How To Become A Dock Worker/Forklift Driver: What It Is and Career Path

What is a dock worker/forklift driver and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

3 min read

The average dock worker/forklift driver salary is $33,433. The most common degree is a high school diploma degree with an business major. It usually takes 2-4 years of experience to become a dock worker/forklift driver. Dock workers/forklift driver with a Forklift Safety and Inspector certification earn more money. Between 2018 and 2028, the career is expected to grow 7% and produce 56,900 job opportunities across the U.S.

ScoreDock Worker/Forklift DriverUS Average

Salary

2.6

Avg. Salary $33,433

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

8.3

Growth rate 7%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

8.8

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.83%

Asian 2.52%

Black or African American 14.59%

Hispanic or Latino 15.97%

Unknown 4.41%

White 61.67%

Gender

female 6.51%

male 93.49%

Age - 44

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 44

Stress level

8.3

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity level

8.8

Complexity level is advanced

7 - challenging

Work life balance

3.8

Work life balance is poor

6.4 - fair

Key steps to become a dock worker/forklift driver

Explore dock worker/forklift driver education requirements

Most common dock worker/forklift driver degrees

High School Diploma

56.7 %

Associate

13.0 %

Diploma

12.3 %

Start to develop specific dock worker/forklift driver skills

Skills	Percentages
Load Trailers	27.11%
Pallet Jack	16.61%
Pallets	15.93%
Safety Rules	10.03%
Load Freight	5.23%

Complete relevant dock worker/forklift driver training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 1-3 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New dock workers/forklift driver learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a dock worker/forklift driver based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real dock worker/forklift driver resumes.

Research dock worker/forklift driver duties and responsibilities

Insert, stack, and pull paper for the operator to set the machine and load bundles on pallets
Dock worker to assist different unions in the transportation, storage, and delivery of pallets of assort fruits.
Maintain accurate and timely documentation as is required by organization and OSHA.
Operate 4K and 6K forklifts to load and unload FedEx trailers and support trucks; inventory each shipment prior to departure.

Prepare your dock worker/forklift driver resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your dock worker/forklift driver resume.

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