SOC 9241 Elementary administration and service occupations

Shelf fillers Salary

Median salary £12,764 per year (2020). Based on ONS ASHE data.

Gross pay, before deductions. See take-home pay on £13,000 after tax and National Insurance →

For shelf fillers, £17,538 is the typical (median) pay. That is well below the UK full-time median of £39,039 — -55% versus the national average. Experienced shelf fillers (top 25%) earn over £16,846.

About this role

Shelf fillers replenish stock on retail shelves, ensuring products are correctly displayed, priced and rotated. They maintain store presentation standards and support the smooth operation of retail outlets.

Key responsibilities

Replenishing shelves from warehouse stock
Rotating stock to ensure freshness (FIFO)
Checking and updating price labels
Maintaining aisle cleanliness and display standards
Assisting with deliveries and stock counts

Qualifications and entry routes

No formal qualifications required. On-the-job training provided. Basic understanding of stock rotation and manual handling.

Career outlook

Entry-level retail role with progression to supervisor and department positions. Shift patterns suit students and those seeking flexible hours.

Key skills

Physical fitness Stock rotation knowledge Attention to detail Speed and efficiency Team working

Common industries

Supermarkets
Convenience stores
DIY retailers
Department stores
Discount retailers

Data coverage

SOC code 9241

Data source ONS ASHE

Years available 2015–2020

Estimated jobs 41,000

Median Salary

£12,764

Mean Salary

£13,141

Jobs (000s)

41k

Data Years

6 years

Salary Range (2020)

P25: £8,732Median: £12,764P75: £16,846

P10: --P25: £9kMedian: £13kP75: £17kP90: --

Estimated Career Progression

Based on salary percentile distribution for this occupation

Entry Level

£8,732

0-2 years

Mid Level

£8,732

3-7 years

Senior

£16,846

8-15 years

Potential career growth: +93% from entry to leadership

Salary Trend (2015-2020)

Adjust for inflation

Nominal growth: +14.9%Real growth: +5.5%

Gender Pay Comparison (2020)

Gender pay gap: 25.7%

Full-time vs All Employees (2020)

All Employees

£12,764

Full-time Only

£17,538

Full-time premium: +£4,774

Shelf fillers salary: common questions

How much do shelf fillers earn in the UK?

Shelf fillers earn a median of £17,538 a year (ONS ASHE 2020). The middle half earn between £8,732 and £16,846.

Is £17,538 a good salary in the UK?

What is the starting salary for shelf fillers?

Entry-level shelf fillers typically start near the lower end of the range. The bottom 25% earn up to £8,732, and the lowest-paid 10% earn under £14,533.

Have shelf fillers salaries kept up with inflation?

Since 2015, median shelf fillers pay has risen from £15,186 to £17,538 — +15% in cash terms, or +6.0% after CPIH inflation. That is ahead of inflation over the period.

Is there a gender pay gap for shelf fillers?

Male shelf fillers earn a median £14,982 and female shelf fillers £11,126 — a gap of +26% in 2020.

Figures: ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, gross annual pay. UK full-time median £39,039 (2020).