Food, drink and tobacco process operatives

£25,029

Average salary

Average annual salary UK 2020 | Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings

44 hours

Average weekly hours

Average weekly hours UK 2019 | Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings

5.8%

Pay growth from 2017 to 2018

Average change in weekly pay rate | Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings

6.35%

Unemployment rate

Unemployment rate UK 2020 | Labour Force Survey

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. NVQs/ SVQs in Food and Drink Manufacturing Operations are available at Levels 1, 2 and 3. NVQs/SVQs in Tobacco Processing are available at Level 2.

*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

Attendant, oven (food products mfr) Blender, spice Worker, creamery Blender (food products mfr) Foreman (brewery) Operator, mixer (sugar confectionery mfr) Man, conche Maker, cheese Creamer (biscuit mfr) Attendant, boiler, temper Maker, soup Machinist (brewery) Roller (food products mfr) Operator, drier's, grain Man, service (chocolate mfr) Binman, tempering Worker, margarine Assistant, oven (bakery) Operator, freezer (fruit, vegetable preserving) Spinner, sugar Hand, general (bacon, ham, meat curing) Maker, lozenge Operator, votator Hand, carbonating Dipper, toffee Attendant, washer's Attendant, boiler, vacuum Spinner (tobacco mfr) Attendant, sterilizer (distillery) Maker, glucose Machinist, mixing (bakery) Pickler (food products mfr) Attendant, multiplex Maker, starch Moulder, marzipan Hand, oven (bakery) Man, room, malt Inspector, cellar Washer (fish curing) Refiner, dripping Worker, factory (food products mfr) Man, pan (food products mfr) Boiler, fruit Coater, chocolate Worker, process (dairy) Maker, margarine Operative, food Steriliser (canned foods mfr) Mate, liquorman's Fryer (food products mfr) Machinist, banding Attendant, earth, fuller's Worker, tobacco Machinist, cutting and wrapping (bakery) Machinist, pie Bandyman (provender milling) Maker, cake (sugar confectionery mfr) Operative, processing, food Knocker-out (chocolate mfr) Miller (grain milling) Cutter, lemon Screener (grain milling) Tankerman (whisky distilling) Screener, seed Buncher (cigar mfr) Foreman, mill (food products mfr) Attendant, washer, beet Cleaner, scrap (tobacco mfr) Hand, depository (sugar confectionery mfr) Maker, marzipan Operator, saw, band (food products mfr) Hand, carbonation Moulder, machine Servicer, line (food products mfr) Mixer, flour Cutter, lozenge Separator, milk Teamer (tobacco mfr) Operator, retort (food products mfr) Blender, cocoa Grinderman (grain milling) Man, granary Dresser, flour Maker, biscuit, dog Maker, essence Man, chiller (brewery) Worker, chocolate Man, toffee Attendant, equipment, automatic (food products mfr) Server (confectionery mfr) Coppersidesman Boiler, jelly Operator, plant, bakery Cleaner, fruit Houseman, steep (starch mfr) Spreader (tobacco mfr) Worker, sediment (whisky distilling) Maker, caramel (sugar refining) Presser, yeast Worker, plant (bakery) Presser (cider mfr) Dresser, seed Grinder, corn Man, carbonation Flusher, starch Operator (food products mfr) Operator, plant (food processing) Spreader (food products mfr) Attendant, cylinder (tobacco mfr) Dropper (bacon, ham, meat curing) Machinist, ice-cream Worker, process (flour confectionery mfr) Filterer (alcoholic drink mfr) Mixer, cream, ice Miller (brewery) Maker, mould (sugar confectionery mfr) Man, kiln (distillery) Refiner, lard Stemmer, leaf Cleaner, rice Machinist (grain milling) Preparer (food preserving) Operator, mill (grain milling) Worker, confectionery (bakery) Cutter, sugar Mashman Operator, cuber Mixer, sugar (condensed milk mfr) Maker, syrup Assistant, sample (chocolate mfr) Operator, moulder Piper, sugar Refiner (oil seed crushing) Man, acid (sugar refining) Kibbler (food products mfr) Dresser, skin (sausage mfr) Man, battery (food products mfr) Man, pan, boiling Worker, process (tobacco mfr) Assistant, dairyman's (milk processing) Gristman (brewery) Machinist, dough Assistant, bakery Hand, confectionery Operative, bakery Operator, evaporator (food products mfr) Worker, room, icing Assistant, spinner's (tobacco mfr) Stover (tobacco mfr) Hand, mill, flour Attendant, pan (food products mfr) Turner, biscuit Maker, cigarette Vatman (soft drinks mfr) Miller, flour Miller (sugar refining) Presser, filter (food products mfr) Worker, process (yeast mfr) Operative, tobacco Stripper, leaf Refiner, fat Melter (sugar refining) Operator, plant, spray (milk processing) Cobberer Roaster, barley Worker, factory (brewery) Screensman, seed Extractor, oil Worker, room, nut Man, sulphitation Attendant, sieve, rotary (tobacco mfr) Man, room, tun Vatman (vinegar mfr) Stover (food products mfr) Hand, mill (animal feeds mfr) Operator, acidifier Dropper (sugar confectionery mfr) Cutter, bread (bakery) Draffman Marker (sugar confectionery mfr) Worker, process (chocolate mfr) Filler, pie Crusher (seed crushing) Hand, deck (milk processing) Machinist (tobacco mfr) Maker, jelly Crusher, seed Attendant, mixer (food products mfr) Divider, hand (bakery) Dryer (brewery) Attendant, plodder Foreman (cattle food mfr) Baker (food products mfr) Maker, malt Presser, oil (oil seed crushing) Machinist, filling, skin Presser (tobacco mfr) Siever (food products mfr) Maker, bunch Liner, tin (bakery) Finingsman Machinist (bakery) Moulder, cigar Machinist, tempering Presser (food products mfr) Attendant, tank (sugar refining) Man, malt Maker, cider Hearthman (brewery) Maker, wafer Assistant, boiler's, sugar Controller, temperature (tobacco mfr) Assistant, brewery Maker, plug (tobacco mfr) Machinist, milling (food products mfr) Fridgeman (ice cream mfr) Machinist, making, sausage Operator, viscoliser Machinist, starch Worker, sugar Operator, preserving Filler (tobacco mfr) Dairymaid (dairy products mfr) Mixer (flour confectionery mfr) Blender (tobacco mfr) Steriliser, milk Vatman (brewery) Worker, process (starch mfr) Piper (sugar confectionery mfr) Cook (tripe dressing) Siloman (seed crushing) Operator, line (food products mfr) Machinist, biscuit Machinist, slicing, bread Assistant, production (food processing) Man, machinery, grain Operator, plant, drying (food products mfr) Washer, meat Dairyman (dairy products mfr) Roller, pastry Presser (distillery) Mixer, colour (custard powder mfr) Grinder, sugar Operator, filter (whisky distilling) Maker, paste (food products mfr) Icer Washerman (grain milling) Filler, chocolate Hand, mill, grain Operator, process (food products mfr) Cutter (bakery) Remoistener Maker, sausage Man, refrigerator (brewery) Man, evaporator (food products mfr) Picker-up (tobacco mfr) Miller, grain Cellarer Operator, boiler, sugar Operator, pan (food products mfr) Worker, factory (tobacco mfr) Maker, butter Dryer, tobacco Help, baker's Purifier (food products mfr) Worker, brewery Hand, bakery Worker, cheese Miller, rice Mixer, chocolate Machinist, fondant Hand, cream Fireman (malting) Dairymaid (milk processing) Maker, pie Worker, mill (animal feeds mfr) Boilerman (food products mfr) Concher Roller (flour milling) Attendant, room, ice Beater-up (tobacco mfr) Panner (tobacco mfr) Man, evaporator, multiple (sugar, glucose mfr) Pasteuriser Juiceman