Which perk becomes fast the earliest?

Berserker, with +20% walk and +25% sprint speed at level 5 using its melee weapons.

Which perk has the highest maximum speed bonus?

Gunslinger reaches about 25% at level 25 (20% passive plus 5% from a level 5 skill).

Do speed bonuses depend on weight?

Yes. Carrying less weight than your limit makes you a bit faster, so a lightly loaded inventory adds to the perk bonus.

KF2: Which Perks Move Fastest for Dodging ZEDs

A common beginner complaint is "I move too slowly to dodge." This page is built from a community answer to that thread: pick a faster perk, because you can sprint in any direction. The author lists the perks that have real speed bonuses (not "faster while crouching" or "faster while aiming") and the level where each reaches its maximum. Numbers come from the early-2019 version of the game, so verify against the current perk screens before relying on exact values.

Speed bonuses by perk

Perk	Passive per level	Perk skill	Maximum	Notes
Berserker	none	Level 5: +20% walk, +25% sprint	20% walk / 25% sprint at level 5	Fastest to get fast. Learn parry launching to travel faster. Technically slower than a maxed Survivalist before weight bonuses, but far more survivable.
Medic	+0.4% per level (10% at level 25)	Level 10: +10% movement	about 20% at level 25	Very good speed when maxed. Hip-firing a shotgun can stumble ZEDs that block an exit.
Gunslinger	+0.8% per level (20% at level 25)	Level 5: +5% movement	25% at level 25	Late bloomer. Pistols are light, but you will probably carry many to avoid running out of ammo, so the underweight bonus is low to medium.
Sharpshooter	none	Level 5: +10% movement with Sharpshooter weapons	10% at level 5	The slowest "fast" class but unlocks its maximum very early. Not for players who are poor at headshots.
Survivalist	none	Level 10: +25% movement with a melee weapon	25% at level 10	Level 10 comes quickly, but Berserker gets speed earlier, is better with melee and has health regeneration.

Weight bonus

Besides perks, being under your weight limit makes you move a little faster. Light loadouts help most: a Medic carrying a pistol (1), an SMG (3) and a shotgun (6) is at 10 of 15 weight. Sharpshooters and Survivalists tend to carry many weapons, so they rarely get much of this bonus.

Practical takeaways

If you struggle to dodge, a Berserker gives the quickest improvement (level 5 is enough).
Medic is a good all-round fast option later on and can also speed up teammates with Adrenaline Shot.
Combine speed with kiting and parry launching for the best dodging results.

FAQ

Which perk becomes fast the earliest?: Berserker, with +20% walk and +25% sprint speed at level 5 using its melee weapons.
Which perk has the highest maximum speed bonus?: Gunslinger reaches about 25% at level 25 (20% passive plus 5% from a level 5 skill).
Do speed bonuses depend on weight?: Yes. Carrying less weight than your limit makes you a bit faster, so a lightly loaded inventory adds to the perk bonus.