Food, drink and tobacco process operatives
£24,507
Average salary
43 hours
Average weekly hours
4.65%
Unemployment rate
Definition: Food, drink and tobacco process operatives
*SOC Code (Standard Occupational Classification): 8111
Food, drink and tobacco process operatives set, operate and attend machinery to bake, freeze, heat, crush, mix, blend and otherwise process foodstuffs, beverages and tobacco leaves.
Common tasks include:
- sets, operates and attends machinery and ovens to mix, bake and otherwise prepare bread and flour confectionery products
- operates machinery to crush, mix, malt, cook and ferment grains and fruits to produce beer, wines, malt liquors, vinegar, yeast and related products
- attends equipment to make jam, toffee, cheese, processed cheese, margarine, syrup, ice, pasta, ice-cream, sausages, chocolate, maize starch, edible fats and dextrin
- operates equipment to cool, heat, dry, roast, blanch, pasteurise, smoke, sterilise, freeze, evaporate and concentrate foodstuffs and liquids used in food processing
- mixes, pulps, grinds, blends and separates foodstuffs and liquids with churning, pressing, sieving, grinding and filtering equipment
- processes tobacco leaves by hand or machine to make cigarettes, cigars, pipe and other tobacco products
Qualifications
There are no formal academic entry requirements, though some GCSEs/S grades can be an advantage. Off and on-the-job training is available. Vocational qualifications related to food and drink manufacturing, including apprenticeships, are available at up to Level 3.
*Introduced in 1990, SOC is a multi-purpose common classification of occupations in UK. Jobs are defined in terms of skill level and skill content, including qualifications, training and work experience.
Employment status: Food, drink and tobacco process operatives
Regional employment: Food, drink and tobacco process operatives
Future employment: Food, drink and tobacco process operatives
Top 12 industries: Food, drink and tobacco process operatives
Alternative & related job titles: Food, drink and tobacco process operatives
Baker (food products mfr) Bakery assistant Factory worker (food products mfr) Meat processor (meat packing) Process worker (brewery) Process worker (dairy)
Equality focus: Food, drink and tobacco process operatives
Breaking down the official government big data sources by gender, age and region. Hours and pay data based on full time equlivalent roles.
Breakdown by gender
£20,857
Female average annual salary
£26,071
Male average annual salary
40
Female average weekly hours
44
Male average weekly hours
Average pay per hour: Food, drink and tobacco process operatives
Workforce gender: Food, drink and tobacco process operatives
Breakdown by region
£28,679
South East (England) - highest annual average salary
£23,464
North East (England) - lowest annual average salary
47
Northern Ireland - Highest average weekly hours
40
Yorkshire and the Humber - Lowest average weekly hours
Average pay per week (£): Food, drink and tobacco process operatives
Average weekly hours by UK region/nation: Food, drink and tobacco process operatives
Breakdown by age
20 years
Lowest annual salary (£8,864)
years
Highest annual salary (£0) at this age