Transport and distribution clerks and assistants: average salary and pay in the UK
Full-time transport and distribution clerks and assistants in the UK earned a median £33,508 in the year to 5 April 2025, according to the ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE): £5,531 below the all-jobs median of £39,039.
What the figures show
That puts it 220th of 382, in the middle third of occupations.
The middle half of full-time jobs paid between £27,996 and £39,496.
Median full-time pay: women £30,318 a year, men £35,565 a year.
ASHE counts roughly 62,000 employee jobs, 89% full-time.
Since 2021 the median has risen 28.8% (from £26,008), faster than the 25.0% for all jobs.
The Annual Population Survey counts 69,500 people in this line of work, 17% of them in West Midlands.
Pay distribution, 2025 provisional
| Gross pay | Full-time, annual | Full-time, weekly | Full-time, hourly | All, annual | All, weekly | All, hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | £24,022 | £489.40 | £12.63 | £20,612 | £432.60 | £12.60 |
| 20th percentile | £26,514 | £529.20 | £13.47 | £24,455 | £495.60 | £13.31 |
| 25th percentile | £27,996 | £547.80 | £13.87 | £25,903 | £517.60 | £13.75 |
| 30th percentile | £28,908 | £556.00 | £14.20 | £27,387 | £538.50 | £14.07 |
| 40th percentile | £30,574 | £587.10 | £15.01 | £29,525 | £565.20 | £14.80 |
| Median (50th percentile) | £33,508 | £626.60 | £15.87 | £32,060 | £598.00 | £15.73 |
| 60th percentile | £36,089 | £687.70 | £16.88 | £34,831 | £646.10 | £16.76 |
| 70th percentile | £38,005 | £733.40 | £18.32 | £37,278 | £709.70 | £18.18 |
| 75th percentile | £39,496 | £763.90 | £19.17 | £38,361 | £751.10 | £19.07 |
| 80th percentile | £42,222 | £791.80 | £20.08 | £40,687 | £777.30 | £20.02 |
| Mean | £34,549 | £675.40 | £17.00 | £32,861 | £639.70 | £16.90 |
Pay since 2021
| ASHE year | Full-time, annual median | Full-time, weekly median | Full-time, hourly median | All, annual median | All, weekly median | Jobs (thousands, indicative) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 revised | £26,008 | £519.50 | £12.81 | £25,300 | £495.80 | 53 |
| 2022 revised | £27,312 | £530.40 | £13.22 | £26,314 | £510.70 | 46 |
| 2023 revised | £29,307 | £574.70 | £14.34 | £28,605 | £554.30 | 62 |
| 2024 revised | £30,872 | £596.60 | £15.14 | £29,821 | £574.90 | 56 |
| 2025 provisional | £33,508 | £626.60 | £15.87 | £32,060 | £598.00 | 62 |
Transport and distribution clerks and assistants by region
UK: 69,500 (± 10,200), April 2025 to March 2026. 10 of the 12 regions and nations have samples too small to publish.
| Region or nation | People in employment | 95% confidence interval |
|---|---|---|
| West Midlands | 11,600* | ± 4,500 |
| Scotland | 9,300* | ± 3,500 |
Annual Population Survey (Nomis)
What transport and distribution clerks and assistants do
Transport and distribution clerks and assistants perform various clerical functions relating to the transport and distribution of goods and freight. (ONS SOC 2020, 4134)
Also covers: cargo agent, export clerk, freight administrator, logistics coordinator, shipping clerk, transport clerk, bus router, cargo clerk, cargo controller, cargo officer, cargo supervisor, chartering clerk, container controller, crewing officer, distribution administrator, distribution clerk, distribution controller and distribution coordinator (89 titles in the ONS coding index).
- Processes customer orders and forwards requisition documentation to storage and distribution personnel
- Formulates delivery loads, vehicle schedules and routes to be followed by delivery staff
- Monitors tachograph readings and maintains records of hours worked and distance travelled by drivers
- Obtains customs clearance and processes import and export documentation necessary for the movement of goods between countries
- Maintains records regarding the movement and location of freight, containers and staff
There are no minimum academic requirements, although entrants usually possess GCSEs/S grades. Training is usually provided on-the-job. NVQs/ SVQs in relevant areas are available at levels 1, 2 and 3.
Related
Administrative occupations: records (median £29,820) · Stock control clerks and assistants · Library clerks and assistants · salary percentile · UK average weekly earnings growth · Median
ASHE Table 14: 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 · coding index · notes · 15 October 2026