median salary of £39,057 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 water and sewerage plant operatives earnings fall between £28,849 and £45,809 a year. That spread reflects the usual gap between newer entrants and more experienced water and sewerage plant operatives.
Where you work changes the picture: water and sewerage plant operatives pay ranges from £30,413 in Wales up to £42,262 in East Midlands, a difference of £11,849 (39%). The full regional breakdown is below.
Dig deeper: see water and sewerage plant operatives pay in East Midlands or read how we source and check this data.
How pay varies by region
East Midlands is the highest-paying region for water and sewerage plant operatives at £42,262 — 8% above the UK median. Wales is lowest at £30,413.
UK median £39,057
| Region | Median payUK median £39,057 | Median | Mean | vs UK median |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| East Midlands | £42,262 | £42,262 | £43,156 | +8% |
| South West | £40,975 | £40,975 | £44,748 | +5% |
| South East | £39,943 | £39,943 | £41,641 | +2% |
| West Midlands | £39,558 | £39,558 | £37,234 | +1% |
| Scotland | £37,592 | £37,592 | £36,727 | -4% |
| North West | £37,534 | £37,534 | £37,560 | -4% |
| East of England | £36,450 | £36,450 | £36,930 | -7% |
| Yorkshire and the Humber | £35,051 | £35,051 | £39,897 | -10% |
| North East | £31,509 | £31,509 | £31,922 | -19% |
| Wales | £30,413 | £30,413 | £30,371 | -22% |
| Region | Median | vs UK |
|---|---|---|
| East Midlands £42,262 | £42,262Mean £43,156 | +8% |
| South West £40,975 | £40,975Mean £44,748 | +5% |
| South East £39,943 | £39,943Mean £41,641 | +2% |
| West Midlands £39,558 | £39,558Mean £37,234 | +1% |
| Scotland £37,592 | £37,592Mean £36,727 | -4% |
| North West £37,534 | £37,534Mean £37,560 | -4% |
| East of England £36,450 | £36,450Mean £36,930 | -7% |
| Yorkshire and the Humber £35,051 | £35,051Mean £39,897 | -10% |
| North East £31,509 | £31,509Mean £31,922 | -19% |
| Wales £30,413 | £30,413Mean £30,371 | -22% |
Sorted highest median to lowest. The vertical line marks the UK median (£39,057); ‘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 water and sewerage plant operatives pay and calculate your monthly take-home after tax on the local salary page.
Back to region listHow water and sewerage plant operatives pay has changed over time
UK median annual pay for water and sewerage plant 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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