The upward trajectory seen in earnings of workers at dark stores as also delivery partners of quick commerce players in 2023-24, is expected to continue in the current year albeit at a moderated pace. The average earnings of dark store workers are projected to reach `20,167 a month in FY25, a growth of 9.15%, data from TeamLease Digital showed.
The earnings of delivery partners are likely to touch `26,000 a month, clocking a rise of 11.6%.Performance-based incentives can significantly boost these earnings, according to Neeti Sharma, CEO of TeamLease. The demand for q-comm gig workers may surge by 60% in 2025, driven by dark store expansion and the entry of new players into the market, she added.
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As of early 2025, the sector employs 350,000 workers, including 70,000 under-the-roof workers handling loading, picking, and packing operations, and between 250,000-300,000 delivery partners, Sharma said.The average base monthly earnings of dark store workers rose to `18,402 in FY24 from `15,000 in FY23, a 20.37% increase.
Delivery partners saw an even sharper rise of 21.8%, with base monthly earnings climbing to `23,155 in FY24 from `18,595 in FY23.Market leader Blinkit, which operates 1,000 dark stores, is targeting a network of 2,000 stores by December 2025.
Swiggy Instamart is targeting over 1,046 dark stores by March this year, up from around 523 in March last year. Zepto is also targeting 1,200 dark stores by March, up from 700-750 in December last year. The companies may also increase the number of mother warehouses, which are larger 8,000-10,000 sq ft facilities compared to smaller 2,500-4,000 sq ft network dark stores.
While a smaller dark store requires at least 35 workers, larger ones require more workers and delivery partners due to larger inventory management needs.Dark store workers earn additional `4,000 monthly with the potential to pocket up to `70,000 more annually. Delivery partners earn `6,000 extra monthly, with annual additional earnings potential of `90,000.
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These incentives are closely tied to operational metrics such as packing and delivery time. With q-comm players ramping up their franchisee model for operating dark stores, the store wise incentives that come along with meeting packing and delivery time targets on such arrangements are also trickling down to the workers,
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