Plant and machine operatives n.e.c.: pay and what the work involves

Occupation 8139 · Process, plant and machine operatives

Plant and machine operatives n.e.c.

Job holders in this unit group operate a variety of plant and machinery not elsewhere classified in minor group 813: Plant and machine operatives.

How people enter it

There are no formal academic entry requirements. Training is typically provided on-the-job. NVQs/ SVQs are available in some areas.

What the work involves

operates acetylene torches and other cutting equipment to dismantle boilers, cars, ships, railway track, engines, machinery and other scrap metal
bends, coils, crimps and spins metal wires in the manufacture of cables, springs, ropes and other wire goods
operates machines in the manufacture of nuts, bolts, nails, screws, pins, rivets, etc.
fills grease gun with grease of appropriate grade, and applies grease or oil to grease points or lubrication holes in machinery or equipment and over bearings, axles and other similar parts
ensures that rollers in rope haulage system are well greased and running freely
inspects machines and equipment, and reports any faults

Also called

Bench hand (metal trades) · Cable maker (spring mfr) · Laser operator · Manufacturer (metal goods mfr) · Saw doctor

What it pays

Measure	Hours	Basis	Period	Value	Source
8139 : Plant and machine operatives n.e.c.	None	None	2026-03	19,700.00	ONS, Annual Population Survey - employment by occupation (SOC 2020)
8139 : Plant and machine operatives n.e.c.	None	None	2026-03	21,000.00	ONS, Annual Population Survey - employment by occupation (SOC 2020)
8139 : Plant and machine operatives n.e.c.	None	None	2026-03	21,900.00	ONS, Annual Population Survey - employment by occupation (SOC 2020)
8139 : Plant and machine operatives n.e.c.	None	None	2026-03	600.00	ONS, Annual Population Survey - employment by occupation (SOC 2020)
8139 : Plant and machine operatives n.e.c.	None	None	2026-03	800.00	ONS, Annual Population Survey - employment by occupation (SOC 2020)
8139 : Plant and machine operatives n.e.c.	None	None	2026-03	22,500.00	ONS, Annual Population Survey - employment by occupation (SOC 2020)
8139 : Plant and machine operatives n.e.c.	None	None	2026-03	1,300.00	ONS, Annual Population Survey - employment by occupation (SOC 2020)

Every regional figure

ONS does not publish occupational pay below region. Cells the survey could not support are shown as withheld, with its reason — adding a region split to a specific occupation leaves roughly a tenth of cells publishable.

Region	Measure	Hours	Value	Period
East	8139 : Plant and machine operatives n.e.c.	None	1,200.00	2026-03
East Midlands	8139 : Plant and machine operatives n.e.c.	None	2,200.00	2026-03
London	8139 : Plant and machine operatives n.e.c.	None	withheld	2026-03
North East	8139 : Plant and machine operatives n.e.c.	None	withheld	2026-03
North West	8139 : Plant and machine operatives n.e.c.	None	2,800.00	2026-03
Northern Ireland	8139 : Plant and machine operatives n.e.c.	None	600.00	2026-03
Scotland	8139 : Plant and machine operatives n.e.c.	None	800.00	2026-03
South East	8139 : Plant and machine operatives n.e.c.	None	1,300.00	2026-03
South West	8139 : Plant and machine operatives n.e.c.	None	2,100.00	2026-03
Wales	8139 : Plant and machine operatives n.e.c.	None	1,300.00	2026-03
West Midlands	8139 : Plant and machine operatives n.e.c.	None	3,100.00	2026-03
Yorkshire and The Humber	8139 : Plant and machine operatives n.e.c.	None	6,600.00	2026-03

Common questions

Does pay for plant and machine operatives n.e.c. vary by region?

ONS publishes regional pay for this occupation where the survey sample supports it — 10 of 12 cells on this page. The rest are withheld by ONS, and are shown as withheld with the reason, rather than left out.

Where do these pay figures come from?

The Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, published by the Office for National Statistics. Figures are shown exactly as ONS publishes them — we do not adjust, model or fill them in, and every number on this page carries the series and period it came from.

Classified alongside this

Energy plant operatives · Mining and quarry workers and related operatives · Paper and wood machine operatives · Printing machine assistants · Water and sewerage plant operatives