Annual Salary
£17,000 to £30,000
Average UK salary in 2023 was £34,963
(source Office for National Statistics)
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Swap to Distribution or Transport or go back to all job sectors
Forklift drivers load and unload goods in warehouses, ports and airports.
Average UK salary in 2023 was £34,963
(source Office for National Statistics)
You could work: evenings / weekends / bank holidays; on shifts
There will be
0.2% more Forklift driver jobs in 2027.
In this role you could:
You may need to wear protective clothing.
You could work at a port, on a construction site, at an airport, in a warehouse or in a factory.
Your working environment may be physically demanding.
You can get into this job through:
You could do a college course, which would teach you some of the skills and knowledge you need in this job. Relevant courses include the Level 2 Award or Certificate in Forklift Truck Operations.
You may need:
You can get into this role through a supply chain warehouse operative intermediate apprenticeship.
You'll usually need:
You can apply directly for jobs. Some employers may ask for GCSEs, including English and maths.
You'll have an advantage if you've got a forklift training certificate, though your employer may put you through training to get one when you start work.
Experience of loading and unloading goods and materials in a warehouse, in freight transport or on a building site would be useful.
Make sure you get a copy of your forklift training certificate so you can use it for job applications. Unlike a driving licence, no forklift licence is issued.
You can find out more about working as a forklift driver in construction from Go Construct.
You can find details of approved forklift training providers through the Accrediting Bodies Association - Workplace Transport.
With experience, you could become a shift supervisor or team leader. With further training, you could work as a forklift instructor or maintenance engineer.
You could also become a warehouse manager.
You could move into industries like construction (construction plant operator) or logistics (lorry driver).
You'll need: