Annual Salary
£24,000 to £31,000
Average UK salary in 2023 was £34,963
(source Office for National Statistics)
Swap to Logistics or Transport or go back to all job sectors
Swap to Logistics or Transport or go back to all job sectors
Port operatives work with cargo, passengers and marine craft in ports and harbours.
Average UK salary in 2023 was £34,963
(source Office for National Statistics)
You could work: days / nights / weekends; on shifts
There will be
1.4% fewer Port operative jobs in 2029.
As a port operative or stevedore you could:
As a passenger worker, you could:
In marine operations, you would:
You may need to wear protective clothing.
You could work at a port or at a marina.
Your working environment may be physically demanding.
You can get into this job through:
You could apply to do a Port Operative Level 2 Intermediate Apprenticeship with a port company.
This apprenticeship can take between 1 and 2 years to complete. It combines on-the-job training with learning off site.
You'll usually need:
You can apply directly to port companies for cargo operations jobs if you've got experience in warehouse work, operating mobile cranes and plant machinery, or driving forklift trucks.
You can also work in passenger operations if you have experience in customer service or travel.
You'll need to:
Your employer will put you through port safety training when you start.
You can find out more about working in ports and harbours from:Associated British Ports; Peel Ports Group; Port Skills and Safety
With experience, you could be promoted to foreperson or supervisor, and then move on to become a superintendent or port operations manager.
You could also take further training to specialise in engineering to maintain the heavy machinery used in ports.
You'll need: