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Fork truck operator salary
Average fork truck operator salary
$15.52
Understanding Fork Truck Operator Salaries
The role of a fork truck operator is crucial in various industries, from warehousing to manufacturing. As of October 2025, the average salary for a fork truck operator in the United States is $32,272 per year or approximately $16 per hour. Salaries can vary significantly based on factors such as geographic location, years of experience, and specific industry demands.
Salary by Experience Level
Entry-level fork truck operators may earn around $28,000 annually, while seasoned professionals can command salaries exceeding $38,000 depending on their skills and responsibilities. Additionally, operators with specialized certifications often see higher wages.
Top-Paying States and Cities
Geographically, states like California and Texas offer higher salaries due to demand and cost of living considerations. Cities with robust logistics and manufacturing sectors, such as Los Angeles and Houston, also provide competitive pay. Understanding these dynamics enables potential candidates to seek opportunities that align with their career goals and financial expectations.
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Where can a Fork Truck Operator earn more?
Fork truck operator salaries by experience level
Average fork truck operator salary by state
The highest-paying states for fork truck operators are Alaska, North Dakota, and Maine. The lowest average fork truck operator salary states are North Carolina, South Carolina, and Arkansas.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for fork truck operators
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alaska | $40,160 | $19.31 |
| 2 | Massachusetts | $37,229 | $17.90 |
| 3 | Illinois | $36,273 | $17.44 |
| 4 | Rhode Island | $35,737 | $17.18 |
| 5 | Minnesota | $37,423 | $17.99 |
| 6 | North Dakota | $39,223 | $18.86 |
| 7 | Maine | $37,839 | $18.19 |
| 8 | Colorado | $35,579 | $17.11 |
| 9 | Nevada | $33,557 | $16.13 |
| 10 | Ohio | $32,709 | $15.73 |
| 11 | Indiana | $33,053 | $15.89 |
| 12 | South Dakota | $34,626 | $16.65 |
| 13 | Wyoming | $35,547 | $17.09 |
| 14 | New York | $34,858 | $16.76 |
| 15 | Utah | $34,559 | $16.61 |
| 16 | Kansas | $33,390 | $16.05 |
| 17 | Oregon | $35,396 | $17.02 |
| 18 | Idaho | $34,740 | $16.70 |
| 19 | Hawaii | $35,623 | $17.13 |
| 20 | California | $34,141 | $16.41 |
| 21 | District of Columbia | $36,650 | $17.62 |
| 22 | Kentucky | $31,604 | $15.19 |
| 23 | Texas | $33,248 | $15.98 |
| 24 | Arizona | $32,424 | $15.59 |
| 25 | Washington | $35,183 | $16.91 |
| 26 | Michigan | $32,398 | $15.58 |
| 27 | Missouri | $32,617 | $15.68 |
| 28 | New Jersey | $33,592 | $16.15 |
| 29 | Tennessee | $31,088 | $14.95 |
| 30 | Wisconsin | $31,241 | $15.02 |
| 31 | Maryland | $35,251 | $16.95 |
| 32 | Delaware | $33,289 | $16.00 |
| 33 | Nebraska | $31,493 | $15.14 |
| 34 | Florida | $31,522 | $15.15 |
| 35 | New Hampshire | $32,045 | $15.41 |
| 36 | Iowa | $31,282 | $15.04 |
| 37 | Pennsylvania | $30,895 | $14.85 |
| 38 | Vermont | $31,751 | $15.26 |
| 39 | Georgia | $31,111 | $14.96 |
| 40 | West Virginia | $30,883 | $14.85 |
| 41 | South Carolina | $30,070 | $14.46 |
| 42 | Louisiana | $31,643 | $15.21 |
| 43 | Arkansas | $29,911 | $14.38 |
| 44 | New Mexico | $31,906 | $15.34 |
| 45 | Montana | $32,032 | $15.40 |
| 46 | North Carolina | $30,270 | $14.55 |
| 47 | Mississippi | $28,495 | $13.70 |
| 48 | Connecticut | $31,547 | $15.17 |
| 49 | Virginia | $31,533 | $15.16 |
| 50 | Oklahoma | $29,364 | $14.12 |
| 51 | Alabama | $28,774 | $13.83 |
Highest paying cities for fork truck operators
The highest-paying cities for fork truck operators are Grand Forks, ND, Marshfield, MA, and Wheeling, IL.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Grand Forks, ND | $39,765 | $19.12 |
| 2 | Marshfield, MA | $37,210 | $17.89 |
| 3 | Wheeling, IL | $36,500 | $17.55 |
| 4 | Schenectady, NY | $35,870 | $17.25 |
| 5 | Denver, CO | $35,590 | $17.11 |
| 6 | Baltimore, MD | $35,341 | $16.99 |
| 7 | Twin Falls, ID | $34,448 | $16.56 |
| 8 | Cedar City, UT | $34,353 | $16.52 |
| 9 | Lenexa, KS | $33,494 | $16.10 |
| 10 | Grapevine, TX | $33,349 | $16.03 |
| 11 | Lafayette, IN | $33,116 | $15.92 |
| 12 | Merrimack, NH | $32,001 | $15.39 |
| 13 | Harrisonburg, VA | $31,862 | $15.32 |
| 14 | Easton, PA | $31,302 | $15.05 |
| 15 | Bettendorf, IA | $31,270 | $15.03 |
| 16 | Milwaukee, WI | $31,126 | $14.96 |
| 17 | Greenville, SC | $30,218 | $14.53 |
Fork truck operator salary details
A fork truck operator's salary ranges from $26,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $39,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a fork truck operator's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $39,000 | $3,250 | $19 |
| 75th Percentile | $35,000 | $2,917 | $17 |
| Average | $32,272 | $2,689 | $16 |
| 25th Percentile | $28,000 | $2,333 | $13 |
| 10th Percentile | $26,000 | $2,167 | $13 |
Highest paying fork truck operator jobs
The highest paying types of fork truck operators are dock worker/forklift operator, terminal operator, and truck operator.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Driver/Material Handler | $36,219 | $3,018 | $17.41 | 198,718 |
| Machine Operator/Forklift Operator | $32,452 | $2,704 | $15.60 | 120,073 |
| Material Handler/Forklift Operator | $36,453 | $3,038 | $17.53 | 168,379 |
| Terminal Operator | $39,948 | $3,329 | $19.21 | 43,328 |
| Lift Operator | $32,309 | $2,692 | $15.53 | 72,445 |
| Mill Operator | $39,045 | $3,254 | $18.77 | 64,574 |
Top companies hiring fork truck operators now:
Which companies pay fork truck operators the most?
