Water and sewerage plant operatives vs Welding trades Salary

How do Water and sewerage plant operatives and Welding trades salaries compare in the UK? Here is a detailed side-by-side breakdown using the latest ONS data.

Water and sewerage plant operatives earns £3,036 more per year (9% higher)

Water and sewerage plant operatives

£38,618
per year (gross)
Take-home: £31,325
vs

Welding trades

£35,582
per year (gross)
Take-home: £29,139

Detailed Comparison

MetricWater and sewerage plant operativesWelding tradesDifference
Median Annual£38,618£35,582+£3,036
Mean Annual£39,719£37,877+£1,842
Take-Home (Net)£31,325£29,139+£2,186
Monthly (Gross)£3,218£2,965+£253
Weekly (Gross)£743£684+£59
Hourly£18.57£17.11+£1.46

Salary Range Comparison

PercentileWater and sewerage plant operativesWelding trades
10th (Entry)£25,323£24,483
25th£29,878£29,325
50th (Median)£38,618£35,582
75th£46,430£45,339
90th (Senior)£0£0

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Frequently Asked Questions

Who earns more, a Water and sewerage plant operatives or a Welding trades?
A Water and sewerage plant operatives earns more. The median salary for a Water and sewerage plant operatives is £38,618, whilst a Welding trades earns £35,582 — a difference of £3,036 per year.
What is the salary difference between a Water and sewerage plant operatives and a Welding trades?
The difference is £3,036 per year. Water and sewerage plant operatives is the higher-paid role.
What is the take-home pay difference?
After tax and National Insurance, a Water and sewerage plant operatives takes home approximately £31,325 per year, whilst a Welding trades takes home £29,139. The net difference is £2,186.
Should I become a Water and sewerage plant operatives or a Welding trades?
From a salary perspective, Water and sewerage plant operatives offers higher median pay. However, career choice depends on many factors including interests, qualifications, work-life balance and long-term prospects.

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