Skip to content
LIVE · ONS ASHE 2025 SYNCED
00:00:00 UTC
CAREER.METRICSSign in
ELECTRICAL AND ELECTRONIC TRADES N.E.C.▲ 65% /10yrBUSINESS, RESEARCH AND ADMINISTRATIVE PROFESSIONALS N.E.C.▲ 60% /10yrFINANCIAL AND ACCOUNTING TECHNICIANS▲ 55% /10yrASSEMBLERS (VEHICLES AND METAL GOODS)▼ 1% /10yrHIGHER EDUCATION TEACHING PROFESSIONALS▲ 5% /10yrSOFTWARE ENGINEER£55,000▲ 38% /5yrCYBER SECURITY ANALYST£62,000▲ 35% /5yr
SOC 9252Elementary administration and service occupations

Warehouse operatives Salary

QUOTE · WAREHOUSE OPERATIVESUK · 2025
£26,574
▼ 32% vs UK median (£39,039)
P25 £21,841
P75 £31,876
2021–2025 median▲ 23%

Median salary £26,574 per year (2025). Based on ONS ASHE data.

Gross pay, before deductions. See take-home pay on £27,000 after tax and National Insurance →

For warehouse operatives, £27,832 is the typical (median) pay. That is well below the UK full-time median of £39,039 — -29% versus the national average. Experienced warehouse operatives (top 25%) earn over £31,876.

WINDOW: PROFILE

About this role

Warehouse operatives receive, store, pick, pack and dispatch goods in warehouse and distribution environments. They use manual handling techniques and equipment such as pallet trucks and fork-lift trucks to move stock efficiently and accurately.

Key responsibilities

  • Receiving, checking and storing incoming goods
  • Picking and packing orders accurately
  • Loading and unloading vehicles
  • Operating warehouse equipment (pallet trucks, FLTs)
  • Maintaining stock records and warehouse tidiness

Qualifications and entry routes

No formal qualifications are always required, though fork-lift truck (FLT) certification is valuable and often required. Manual handling training is standard.

Career outlook

Entry-level roles with opportunities for progression through experience, additional training and skills development. Apprenticeships offer structured routes into skilled occupations.

Key skills

Physical fitnessAccuracyForklift operationTeam workingReliability

Common industries

  • Logistics and distribution
  • E-commerce
  • Retail
  • Manufacturing
  • Third-party logistics

Data coverage

SOC code9252
Data sourceONS ASHE
Years available2021–2025
Estimated jobs449,000
WINDOW: DATA
Mean Salary
£26,197
Top 10% Earn
£38,321
Jobs (000s)
449k
Data Years
5 years

Salary Range (2025)

P10: £13kP25: £22kMedian: £27kP75: £32kP90: £38k

Estimated Career Progression

Based on salary percentile distribution for this occupation

Entry Level

£12,645

0-2 years

Mid Level

£21,841

3-7 years

Senior

£31,876

8-15 years

Leadership

£38,321

15+ years

Potential career growth: ▲ +203% from entry to leadership

Salary Trend (2021-2025)

Nominal growth: +23.3%Real growth: -0.3%

Gender Pay Comparison (2025)

Gender pay gap: 10.9%

Full-time vs All Employees (2025)

All Employees
£26,574
Full-time Only
£27,832

Full-time premium: +£1,258

WINDOW: FAQ

Warehouse operatives salary: common questions

How much do warehouse operatives earn in the UK?
Warehouse operatives earn a median of £27,832 a year (ONS ASHE 2025). The middle half earn between £21,841 and £31,876.
Is £27,832 a good salary in the UK?
For warehouse operatives, £27,832 is the typical (median) pay. That is well below the UK full-time median of £39,039 — -29% versus the national average. Experienced warehouse operatives (top 25%) earn over £31,876.
What is the starting salary for warehouse operatives?
Entry-level warehouse operatives typically start near the lower end of the range. The bottom 25% earn up to £21,841, and the lowest-paid 10% earn under £12,645.
How much do the highest-paid warehouse operatives earn?
The best-paid 10% of warehouse operatives earn over £38,321 a year, and the top 25% over £31,876 (ONS ASHE 2025).
Have warehouse operatives salaries kept up with inflation?
Since 2021, median warehouse operatives pay has risen from £22,262 to £27,832 — +25% in cash terms, or +1.0% after CPIH inflation. That is roughly in line with inflation over the period.
Is there a gender pay gap for warehouse operatives?
Male warehouse operatives earn a median £27,309 and female warehouse operatives £24,335 — a gap of +11% in 2025.

Figures: ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, gross annual pay. UK full-time median £39,039 (2025).

WINDOW: INSTRUMENTS
→

Where do I stand?

Compare your salary to others in this role.

→

Salary forecast

Project your earnings over the next 5-20 years.

→

Lifetime earnings

Calculate your total career earnings potential.

Stay updated on UK salary trends

Weekly insights on pay, careers, and the labour market. Free.

WINDOW: RELATED

Related Occupations

9261Bar and catering supervisors
£22,552
9265Bar staff
£9,166
9223Cleaners and domestics
£11,852
9266Coffee shop workers
£12,170
9253Delivery operatives
£25,541
9219Elementary administration occupations n.e.c.
£23,005
9229Elementary cleaning occupations n.e.c.
£25,688
9249Elementary sales occupations n.e.c.
9259Elementary storage occupations n.e.c.
View all occupations →