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The differences between forklift drivers and lift operators can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a forklift driver and a lift operator. Additionally, a forklift driver has an average salary of $33,476, which is higher than the $32,309 average annual salary of a lift operator.
The top three skills for a forklift driver include pallets, electric pallet jack and safety procedures. The most important skills for a lift operator are pallets, fork-lift, and electric pallet jack.
| Forklift Driver | Lift Operator | |
| Yearly salary | $33,476 | $32,309 |
| Hourly rate | $16.09 | $15.53 |
| Growth rate | 7% | 7% |
| Number of jobs | 116,516 | 72,445 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 61% | High School Diploma, 53% |
| Average age | 43 | 43 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
A forklift operator is responsible for managing and operating industrial trucks and machines to ensure its performance safety and stability. Forklift operators' duties include safely handling of deliveries, securely moving items to storage areas, monitoring inventories and supplies, running diagnostic tests, reporting inspected malfunctions and deficiencies, performing basic troubleshooting, and adhering to safety procedures. It is a requirement that a forklift operator must have excellent time-management skills, as well as the ability to multi-task for daily operations.
A lift operator is responsible for overseeing the performance of chair lifts in ski resorts and mountains, ensuring the efficiency of the machine and safety of all riders. Aside from controlling operations, they must also assist customers in getting up and off the lifts, remind them of the safety precautions, and ensure that the ride capacity is up to standard. Furthermore, lift operators must make sure that the machine is in good condition and adhere to all the safety regulations and policies at all times.
Forklift drivers and lift operators have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Forklift Driver | Lift Operator | |
| Average salary | $33,476 | $32,309 |
| Salary range | Between $26,000 And $41,000 | Between $26,000 And $39,000 |
| Highest paying City | Shakopee, MN | Fremont, CA |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | Alaska |
| Best paying company | BD | BD |
| Best paying industry | Manufacturing | Automotive |
There are a few differences between a forklift driver and a lift operator in terms of educational background:
| Forklift Driver | Lift Operator | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 61% | High School Diploma, 53% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between forklift drivers' and lift operators' demographics:
| Forklift Driver | Lift Operator | |
| Average age | 43 | 43 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 91.0% Female, 9.0% | Male, 89.1% Female, 10.9% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 15.7% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 20.2% Asian, 2.5% White, 56.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% | Black or African American, 15.4% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 17.0% Asian, 2.6% White, 59.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9% |
| LGBT Percentage | 4% | 4% |