Fork-lift truck drivers salary in the UK (2025/26)
Official UK Average earnings data 2025
£31,016
Typical Annual pay range
Understanding Fork-lift truck drivers pay in the UK
The typical fork-lift truck drivers in the UK earns a median salary of £31,016 in 2025/26. These figures come from the ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE), so they reflect actual reported pay rather than self-reported estimates or job-advert ranges.
The middle half of fork-lift truck drivers earnings fall between £26,467 and £38,799 a year. That spread reflects the usual gap between newer entrants and more experienced fork-lift truck drivers.
The mean (average) salary is higher, at £32,288. When the mean sits above the median like this, a smaller group of high earners is pulling the average up, which is why the median is the better guide to what a typical fork-lift truck drivers actually takes home.
Where you work changes the picture: fork-lift truck drivers pay ranges from £23,686 in North East up to £40,846 in South West, a difference of £17,160 (72%). The full regional breakdown is below.
Dig deeper: see fork-lift truck drivers pay in South West or read how we source and check this data.
How pay varies by region
South West is the highest-paying region for fork-lift truck drivers at £40,846 — 32% above the UK median. North East is lowest at £23,686.
UK median £31,016
| Region | Median payUK median £31,016 | Median | Mean | vs UK median |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| South West | £40,846 | £40,846 | £45,678 | +32% |
| Scotland | £34,800 | £34,800 | £35,393 | +12% |
| South East | £33,998 | £33,998 | £34,911 | +10% |
| North West | £29,736 | £29,736 | £31,481 | -4% |
| East of England | £29,558 | £29,558 | £30,270 | -5% |
| London | £27,687 | £27,687 | £33,189 | -11% |
| West Midlands | £26,624 | £26,624 | £28,983 | -14% |
| Yorkshire and the Humber | £26,384 | £26,384 | £28,709 | -15% |
| East Midlands | £25,685 | £25,685 | £28,155 | -17% |
| Wales | £24,418 | £24,418 | £26,948 | -21% |
| North East | £23,686 | £23,686 | £24,146 | -24% |
| Region | Median | vs UK |
|---|---|---|
| South West £40,846 | £40,846Mean £45,678 | +32% |
| Scotland £34,800 | £34,800Mean £35,393 | +12% |
| South East £33,998 | £33,998Mean £34,911 | +10% |
| North West £29,736 | £29,736Mean £31,481 | -4% |
| East of England £29,558 | £29,558Mean £30,270 | -5% |
| London £27,687 | £27,687Mean £33,189 | -11% |
| West Midlands £26,624 | £26,624Mean £28,983 | -14% |
| Yorkshire and the Humber £26,384 | £26,384Mean £28,709 | -15% |
| East Midlands £25,685 | £25,685Mean £28,155 | -17% |
| Wales £24,418 | £24,418Mean £26,948 | -21% |
| North East £23,686 | £23,686Mean £24,146 | -24% |
Sorted highest median to lowest. The vertical line marks the UK median (£31,016); ‘Vs UK median’ compares each region’s median to it. Suppressed values mean ONS withheld this figure because the sample was too small to publish.
Make it local
Calculate take-home pay for your region
Choose a region above to see local fork-lift truck drivers pay and calculate your monthly take-home after tax on the local salary page.
Back to region listHow fork-lift truck drivers pay has changed over time
UK median annual pay for fork-lift truck drivers by year (ONS ASHE).
Median salary
▪ 25th–75th percentile range
Pre-2021 figures mapped from SOC 2010 via ONS concordance table
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