Pickler, beef Foreman (sugar refining) Miller, mustard Cutter, biscuit Worker, process (food products mfr) Machinist (malting) Hand, creamery Sidesman, copper (brewery) Operator, process (bakery, flour confectionery mfr) Man, plant, dehydration (food products mfr) Miller, malt Clearer, oven (bakery) Feeder (food products mfr) Hand, leading (food products mfr) Refiner (chocolate mfr) Machinist, centrifugal Man, mixer (animal feeds mfr) Miller, corn Worker, pickle Operator, sterilizer, milk Filterer (food products mfr) Curer Salter (bacon, ham, meat curing) Speeter (fish curing) Foreman, brewer Attendant, pump, air (sugar refining) Crusher, malt Man, autolysis Maker, pickle Operator, process (brewery) Attendant, montejuice Blender Maker, flake Man, paraflow Machinist (animal feeds mfr) Machinist (bread, flour confectionery) Sifter, flour Mixer, cake Dipper, fondant Maker, meat, potted Cutter, sweet Foreman (cigarette mfr) Operative, powder, baking Roller, slab Worker, process (organic oil and fat processing) Setter (sugar confectionery mfr) Worker, marzipan Lineworker (food products mfr) Picker, fruit (food processing) Machinist, stemming Greaser, tin (bakery) Compounder (food products mfr) Maker, sauce Machinist, stoving Preserver (food products mfr) Machinist (sugar refining) Moulder (tobacco mfr) Maker, biscuit Preparer, ingredient, raw (flour confectionery mfr) Man, room, mash Maker, cream Weigher and mixer (sugar confectionery mfr) Machinist (dairy) Paster, biscuit Cleaner, skin, sausage Dropper (sugar refining) Man, side (brewery) Paperer, tin (bakery) Silksman Worker, process (vinery) Machinist, cutting (sugar confectionery mfr) Mixer, food Feeder, biscuit Operative, line (food products mfr) Cleaner, seed Cooker (food products mfr) Liquefier, butter Confectioner (sugar confectionery mfr) Enrober (sugar confectionery mfr) Machinist, washing (food products mfr) Churner Roller (flour confectionery mfr) Vatman (cider mfr) Smoker (food products mfr) Homogeniser Refiner (sugar refining) Hand, frame, mustard Maker, cake, fish Topper, beet (sugar mfr) Attendant, inversion Handyman, nos (grist milling) Dairyman (milk processing) Runner, wort Worker, copperhead Hand, bench (sugar confectionery mfr) Maker, water, mineral Mixer, dough (flour confectionery mfr) Stripper, biscuit Help, general (bakery) Blender, coffee Foreman (chocolate mfr) Maker, pudding Man, mill (salt mfr) Attendant, granary Machinist, making, cigarette Man, pan (sugar refining) Man, converter (sugar, glucose mfr) Melter, sugar Worker, confectionery (sugar confectionery mfr) Moulder (bakery) Machinist, mixing (food products mfr) Racker (vinegar mfr) Hand, chocolate Separator, skin, sausage Cook (food products mfr) Coverer, chocolate Foreman (oil seed crushing) Presser, cocoa Refiner (food products mfr) Operator, tandem Marker, cask Worker-off (sugar confectionery mfr) Selector, skin, sausage Finisher (flour confectionery mfr) Worker, general (food products mfr) Assistant, blender's Manufacturer (tobacco mfr) Hand, slab Finisher (sugar confectionery mfr) Attendant, expeller, oil Operator, grinder and roller (cheese processing) Rouser Sorter, seed Machinist, assembly, plug Operator, cooler, brine Assistant, miller's Worker, pan, revolving (sugar confectionery mfr) Foreman, dairy Worker, factory (distillery) Trimmer, vegetable Assistant, confectioner's (sugar confectionery mfr) Maker, base (custard powder mfr) Salter, dry Maker, cake, pontefract Mixer, syrup (mineral water mfr) Maker, jam Maker, sweet Cutter, wafer Cooker, crisp, potato Machinist, cutting (tobacco mfr) Moulder (sugar confectionery mfr) Attendant, molasses