MRF Mobile Plant Operator
Veolia
£31,626 a year
ApplyRoutine maintenance of mobile plant and equipment, including oils and water checks and reporting defects. Liaise with site..
Plant Operator Salary UK 2026
The average advertised pay for a Plant Operator, based on live UK vacancies — with how it compares to similar roles and how many jobs are available right now.
By Louisa Lowe, Editor — Careers & Workplace · Updated 5 October 2026£33,000
median advertised salary
37
live jobs right now
64%
permanent roles
76%
via agencies
How much does a Plant Operator earn in the UK?
The average advertised salary for a Plant Operator in the UK is £33,000 a year, based on 28 live vacancies carrying salary information this month. That is about £2,750 a month or £16.92 an hour before tax, on a 37.5-hour week. 64% of current adverts are permanent, and 76% are posted through recruitment agencies.
Plant Operator adverts mention AI or automation 0% of the time — among the most AI-proof roles we track.
How Plant Operator pay compares
Median advertised salary for Plant Operator beside other job titles in construction and trades, from the lowest paid to the highest.
Other roles in construction and trades
| Role | Median pay | Live jobs | Permanent | AI mentions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Construction Manager | £83,000 | 271 | 63% | 1% |
| Quantity Surveyor | £55,000 | 1,299 | 90% | 0% |
| Carpenter | £48,000 | 299 | 47% | 0% |
| 360 Driver | £45,000 | 39 | 9% | 0% |
| Plasterer | £42,000 | 80 | 48% | 0% |
| CNC Programmer | £38,000 | 293 | 95% | 0% |
| CNC Operator | £34,000 | 293 | 95% | 0% |
| Plant Operator | £33,000 | 37 | 64% | 0% |
| Labourer | £30,000 | 741 | 29% | 0% |
Latest Plant Operator jobs
Yard Operative / Plant Operator
Meridian Business Support
£14.64 – £18.77 an hour
ApplyExperienced in a yard or plant environment. Flexible and willing to get stuck in with general yard duties. A team player with a..
Plant Operator
Veolia
£32,000 a year
ApplySalary: £32,000 per annum plus Veolia benefits. Hours: 40 hours per week, 08:00-17:00 with flexibility. Location: Northampton,..
Pilot Plant Operator
Adepto Technical Recruitment Ltd
£35,000 – £45,000 a year
ApplyAdepto Technical Recruitment is recruiting a practical Pilot Plant Operator / Chemical Technician for a growing clean technology..
Plant Operator - Energy from Waste
Astute People
Pay not stated
ApplyAstute's Power Team is partnering with a leading energy provider to recruit a Plant Operator to work at an Energy from Waste..
Plant Operator
Biogen Direct employer
£30,000 a year
ApplyPlant Operator. You will join as a Plant Operator to assist in the safe operation of the Anaerobic Digestion (AD) plant. This is..
Plant Operator
Crem Recruitment
£30,000 – £39,000 a year
ApplyWe are recruiting for a Plant Operator to join our client's team within a specialist manufacturing environment. This is an..
Log Yard Plant & Machine Operator
Westray Recruitment Consultants Ltd
£30,654 a year
ApplyWestray Recruitment Group is seeking a Log Grading Operator to join an established manufacturing organisation on a permanent..
Mobile Plant Operator
Countrystyle Recycling Direct employer
£14.67 an hour
ApplyJob Title: Mobile Plant Operator. Location: Thames Road / Foots Cray. Salary: £14.67 per hour. Job Type: Permanent, Full time..
Plant / Machine Operator
Office Angels
£14 an hour
ApplyPlant/Machine Operator. Chartham, Canterbury, Kent. Starting from £14.00 per hour. Progression up to £16.87 per hour based on..
Browse 37 live Plant Operator jobs →
How we calculate this. Figures come from live Plant Operator vacancies in the CV-Library feed, refreshed monthly. The median uses adverts that state pay; hourly and weekly rates are annualised (hourly × 37.5 × 52). Ambiguous or "competitive" salaries are excluded rather than guessed. Read the full methodology →