Forklift / Counterbalance Driver salary
Nationally, a forklift / counterbalance driver earns roughly £26,000 to £31,000, with a midpoint of £28,000. Where the job is makes a real difference, so here's the same role by area. Reach, VNA and specialist licences pay at the top of the range.
| Area | Lower | Typical | Upper |
|---|---|---|---|
| London and the Thames Gateway | £29,600 | £31,900 | £35,300 |
| Cambridge and Cambridgeshire | £26,900 | £28,900 | £32,000 |
| Felixstowe | £26,300 | £28,300 | £31,300 |
| Colchester and north Essex | £25,900 | £27,800 | £30,800 |
| Ipswich | £25,600 | £27,500 | £30,500 |
| Wider Suffolk | £25,100 | £27,100 | £30,000 |
| Norfolk and Great Yarmouth | £25,100 | £27,100 | £30,000 |
Source: Published 2026 warehouse pay guides, August 2026. Area figures apply published regional pay differences; operational roles move less between areas because of the wage floor.
What we've actually advertised
Across 8 comparable vacancies on our own books, the midpoint was £32,500 (range £30,000 to £50,000). A sense-check, not the benchmark.
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