Attendant, centrifugal (food products mfr) Worker, process (meat products mfr) Operator, autoclave (food products mfr) Roller (cigar mfr) Man, mill, malt Briner Machinist, cigar Foreman (sugar confectionery mfr) Man, granulator Attendant, conditioner (tobacco mfr) Hand, essence Maker, water, soda Hand, mill, provender Manufacturer (food products mfr) Slicer (food processing) Boiler, liquorice Peeler, orange Baker, oven, hand Man, fermenting (distillery) Cutter, tobacco Ovensman (bakery) Cutter (tobacco mfr) Machinist, enrobing Man, liquor (sugar refining) Worker, process (bakery) Slicer (bakery) Shredder (food products mfr) Cheeser (biscuit mfr) Fireman (food products mfr) Mixer, spice Fermenter Glazer (sugar confectionery mfr) Mixer, ice-cream Operator, room, sifting Chopper, sugar Operator, oven, vacuum (food products mfr) Supervisor (animal feeds mfr) Brineman Man, purifier (food products mfr) Blender (animal feeds mfr) Maker, confectionery Man, safe (sugar refining) Machinist, cream, ice Maltster Mixer, recipe (food products mfr) Operator, plant, dehydration (fruit, vegetable preserving) Processor, meat Blancher Blender, tea Peeler (food processing) Turner (brewery) Engineman, malt Cuber (seed crushing) Minder, oven (bakery) Foreman (grain milling) Tracer (chocolate mfr) Rodder (fish curing) Breaker, egg Picker (food processing) Racker (alcoholic drink mfr) Worker, casein (food products mfr) Gasman (cider mfr) Miller, provender Dipper, chocolate Hand, frame (sugar confectionery mfr) Blender (mineral water mfr) Cutter, leaf Nibber (cocoa mfr) Spinner (sugar, glucose mfr) Dryer (cereal foods mfr) Machinist (vinery) Fireman, kiln (food products mfr) Helper, bakehouse Dipper (sugar confectionery mfr) Worker, table (cigar mfr) Man, filter (alcoholic drink mfr) Coater, sugar (confectionery mfr) Splitter (tobacco mfr) Worker, food Man, retort (canned foods mfr) Preparer, fruit, preserved Maker, bon-bon (sugar confectionery mfr) Foreman (food products mfr) Cutter, peel Paster (biscuit mfr) Maker, skin, sausage Leader, line (food products mfr) Man, table (food products mfr) Blender, flour Assistant, bakehouse Attendant, store, liquor Foreman, process (food products mfr) Man, melter (food products mfr) Operator, brewery Peeler, potato Breaker, cake Man, pan, vacuum (food products mfr) Cleaner, tripe Worker, process (distillery) Brakesman (biscuit mfr) Assistant, house, char Manufacturer (soft drinks mfr) Tankman, seed Cookerman (cereal foods mfr) Foreman, milk (dairy) Hand, cooler (sugar refining) Calciner, dextrin Operator, froster (ice cream making) Worker, process (soft drinks mfr) Feeder, hopper (cigarette mfr) Stripper, liquorice Presser, hop Cook (bakery) Machinist (soft drinks mfr) Machinist, tobacco Boiler, sugar Manufacturer, food Compounder (mineral water mfr) Operator, sieve, rotex (tobacco mfr) Boiler Boiler, gum (sugar confectionery mfr) Attendant, basin, outflow Cutter (food products mfr) Boiler, sauce Brewer Foreman (dairy) Blender, whisky Machinist, toffee Attendant, evaporator (food products mfr) Attendant, room, cold (brewery) Coverer, biscuit Maker, dough (flour confectionery mfr) Expeller (oil seed crushing) Washer, beet, sugar Finisher (cigar mfr) Operator, centrifugal Renderer, lard Freezer Attendant, neutraliser Roaster Worker, butter Foreman (mineral water mfr) Machinist, milk, dried Operator, brake (bakery) Stover (starch mfr) Stemmer (tobacco mfr) Hand, kitchen (food products mfr) Worker, pudding Man, filter (vinegar mfr) Foreman (animal feeds mfr) Slabber, toffee Worker, process (brewery) Barrelman Machinist, drying (tobacco