Assemblers and routine operatives n.e.c.: pay and what the work involves

Occupation 8149 · Process, plant and machine operatives

Assemblers and routine operatives n.e.c.

Job holders in this unit group perform assembly and routine operative tasks not elsewhere classified in minor group 814: Assemblers and routine operatives.

How people enter it

There are no formal academic entry requirements, though some employers may require GCSEs/S grades. Some employers may set dexterity and aptitude tests for entrants. Normal colour vision may be required for some posts. NVQs/SVQs at levels 1, 2 and 3 are available in a variety of areas.

What the work involves

follows instructions and drawings and positions components on work bench or in assembly machine
assembles prepared components in sequence by soldering, bolting, fastening, spot-welding, screwing, nailing, stapling, dipping and fastening using power and hand tools or assembly machine
rejects faulty assembly components, inspects finished article for faults, monitors assembly machine operation and reports any faults
applies enamel to jewellery and coats, lacquers, dips and touches up articles (other than ceramic)
sets up and operates machines to apply colour to wallpaper and to coat articles (other than ceramic) with paint, cellulose or other protective/ decorative material
performs miscellaneous painting and coating tasks not elsewhere classified including, staining articles, applying transfers, operating French polishing machines, removing surplus enamel from components and marking design outlines on articles

Also called

Assembler · Gluer (furniture mfr) · Paint line operator · Production assistant · Riveter (soft toy mfr)

What it pays

Measure	Hours	Basis	Period	Value	Source
8149 : Assemblers and routine operatives n.e.c.	None	None	2026-03	22,000.00	ONS, Annual Population Survey - employment by occupation (SOC 2020)
8149 : Assemblers and routine operatives n.e.c.	None	None	2026-03	24,200.00	ONS, Annual Population Survey - employment by occupation (SOC 2020)
8149 : Assemblers and routine operatives n.e.c.	None	None	2026-03	24,400.00	ONS, Annual Population Survey - employment by occupation (SOC 2020)
8149 : Assemblers and routine operatives n.e.c.	None	None	2026-03	1,900.00	ONS, Annual Population Survey - employment by occupation (SOC 2020)
8149 : Assemblers and routine operatives n.e.c.	None	None	2026-03	—	ONS, Annual Population Survey - employment by occupation (SOC 2020) Not published: Estimate is less than 500
8149 : Assemblers and routine operatives n.e.c.	None	None	2026-03	26,300.00	ONS, Annual Population Survey - employment by occupation (SOC 2020)
8149 : Assemblers and routine operatives n.e.c.	None	None	2026-03	2,200.00	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	8149 : Assemblers and routine operatives n.e.c.	None	3,400.00	2026-03
East Midlands	8149 : Assemblers and routine operatives n.e.c.	None	3,400.00	2026-03
London	8149 : Assemblers and routine operatives n.e.c.	None	withheld	2026-03
North East	8149 : Assemblers and routine operatives n.e.c.	None	1,000.00	2026-03
North West	8149 : Assemblers and routine operatives n.e.c.	None	2,600.00	2026-03
Northern Ireland	8149 : Assemblers and routine operatives n.e.c.	None	1,900.00	2026-03
Scotland	8149 : Assemblers and routine operatives n.e.c.	None	withheld	2026-03
South East	8149 : Assemblers and routine operatives n.e.c.	None	2,600.00	2026-03
South West	8149 : Assemblers and routine operatives n.e.c.	None	1,800.00	2026-03
Wales	8149 : Assemblers and routine operatives n.e.c.	None	2,200.00	2026-03
West Midlands	8149 : Assemblers and routine operatives n.e.c.	None	4,500.00	2026-03
Yorkshire and The Humber	8149 : Assemblers and routine operatives n.e.c.	None	2,800.00	2026-03

Common questions

Does pay for assemblers and routine 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

Assemblers (electrical and electronic products) · Assemblers (vehicles and metal goods) · Routine inspectors and testers · Sewing machinists · Tyre, exhaust and windscreen fitters · Weighers, graders and sorters