Forklift vs production forklift operator

The differences between forklifts and production forklift 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 and a production forklift operator. Additionally, a production forklift operator has an average salary of $34,322, which is higher than the $32,015 average annual salary of a forklift.

The top three skills for a forklift include pallets, sit-down forklift and basic math. The most important skills for a production forklift operator are pallets, line production, and safety rules.

Forklift vs production forklift operator overview

	Forklift	Production Forklift Operator
Yearly salary	$32,015	$34,322
Hourly rate	$15.39	$16.50
Growth rate	7%	7%
Number of jobs	113,257	160,992
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 58%	High School Diploma, 58%
Average age	43	43
Years of experience	4	4

Forklift vs production forklift operator salary

Forklifts and production forklift operators have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Forklift	Production Forklift Operator
Average salary	$32,015	$34,322
Salary range	Between $26,000 And $39,000	Between $26,000 And $43,000
Highest paying City	Grand Forks, ND	Fargo, ND
Highest paying state	Alaska	Alaska
Best paying company	Steel Dynamics	Darigold
Best paying industry	Transportation	Manufacturing

Differences between forklift and production forklift operator education

There are a few differences between a forklift and a production forklift operator in terms of educational background:

	Forklift	Production Forklift Operator
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 58%	High School Diploma, 58%
Most common major	Business	Business
Most common college	-	-

Forklift vs production forklift operator demographics

Here are the differences between forklifts' and production forklift operators' demographics:

	Forklift	Production Forklift Operator
Average age	43	43
Gender ratio	Male, 92.0% Female, 8.0%	Male, 88.5% Female, 11.5%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 16.4% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 18.2% Asian, 2.5% White, 57.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%	Black or African American, 15.6% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 17.3% Asian, 2.8% White, 59.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9%
LGBT Percentage	4%	4%

Differences between forklift and production forklift operator duties and responsibilities

Forklift example responsibilities.

Provide a safe work environment following all company policy and OSHA safety procedures.
Clean and maintain the warehouse in compliance with OSHA safety has their period operate forklifts and other heavy machinery safely.
Prepare pallets by following procedures for stacking arrangement and properly tagging pallets.
Operate forklifts, lift beams, swivel-hooks and hoists.
Run and monitor extrusion processes of polymer products, using dip pan hoppers, x-hoppers and delivery processes.
Move inventory in support of logistics management.

Production forklift operator example responsibilities.

Use automate systems and RF units to pull, put away and load customer product, in addition to managing inventory
Move and stock products using a stand up and sit down forklift.
Operate various forklifts from old Clark lifts to any new stand up and sit down lifts.
Load tractor trailer trucks with forklift and keep the production line stock with pallets of assort chicken parts to be package.
Execute production activities as directed by supervisor, including performing GMP cell culture of biologic products using closed-system device.
Deliver finished product to production area and stack items on pallet for pickup

Forklift vs production forklift operator skills

Common forklift skills

Pallets, 21%
Sit-Down Forklift, 10%
Basic Math, 7%
Shipping Receiving, 5%
RF Scanner, 4%
Warehouse Environment, 4%

Common production forklift operator skills

Pallets, 24%
Line Production, 12%
Safety Rules, 12%
Pallet Jack, 8%
RF Scanner, 6%
Quality Standards, 5%

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Transportation Industry
Forklift
Forklift vs Production Forklift Operator

Updated January 8, 2025

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