Pay for Same Logistics Jobs Can Differ by Thousands of Zlotys Across Polish Cities

People looking for work in logistics and warehousing may encounter very different pay offers, depending in part on location. Differences between cities reach several thousand zlotys for the same positions, according to a report by Gi Group.

The Gi Group report “The Labor Market and Pay in Production and Logistics 2026,” provided to the Polish Press Agency PAP, shows that demand for workers remains stable.

Companies are seeking warehouse workers, forklift operators, drivers and freight forwarders, and, in specialist roles, planners and experts in logistics and supply chain management.

According to the report, the threat to business continuity comes not only from a lack of staff, but also from a shortage of people with the required skills or licenses, unplanned absences and high turnover. More than half of the surveyed companies rate each of these four factors as a high or very high risk.

“Even short-term staff shortages can disrupt work organization, delay order fulfillment and increase operating costs. What matters is not only the number of available workers, but also the type of tasks they perform. Some positions require specific licenses, others a good knowledge of warehouse procedures and systems,” said Agnieszka Żak, key accounts director at Gi Group.

She added that finding suitable people in a short time can be difficult, especially when demand for workers grows along with the number of orders.

Job candidates in this sector may encounter very different pay offers. Besides qualifications and experience, location determines the level of pay. Differences between cities reach several thousand zlotys for the same positions.

The report notes that the highest upper limit of base pay applies to purchasing specialists. In Kraków and Katowice, the range is PLN 8,000-11,600 gross per month, in Opole PLN 7,500-11,600, and in the Tricity (Gdańsk, Gdynia and Sopot) PLN 8,000-11,000. In Warsaw, rates are PLN 8,000-9,600, while in Gniezno they are PLN 6,600-7,300. The difference between the upper ends of the ranges in Kraków and Gniezno reaches PLN 4,300 per month.

In freight forwarding, for example, the highest upper rate also occurs outside Warsaw. In Kraków, a freight forwarder can expect PLN 7,000-10,600 gross in base pay, in Poznań PLN 7,000-10,100, and in Łódź PLN 7,000-7,600. The Warsaw range starts higher than the Kraków one, at PLN 8,600, but ends at PLN 9,300. For logistics specialists, the upper end of the range is PLN 9,600 in the Tricity, Kraków, Opole and Katowice, and PLN 7,900 in Gniezno.

“In large-scale recruitment, even small differences in pay can determine how quickly a team can be put together. This is especially true where several logistics centers operate close to one another and compete for the same workers,” Agnieszka Żak explained.

She stressed that candidates compare not only pay rates, but also bonuses, shift systems and commuting.

“For companies launching new warehouses or distribution centers, this has concrete consequences. If they fail to hire enough people by the planned deadline, the start of operations or the achievement of full operational efficiency may be delayed,” she noted.

Bonuses can also affect monthly earnings. In Warsaw, the expected bonus range for a warehouse worker with UDT certification (issued by Poland’s Office of Technical Inspection) is PLN 750-1,500 gross, and for a foreman PLN 700-1,400. In the Tricity, a foreman can receive PLN 600-1,400, and an order picker PLN 300-700. In Poznań, the bonus range for a warehouse worker with UDT certification is PLN 650-1,400. In Kraków, for a purchasing specialist it is PLN 400-1,100, while in Gniezno for the same position it is PLN 300-700. In Łódź, a freight forwarder’s bonus falls in the range of PLN 400-800.

The study presents the results of a survey conducted by the research agency Fast Solutions on behalf of Gi Group among 100 companies (employing at least 50 people) in the manufacturing, warehousing, logistics and distribution sectors, in which operational staff play a key role. The survey was carried out using CATI and CAWI methods (computer-assisted telephone and web interviews) from Aug. 19 to Sept. 2, 2026. (PAP)