Factory Operative
Run machinery, assemble products, or manage quality in a manufacturing setting.
This UK factory operative career guide covers what the role involves day to day, typical salary at each stage, the usual entry route, the skills employers expect, and related careers worth comparing.
Quick facts
- Starting salary
- £20,000 - £25,000
- Mid-career salary
- £26,000 - £32,000
- Senior salary
- £35,000 - £45,000 (team leader)
- Work environment
- Factory, often shifts
- Time to entry
- 0 - 3 months
- Degree required
- Not required
- Category
- Engineering, Construction and Infrastructure
What a Factory Operative does
Run machinery, assemble products, or manage quality in a manufacturing setting.
How to become a Factory Operative
- Look up Factory Operative roles on LinkedIn or Indeed and read 5 real job ads
- Talk to someone already working as a Factory Operative - even a 15-minute call helps
- Find one beginner course or qualification used by people in this role
- Build one small piece of evidence you've explored this (project, shadowing, short course)
- Apply to one entry-level role or related opportunity within the next month
Key skills
- Reliability
- Stamina
- Attention to detail
- Teamwork