Research Summary. After extensive research by the Zippia data science team, we identified the following details about material handler/forklift operator salaries by state in the United States as of 2026:
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North Dakota has the highest material handler/forklift operator salary of $47,480
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New Mexico has the lowest material handler/forklift operator salary of $29,690
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The national average salary for material handler/forklift operators is $36,453
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The national hourly pay for material handler/forklift operators is $17.53
You can read more on the specific methodology.
Background
In contemporary job searches, salary remains the top priority for most job seekers across various demographics. This is especially true for those exploring opportunities as material handler/forklift operators.
While individual expectations may vary based on location and experience, we provide comprehensive data on average salaries for material handler/forklift operators by state, adjusted for seniority levels. Even if your city has slight variations from the state average, these figures offer a clear picture of potential earnings.
As of 2026, North Dakota tops the list for material handler/forklift operator salaries.
Here’s a quick snapshot of the top ten states for material handler/forklift operator salaries:
Let’s take a closer look at the data and a full ranking of all states.
Highest-Paid Material Handler/forklift Operators By State
| Rank | State | Average Material Handler/forklift Operator Salary | 10th Percentile | 90th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | North Dakota | $47,480 | $37,000 | $59,000 |
| 2 | Alaska | $46,526 | $39,000 | $54,000 |
| 3 | Vermont | $43,989 | $35,000 | $55,000 |
| 4 | Massachusetts | $43,153 | $33,000 | $54,000 |
| 5 | Minnesota | $43,040 | $34,000 | $54,000 |
| 6 | New York | $42,326 | $32,000 | $54,000 |
| 7 | Washington | $42,230 | $33,000 | $53,000 |
| 8 | Maryland | $42,048 | $32,000 | $54,000 |
| 9 | Colorado | $41,920 | $33,000 | $52,000 |
| 10 | Wyoming | $41,691 | $33,000 | $52,000 |
| 11 | Montana | $41,638 | $32,000 | $52,000 |
| 12 | Wisconsin | $41,385 | $32,000 | $52,000 |
| 13 | Maine | $41,332 | $33,000 | $51,000 |
| 14 | Hawaii | $41,310 | $33,000 | $50,000 |
| 15 | South Dakota | $41,141 | $32,000 | $51,000 |
| 16 | Iowa | $40,478 | $32,000 | $51,000 |
| 17 | Nebraska | $40,267 | $32,000 | $50,000 |
| 18 | Oregon | $40,039 | $31,000 | $51,000 |
| 19 | Rhode Island | $39,954 | $31,000 | $50,000 |
| 20 | New Jersey | $39,904 | $30,000 | $51,000 |
| 21 | Illinois | $39,296 | $31,000 | $49,000 |
| 22 | California | $39,002 | $30,000 | $50,000 |
| 23 | Pennsylvania | $38,949 | $30,000 | $50,000 |
| 24 | Utah | $38,942 | $30,000 | $49,000 |
| 25 | Nevada | $38,841 | $30,000 | $49,000 |
| 26 | Louisiana | $38,744 | $30,000 | $48,000 |
| 27 | Delaware | $38,621 | $29,000 | $50,000 |
| 28 | New Hampshire | $37,923 | $30,000 | $47,000 |
| 29 | West Virginia | $37,716 | $29,000 | $47,000 |
| 30 | Kansas | $37,654 | $30,000 | $46,000 |
| 31 | Indiana | $37,472 | $29,000 | $47,000 |
| 32 | Connecticut | $37,446 | $29,000 | $48,000 |
| 33 | Idaho | $37,407 | $29,000 | $48,000 |
| 34 | Missouri | $37,259 | $29,000 | $46,000 |
| 35 | Michigan | $36,798 | $28,000 | $46,000 |
| 36 | Ohio | $36,646 | $28,000 | $46,000 |
| 37 | Kentucky | $36,146 | $28,000 | $45,000 |
| 38 | Florida | $34,883 | $27,000 | $44,000 |
| 39 | Virginia | $34,854 | $27,000 | $44,000 |
| 40 | Arizona | $34,449 | $27,000 | $43,000 |
| 41 | North Carolina | $34,307 | $27,000 | $43,000 |
| 42 | Oklahoma | $34,082 | $27,000 | $42,000 |
| 43 | Alabama | $33,844 | $27,000 | $42,000 |
| 44 | Tennessee | $33,622 | $27,000 | $41,000 |
| 45 | Georgia | $33,446 | $26,000 | $41,000 |
| 46 | Arkansas | $33,095 | $26,000 | $41,000 |
| 47 | Texas | $33,056 | $26,000 | $41,000 |
| 48 | South Carolina | $32,791 | $26,000 | $40,000 |
| 49 | Mississippi | $32,079 | $25,000 | $39,000 |
| 50 | New Mexico | $29,690 | $23,000 | $37,000 |
Methodology: Material Handler/forklift Operator Salary By State
To provide a clear understanding of material handler/forklift operator pay across the states, Zippia has aggregated data from a variety of sources, including the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and actual job postings. The data science team calculates a weighted average based on these inputs to determine the average pay for material handler/forklift operators by state.
This analysis ranks each state by its average annual salary for material handler/forklift operators, highlighting the state with the highest salary as the leader in this field.
Material Handler/forklift Operator Salary By State FAQs
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What is the highest-paid state for material handler/forklift operators?
The highest-paid state for material handler/forklift operators is North Dakota with an average salary of $47,480 per year.
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What city pays material handler/forklift operators the most?
Lakeville, MN pays material handler/forklift operators the most with an average salary of $42,867 per year.
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What is the worst state for material handler/forklift operators?
The state with the lowest average salary for material handler/forklift operators is New Mexico, with an average salary of $29,690 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.
