SOC 2020 · 8111
Food, drink and tobacco process operatives
Immigration Rules Appendix Skilled Occupations from
Skilled Worker
Not eligible
No Skilled Worker route through this code.
Salary floor
£41,700
The higher of the going rate and the general threshold.
Shortage lists
Not listed
This code is on neither the Immigration Salary List nor the Temporary Shortage List.
What this occupation actually pays
ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, full-time gross annual pay.
- UK pay for this occupation
View these figures as a table
| Percentile | Pay |
|---|---|
| 10th | £21,541 |
| 25th | £24,471 |
| 50th | £28,243 |
| 75th | £33,889 |
| 90th | £40,489 |
| Region | 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UK 2025 | £21,541 | £24,471 | £28,243 | £33,889 | £40,489 |
| East 2025 | — | — | £28,552 | — | — |
| East Midlands 2025 | — | — | £28,812 | — | — |
| London 2025 | — | — | £28,798 | — | — |
| North East 2025 | — | — | £27,709 |
Job titles in this code
What the work involves
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.
Typical tasks
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
Entry routes and 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.