Materials Handling Pay Falls to $99,550
Modern Materials Handling's 2026 salary survey shows average base pay for professionals in the field dropped 4.6% from the prior year.
Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Employment
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Average base pay for materials handling professionals fell to $99,550 in 2026, down 4.6% from $104,301 a year earlier. Median base pay dropped $5,000 to $94,000, according to the 19th annual Modern Materials Handling salary survey.
Why it matters
Fewer respondents reported base pay increases in 2026 than in 2025, signaling a shift in compensation trends for workers in the field. The findings offer a benchmark for employees and employers weighing salary expectations.
The Peerless Research Group survey of 117 qualified subscribers found average base pay fell 4.6% to $99,550, with 47% of respondents reporting a raise versus 60% in 2025. The study does not identify the reasons behind the decline or whether the sample reflects the broader workforce.
The players
Modern Materials Handling
A trade publication covering the materials handling industry that conducts an annual salary survey of its subscribers.
Peerless Research Group
The independent research firm that conducted the 19th annual salary survey for Modern Materials Handling.
The details
Peerless Research Group surveyed 117 qualified Modern Materials Handling subscribers for the study. Forty-five percent of respondents said their pay stayed the same, while 8% reported a pay cut, and the most common salary range was $90,000 to $99,999, reported by 19% of respondents.
Timeline
2025: Prior-year survey showed 60% of respondents receiving raises.
2026: Annual salary survey reported average base pay of $99,550.
Market Landscape
The 19th annual Modern Materials Handling salary survey reports that average base pay fell in 2026 after broader raises in 2025. The decline marks a reversal in the compensation trend captured by the survey series.
Workers in materials handling may face slower raises or flat pay when negotiating salaries. Employees who received no increase in the past year can use the survey's median benchmark of $94,000 to evaluate their own compensation.
The takeaway
Pay gains in materials handling slowed in 2026, with fewer workers reporting raises than the prior year. Professionals should compare their base pay against current benchmarks when planning salary discussions.
Further reading
For more on pay and hiring trends, see Employment coverage across the United States.
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