Research Summary. The Zippia data science team has thoroughly analyzed current data to present the latest insights on forklift operator salaries across the United States for 2026:
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North Dakota boasts the highest forklift operator salary at $40,448
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Mississippi has the lowest forklift operator salary at $30,478
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The national average salary for forklift operators stands at $34,213
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Forklift operators earn an average hourly wage of $16.45 nationally
You can read more about our specific methodology.
Background
Salary remains the most critical factor when evaluating job opportunities, as consistently shown in surveys across various demographics. Many individuals ask, “How much do forklift operators earn in my area?”
While various factors influence individual salary expectations, reliable data is available that breaks down average forklift operator salaries by state and seniority level. Although your local salary may vary slightly from the state average, these figures provide a useful benchmark.
As of 2026, North Dakota continues to lead in terms of forklift operator salaries.
Here’s a quick overview of the top ten states for forklift operator salaries:
Let’s delve deeper into the data and explore the complete ranking of all states.
Highest-Paid Forklift Operators By State
| Rank | State | Average Forklift Operator Salary | 10th Percentile | 90th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | North Dakota | $40,448 | $32,000 | $49,000 |
| 2 | Wyoming | $40,308 | $32,000 | $49,000 |
| 3 | Alaska | $39,182 | $32,000 | $47,000 |
| 4 | Minnesota | $39,060 | $31,000 | $48,000 |
| 5 | Nevada | $37,779 | $30,000 | $46,000 |
| 6 | Washington | $37,453 | $30,000 | $46,000 |
| 7 | Hawaii | $37,302 | $31,000 | $44,000 |
| 8 | Vermont | $37,267 | $30,000 | $45,000 |
| 9 | Massachusetts | $36,914 | $29,000 | $45,000 |
| 10 | Wisconsin | $36,762 | $29,000 | $45,000 |
| 11 | Oregon | $36,761 | $29,000 | $45,000 |
| 12 | Montana | $36,581 | $29,000 | $45,000 |
| 13 | Utah | $36,481 | $29,000 | $45,000 |
| 14 | Rhode Island | $36,323 | $29,000 | $44,000 |
| 15 | Colorado | $36,065 | $29,000 | $44,000 |
| 16 | New Hampshire | $35,760 | $29,000 | $44,000 |
| 17 | New York | $35,754 | $28,000 | $44,000 |
| 18 | Maryland | $35,633 | $28,000 | $43,000 |
| 19 | Maine | $35,576 | $28,000 | $43,000 |
| 20 | California | $35,201 | $28,000 | $43,000 |
| 21 | Iowa | $35,176 | $28,000 | $43,000 |
| 22 | Illinois | $35,037 | $28,000 | $43,000 |
| 23 | Pennsylvania | $34,916 | $28,000 | $42,000 |
| 24 | South Dakota | $34,916 | $28,000 | $42,000 |
| 25 | New Jersey | $34,896 | $28,000 | $43,000 |
| 26 | Ohio | $34,609 | $28,000 | $42,000 |
| 27 | Indiana | $34,476 | $28,000 | $42,000 |
| 28 | Michigan | $34,354 | $27,000 | $42,000 |
| 29 | Idaho | $34,351 | $27,000 | $42,000 |
| 30 | Louisiana | $34,212 | $27,000 | $42,000 |
| 31 | Kansas | $33,945 | $27,000 | $41,000 |
| 32 | Missouri | $33,900 | $27,000 | $41,000 |
| 33 | Connecticut | $33,502 | $27,000 | $41,000 |
| 34 | Nebraska | $33,456 | $27,000 | $40,000 |
| 35 | West Virginia | $33,169 | $27,000 | $40,000 |
| 36 | Arizona | $33,050 | $26,000 | $41,000 |
| 37 | Virginia | $32,975 | $26,000 | $40,000 |
| 38 | Delaware | $32,840 | $26,000 | $40,000 |
| 39 | Kentucky | $32,830 | $26,000 | $40,000 |
| 40 | Florida | $31,848 | $25,000 | $39,000 |
| 41 | Oklahoma | $31,776 | $26,000 | $38,000 |
| 42 | New Mexico | $31,746 | $25,000 | $39,000 |
| 43 | Georgia | $31,480 | $25,000 | $38,000 |
| 44 | Tennessee | $31,375 | $25,000 | $38,000 |
| 45 | Texas | $31,373 | $25,000 | $38,000 |
| 46 | North Carolina | $31,240 | $25,000 | $38,000 |
| 47 | South Carolina | $31,022 | $25,000 | $37,000 |
| 48 | Alabama | $30,522 | $24,000 | $37,000 |
| 49 | Arkansas | $30,506 | $25,000 | $37,000 |
| 50 | Mississippi | $30,478 | $24,000 | $37,000 |
Methodology: Forklift Operator Salary By State
To gain insights into forklift operator pay by state, Zippia has compiled data from various sources, including the BLS and OPM, supplemented by actual salaries from job postings. Our data science team calculates a weighted average to present an accurate average pay for forklift operators across states.
This average annual salary data ranks each state based on the criteria of the highest average salary for forklift operators.
Forklift Operator Salary By State FAQs
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What is the highest-paid state for forklift operators?
The highest-paid state for forklift operators is North Dakota, with an average salary of $40,448 per year.
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What city pays forklift operators the most?
Minneapolis, MN offers the highest pay for forklift operators, with an average salary of $39,103 per year.
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What is the worst state for forklift operators?
The lowest-paying state for forklift operators is Mississippi, with an average salary of $30,478 per year.
Author
Chris Kolmar is a co-founder of Zippia and the editor-in-chief of the Zippia career advice blog. He has hired over 50 people in his career, been hired five times, and wants to help you land your next job. His research has been featured on the New York Times, Thrillist, VOX, The Atlantic, and a host of local news. More recently, he's been quoted on USA Today, BusinessInsider, and CNBC.