mfr) Machinist, threshing, tobacco Assistant, general (food products mfr) Worker, process (animal feeds mfr) Worker, room, starch Machinist (food products mfr) Dryer, bacon Man, floor (malting) Foreman (tobacco mfr) Grinder, coffee Grinder, snuff Ovenman (bakery) Operator, blending (custard powder mfr) Supplier, leaf Layer-out, tobacco Conditioner, leaf Attendant, cooler Maker, ice-cream Roller, ball Slitter (tobacco mfr) Miller, spice Worker, factory (soft drinks mfr) Hammerman (tobacco mfr) Man, clarifier Operator, plant (bakery) Condenser (milk processing) Firer (malting) Attendant, evaporator, steepwater Operator, freezer (ice cream making) Primer (brewery) Sifter (food products mfr) Cooler (brewery) Man, dough Shellerman Greaser (bakery) Maker, cigar Stripper, tin (biscuit mfr) Attendant, press (sugar refining) Cleaner (food products mfr) Miller, oil Sealer (meat market) Maker, lard Attendant, stove, starch Man, tunnel Preparer, gelatine Operator, billet (bakery) Machinist (cider mfr) Controlman (margarine mfr) Miller (whisky distilling) Kipperer Operator, pan, vacuum (food products mfr) Chocolatier Cellarman (brewery) Stripper (tobacco mfr) Worker, bakehouse Hand, filtration (alcoholic drink mfr) Houseman, tun (brewery) Ovenman (food products mfr) Carbonator (brewery) Worker, bakery Dryer, grain (malting) Maker, brine (preserves mfr) Bathman (bacon, ham, meat curing) Brewer, beer, ginger Steephouseman (starch mfr) Topman (bacon, ham, meat curing) Worker, gelatine Mixer (tobacco mfr) Salter, fish Maker, snuff Operator, sieve (food products mfr) Machinist, cigarette Peeler, lemon Attendant, oven (bakery) Perryman Assistant, mill, offal (tobacco mfr) Assistant, churner's Hopperman (bakery) Processor, milk Washer (grain milling) Crimper, pasty Roller (oil seed crushing) Hand, rock (sugar confectionery mfr) Hand, dairy (milk processing) Mixer (soft drinks mfr) Steepsman (starch mfr) Operator, froster (fruit, vegetable preserving) Washer, fruit Filler, sausage Man, floor and kiln (malting) Mixer, batch Hand, plant, bakery Mixer (food products mfr) Grinder (food products mfr) Miller (animal feeds mfr) Blender, butter Moulder, chocolate Hand, liquorice Worker, room, sausage Maker, powder Maker, cream, ice Presser (oil seed crushing) Leaser, spinning, machine Mixer, compound (animal feeds mfr) Attendant, diffuser Hand, general (bakery) Machinist, rubbing (food products mfr) Preparer (food products mfr) Bulker (tobacco mfr) Operator, cooker Minder, retort (food canning) Worker, cider Machinist, drying (food products mfr) Dryer, pulp Fireman (bakery) Man, flavouring Sorter, bean, cocoa Operator, silo (tobacco mfr) Twister, sugar, barley Operator, homogeniser Hand, mill (food processing) Corder (tobacco mfr) Maker, pepper Roaster, malt Finer, beer Maker, sugar Kneader (bakery) Trimmer, cake Pansman (sugar refining) Attendant, filter (starch mfr) Pulper (food products mfr) Stover (bacon, ham, meat curing) Conditioner (food products mfr) Maker, chocolate Operator, triples Mixer (animal feeds mfr) Scalder (tripe dressing) Hand, divider (bakery) Dresser, tripe Tier, sausage Machinist (distillery) Assistant, maker's, cheese Machinist, grading Linker, sausage Boiler, biscuit Brusher, flour Mixer, sponge (bakery) Operator, separator (food processing) Sprayer (food products mfr) Man, cake, linseed Disintegrator (food products mfr) Caker Assistant, room, retort (food products mfr) Bleacher Maker, finings Decorator Cracker, egg Man, room, back (distillery) Boiler, pan (sugar refining) Cooler (food products mfr) Feeder-up (tobacco mfr) Man, yeast

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.