Do People in Logistics Make Money? Real Earnings in the Industry

Ever wonder if working in logistics actually pays off? You see ads for logistics companies all over LinkedIn, job boards, and truck stop billboards - promising stability, growth, and good money. But the truth? It’s not that simple. Some people in logistics make solid wages. Others barely break even after expenses. Let’s cut through the noise and look at what people really earn across different roles in this industry.

Drivers: The Backbone With Thin Margins

If you think long-haul truck drivers are rolling in cash, think again. The average salary for a CDL truck driver in the U.S. is around $62,000 a year. In the UK, it’s closer to £32,000. Sounds decent until you factor in fuel, maintenance, insurance, and downtime. Many drivers are independent contractors. That means they pay for their own rigs, tires, and repairs. One driver in Texas told me he cleared $4,800 a month - but spent $2,200 on truck payments alone. After fuel and tolls, he was left with $1,500. That’s not rich. That’s survival.

Owner-operators who own their trucks and hire drivers? They can make six figures. But they also carry seven-figure debt. One guy I spoke to in Ohio bought a 2023 Freightliner for $185,000. He’s paying $3,200 a month. His net profit? $1,100 after payroll, fuel, and insurance. That’s not a business - it’s a high-risk job with a fancy truck.

Warehouse Workers: More Hours, Less Pay

Warehouse jobs are everywhere. Amazon, FedEx, DHL - they all need bodies to pack, scan, and load. The starting wage? Around $15-$18 an hour in the U.S. That’s $31,000-$37,000 a year. In the UK, it’s £10-£12 an hour, or £21,000-£25,000. No benefits. No overtime unless you’re lucky. Many work 10-hour shifts six days a week just to stay ahead of rent.

But here’s the catch: warehouse supervisors make more. If you move up to team lead or shift manager, you’re looking at $45,000-$60,000 in the U.S. or £30,000-£40,000 in the UK. That’s a real jump. But it takes years. And it means you’re now responsible for meeting impossible quotas while managing 30 people who hate the job as much as you did.

Logistics Managers: The Real Payday

This is where the money starts to make sense. Logistics managers - the ones who plan routes, negotiate carrier contracts, and optimize warehouse layouts - earn $70,000-$110,000 in the U.S. In the UK, it’s £45,000-£75,000. These aren’t entry-level roles. You need 5-8 years of hands-on experience, plus certifications in supply chain or lean operations.

I spoke with a logistics manager in Bristol who runs a regional distribution hub for a mid-sized retailer. He handles 12,000 pallets a week. His salary? £68,000. He also gets a bonus based on on-time delivery rates. Last year, he cleared £8,000 extra. He doesn’t work 60-hour weeks anymore. He has a team. He has leverage. That’s the difference.

Freight Brokers: High Risk, High Reward

Freight brokers connect shippers with carriers. They don’t own trucks. They don’t drive. They just match loads. Sounds easy? It’s not. The industry is flooded with people running side hustles from their kitchens. Most lose money. But the good ones? They make $100,000-$200,000 a year.

How? They build relationships. They know which carriers show up on time. They negotiate better rates. They avoid deadhead miles. One broker in Atlanta told me she made $175,000 last year. She had 14 trusted carriers on speed dial. She didn’t need a warehouse. She didn’t need employees. Just a laptop, a phone, and a thick skin.

But here’s the dark side: if a carrier gets paid late, the broker eats the difference. If a shipper refuses to pay, she’s out $12,000. She had to fire two clients last year because they never paid on time. That’s the job.

Specialists: The Hidden Earners

Not everyone in logistics is behind a wheel or in a warehouse. There are specialists who make serious money without ever touching a pallet.

• Supply Chain Analysts - $75,000-$95,000. They use data to cut costs. One guy in Chicago saved his company $3.2 million in fuel and labor last year. His bonus? $45,000.
• Customs Brokers - $60,000-$90,000. They handle international paperwork. One in Vancouver told me she makes $82,000 and works 35 hours a week. Her clients pay her $200 per shipment. She does 15 a day.
• Logistics Software Consultants - $85,000-$130,000. They implement WMS and TMS systems. One firm in London charges £12,000 per project. They do four a month.

These roles don’t require a truck. They require expertise. And that’s worth more than muscle.

Why Some People Don’t Make It

Not everyone in logistics makes money. Some lose it.

Owner-operators who buy trucks without a business plan? They go broke. Warehouse workers who don’t learn new skills? They get replaced by robots. Brokers who chase every load without vetting clients? They get burned. The industry doesn’t pay because you show up. It pays because you solve problems.

There’s a reason Amazon pays warehouse workers $17 an hour and offers tuition reimbursement. They know people who learn logistics systems become managers. And managers become the backbone of their network.

So Do People in Logistics Make Money?

Yes - but not the way you think.

If you’re driving a truck, you’re working hard for modest pay. If you’re stacking boxes, you’re stuck unless you climb. But if you learn how to plan, analyze, negotiate, or automate - you can make a real income. The money isn’t in the back of a truck. It’s in the head.

The best earners in logistics aren’t the ones with the most miles. They’re the ones who understand cost per mile, load density, carrier reliability, and inventory turnover. They’re the ones who speak the language of data, not diesel.

You don’t need a college degree. But you do need a plan. And a willingness to learn.