Salary guide · Food Production
Food Production: what the jobs pay
13 jobs, lowest paid first. Yearly ranges seen in real UK adverts in 2026, and the hourly rate on a 40 hour week.
| Job | A year | An hour, 40 hour week | Tickets or qualifications |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baker | £24,800 to £29,000 | about £11.92 to £13.94 | Food hygiene Level 2. Early starts are the job |
| Dairy operative | £24,800 to £28,000 | about £11.92 to £13.46 | Food hygiene level 2 |
| Fish filleter | £24,800 to £29,000 | about £11.92 to £13.94 | None to start |
| Food production operative | £24,800 to £28,000 | about £11.92 to £13.46 | None to start. Food hygiene Level 2, and warm kit for chilled sites given free |
| Hygiene operative | £24,800 to £29,000 | about £11.92 to £13.94 | COSHH awareness. Mostly nights, which should be paid as nights |
| Butcher | £25,000 to £32,000 | about £12.02 to £15.38 | Knife skills, food hygiene Level 2. Boning and trimming pay more |
| Distillery operator | £25,000 to £32,000 | about £12.02 to £15.38 | None to start |
| QA technician (food) | £25,000 to £31,000 | about £12.02 to £14.90 | Food hygiene level 2, HACCP level 2 or 3 |
| Brewer | £26,000 to £35,000 | about £12.50 to £16.83 | None to start, IBD qualifications help |
| Food technologist | £28,000 to £38,000 | about £13.46 to £18.27 | Degree in food science or similar, HACCP level 3 |
| Meat hygiene inspector | £28,000 to £35,000 | about £13.46 to £16.83 | Meat hygiene inspection qualification (FSA recognised) |
| NPD technologist | £30,000 to £40,000 | about £14.42 to £19.23 | Degree in food science or culinary training |
| Hygiene manager | £33,000 to £45,000 | about £15.87 to £21.63 | Food hygiene level 3, COSHH training |
Advertised ranges, not a survey of take home pay, and the same job pays differently by region. The National Living Wage for anybody 21 and over is £12.71 an hour. Wrong for your area? Tell us.
Live food production jobs All sectors Take home pay calculator