Fork truck operator salaries at Seneca Foods and The Clorox Company are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average fork truck operator salary at companies like General Mills and Armstrong World Industries are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seneca Foods | $42,520 | $20.44 |
| 2 | The Clorox Company | $40,603 | $19.52 |
| 3 | General Mills | $40,500 | $19.47 |
| 4 | Armstrong World Industries | $39,867 | $19.17 |
| 5 | Ecolab | $39,749 | $19.11 |
| 6 | USG | $38,476 | $18.50 |
| 7 | Chobani | $38,174 | $18.35 |
| 8 | Ardent Mills | $38,015 | $18.28 |
| 9 | Green Mountain Coffee Roasters | $37,944 | $18.24 |
| 10 | WestRock | $37,543 | $18.05 |
| 11 | International Paper | $37,140 | $17.86 |
| 12 | Crown Equipment | $36,822 | $17.70 |
| 13 | General Dynamics | $36,697 | $17.64 |
| 14 | Anheuser-Busch | $36,289 | $17.45 |
| 15 | General Shale | $36,235 | $17.42 |
| 16 | Victaulic | $35,744 | $17.18 |
| 17 | Mid-City Foundry Co. | $35,533 | $17.08 |
| 18 | Greystar Real Estate Partners | $34,239 | $16.46 |
| 19 | Perry's Ice Cream | $33,089 | $15.91 |
| 20 | Great Dane | $32,887 | $15.81 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Fork Truck Operator salary by industry
The average fork truck operator salary varies across industries:
- The average fork truck operator salary in the finance industry is $37,114, the highest of any industry.
- The average fork truck operator salary in the finance industry is $36,973.
- Fork truck operators in the transportation industry earn an average salary of $34,397, the lowest of any industry.
Highest paying industries for fork truck operators
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Finance | $37,114 | $17.84 |
| 2 | Automotive | $36,973 | $17.78 |
| 3 | Manufacturing | $35,297 | $16.97 |
| 4 | Transportation | $34,397 | $16.54 |
High paying fork truck operator jobs
Fork truck operator salary trends
The average fork truck operator salary has risen by $6,487 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average fork truck operator earned $25,785 annually, but today, they earn $32,272 a year. That works out to a 16% change in pay for fork truck operators over the last decade.
Compare fork truck operator salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average fork truck operator salary over time
Compare fork truck operator salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Fork truck operator salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $32,300 | $15.52 | +3.6% |
| 2024 | $31,100 | $14.95 | +4.0% |
| 2023 | $29,900 | $14.35 | +3.2% |
| 2022 | $28,900 | $13.89 | +3.5% |
| 2021 | $27,900 | $13.41 | +1.1% |
Recently added fork truck operator salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clorox | Fork Truck Operator (Night Shift) | Wheeling, IL | 06/30/2025 | $54,262 |
| Ecolab Inc. | Fork Truck Operator | Garland, TX | 06/28/2025 | $48,836 |
| Chobani | Fork Truck Operator-Warehouse-Grade 4-W/D Nights | New Berlin, NY | 06/28/2025 | $44,349 |
| Expert Staffing | Fork Truck Operator | Putnam, CT | 06/27/2025 | $39,423 |
| Greif Packaging | Fork Truck Operator | Mason, OH | 06/27/2025 | $40,133 |
| Greif Packaging LLC | Fork Truck Operator | Mason, MI | 06/27/2025 | $40,133 |
| Greif Brothers | Fork Truck Operator | Mason, MI | 06/26/2025 | $40,133 |
| Chobani | Fork Truck Operator I (Grade 4)-D Shift PM To AM, Every Other Weekend Required) | Twin Falls, ID | 06/24/2025 | $44,349 |
| Elwood Staffing | Chobani Fork Truck Operator | Twin Falls, ID | 06/17/2025 | $42,784 |
| Xerox | Fork Truck Driver | Rochester, NY | 06/11/2025 | $43,500 |
Fork truck operator salary FAQs
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