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Manufacturing

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Production worker (manufacturing)

Production workers manufacture goods and parts in industries like pharmaceuticals, food and drink, battery technology and engineering.

Annual Salary

£22,000 to £28,000

Average UK salary in 2023 was £34,963
(source Office for National Statistics)

Working hours

40 to 48 a week

You could work: evenings / weekends / bank holidays; on shifts

5.8%
Future employment

There will be 5.8% fewer Production worker (manufacturing) jobs in 2027.

Day to day tasks

As a production worker, your could:

  • measure, grade and feed raw materials into production machinery
  • operate equipment like factory conveyor lines
  • assemble goods on a production line
  • report equipment faults to maintenance staff
  • monitor production and carry out basic testing and quality checks
  • store goods and raw materials, using lifting equipment
  • clean and maintain work areas and machinery

Working environment

You may need to wear protective clothing.

You could work in a factory or in a warehouse.

Your working environment may be noisy.

You can get into this job through:

  • an apprenticeship
  • applying directly
Apprenticeship

You could apply to do an apprenticeship.

Examples include:

  • Lean Manufacturing Operative Level 2 Intermediate Apprenticeship
  • Food and Drink Process Operator Level 2 Intermediate Apprenticeship
  • Battery Manufacturing Technician Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship

These typically take from 1 to 3 years to complete, and are a mix of learning on the job and off-site study.

There are many other apprenticeships available, covering specific manufacturing industries, such as automotive, chemicals and engineering.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • some GCSEs, usually including English and maths, or equivalent, for an intermediate apprenticeship
  • 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths, for an advanced apprenticeship
For more information
  • equivalent entry requirements|https://www.gov.uk/what-different-qualification-levels-mean/list-of-qualification-levels
  • guide to apprenticeships|https://www.gov.uk/apprenticeships-guide
Direct application

You could apply for production jobs directly. Some employers may look for GCSEs at grades 9 to 3 (A* to D), or equivalent qualifications. Experience of production line work would be useful.

You may have to take a test at interview to assess your practical skills.

More information

Career tips

Forklift truck training could be useful for some jobs.

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With experience, you could become a shift supervisor, line manager or move into quality control.

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Skills required and how your skills match up

What skills are required?

You'll need:

  • to be thorough and pay attention to detail
  • the ability to operate and control equipment
  • the ability to work well with others
  • to be flexible and open to change
  • the ability to work well with your hands
  • observation and recording skills
  • excellent verbal communication skills
  • knowledge of manufacturing production and processes
  • to be able to carry out basic tasks on a computer or hand-held device
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