As of April 22, 2025, the average annual salary for a Senior Machine Operator in the United Kingdom is £37,580, with an hourly rate of £18, according to Salary.com Global Salary IQ data. The average salary ranges from £33,640 to £43,120, influenced by factors like location, education, experience, and more.

Global Market Data
25TH   £33,640
50TH(Median)   £37,580
75TH   £43,120
Senior Machine Operator Salaries by Percentile
Percentile Salary Location Last Updated
25th Percentile Senior Machine Operator Salary £33,640 United Kingdom April 22, 2025
50th Percentile Senior Machine Operator Salary £37,580 United Kingdom April 22, 2025
75th Percentile Senior Machine Operator Salary £43,120 United Kingdom April 22, 2025

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How Much Does a Senior Machine Operator Make by Hour, Week, Month, and Year?

Last Updated on April 22, 2025

Salary.com provides you with accurate and diversified Senior Machine Operator salary data based on specialized databases to help you get a fairer salary. The average annual pay for a Senior Machine Operator is about £37,580 a year, this translates to an approximate hourly rate of £18, a monthly salary of about £3,132, and a weekly pay of around £723. Click the switch button below to see more details about Senior Machine Operator hourly pay, weekly pay, monthly pay, and so on.

How Much Do Senior Machine Operators Earn at Different Levels in 2025?

A Senior Machine Operator's salary varies significantly based on experience level. Entry typically earn £34,169 - £36,580, while Intermediate make £34,522 - £36,874, Senior earn £35,169 - £37,462, Specialist earn £36,110 - £38,572, Expert can reach £37,580 - £40,722 or more, depending on the company and location.

Levels Salary
Entry Level Senior Machine Operator £35,816
Intermediate Level Senior Machine Operator £36,110
Senior Level Senior Machine Operator £36,698
Specialist Level Senior Machine Operator £37,580
Expert Level Senior Machine Operator £39,647
£35,816 0 yr
£36,110 < 2 yrs
£36,698 2-4 yrs
£37,580 5-8 yrs
£39,647 > 8 yrs
Entry Level 5%
Intermediate Level 4%
Senior Level 2%
Specialist Level 0%
Expert Level 6%
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View as Graph
Last Updated on April 22, 2025

Skills to Boost a Senior Machine Operator Salary

Mastering key skills can significantly increase your earning potential as a Senior Machine Operator. According to Salary.com's Real-time Job Posting Data, expertise in Commitment can lead to a 4% salary raise, while strong Material Handling skills boost pay by a 2%. Even Welding can result in a 1% salary increase.

Skill Library evaluates talent skills across five levels, supported by 5-10 behavior indicators, delivering precise insights for data-driven hiring decisions.
Commitment
An agreement or pledge to do something in the future a commitment to improve conditions at the prison especially : an engagement to assume a financial obligation at a future date.
Material Handling
Material handling involves short-distance movement within the confines of a building or between a building and a transportation vehicle. It uses a wide range of manual, semi-automated, and automated equipment and includes consideration of the protection, storage, and control of materials throughout their manufacturing, warehousing, distribution, consumption, and disposal. Material handling can be used to create time and place utility through the handling, storage, and control of material, as distinct from manufacturing, which creates form utility by changing the shape, form, and makeup of material.
Welding
Welding is a fabrication or sculptural process that joins materials, usually metals or thermoplastics, by using high heat to melt the parts together and allowing them to cool causing fusion. Welding is distinct from lower temperature metal-joining techniques such as brazing and soldering, which do not melt the base metal. In addition to melting the base metal, a filler material is typically added to the joint to form a pool of molten material (the weld pool) that cools to form a joint that, based on weld configuration (butt, full penetration, fillet, etc.), can be stronger than the base material (parent metal). Pressure may also be used in conjunction with heat, or by itself, to produce a weld. Welding also requires a form of shield to protect the filler metals or melted metals from being contaminated or oxidized. Many different energy sources can be used for welding, including a gas flame (chemical), an electric arc (electrical), a laser, an electron beam, friction, and ultrasound. While often an industrial process, welding may be performed in many different environments, including in open air, under water, and in outer space. Welding is a hazardous undertaking and precautions are required to avoid burns, electric shock, vision damage, inhalation of poisonous gases and fumes, and exposure to intense ultraviolet radiation.
More Skills...
Based on recent job listings, in-demand skills in the Senior Machine Operator field include Commitment (4%), Material Handling (2%), and Welding (1%). These skills reflect current market needs.
Skills Salary Demand
Skill & Salary Demand
Commitment £39,083
Commitment
£39,083
4%
Material Handling £38,332
Material Handling
£38,332
2%
Welding £37,956
Welding
£37,956
1%
Commitment
0.52%
Material Handling
3.89%
Welding
1.52%

What are the Highest Paying Cities in the United Kingdom for Senior Machine Operator?

The top 3 highest-paying cities in the United Kingdom for Senior Machine Operator are London, Brighton and Hove, and Manchester. In London, the average salary is £40,586 per year, while Brighton and Hove offers £37,859, and Manchester pays around £36,022 annually.

Which Job Pays More: Machine Operator I or Senior Machine Operator?

As of April 22, 2025 , a Machine Operator I makes less than a Senior Machine Operator. A Machine Operator I earns an average annual salary of £20,891. And a Senior Machine Operator earns an average annual salary of £37,580.

Job Title Salary Range in GBP
Machine Operator I
£16,469
£25,664
Entry Machine Operator
£16,541
£25,776
Production Machine Operator I
£16,425
£25,596
Machine Operator
£16,706
£26,032
Machine Operator II
£17,244
£29,324

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