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Forklift salary
Average forklift salary
$15.39
Understanding Forklift Operator Salaries
The average forklift operator salary in the United States is approximately $32,015 per year, or $15 per hour. However, this figure can fluctuate based on multiple factors. For instance, operators in states like California and Texas tend to earn higher wages, reflecting the demand for skilled labor in these regions.
Factors Affecting Salaries
Experience plays a significant role in determining earnings. Entry-level forklift operators may start at a lower rate, while those with several years of experience can command significantly higher salaries. Additionally, forklift operators working in industries such as construction and manufacturing often see increased pay due to the nature of their work and the machinery involved.
Job Opportunities
In terms of job opportunities, forklift operators can find employment in various settings, including warehouses, distribution centers, and manufacturing facilities. Understanding the local job market and salary ranges can aid in making informed career decisions.
With the right skills and certifications, forklift operators can advance into supervisory roles, further increasing their earning potential. Explore opportunities today to begin or enhance your career in this vital field.
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Where can a Forklift earn more?
Forklift salaries by experience level
Average forklift salary by state
The highest-paying states for forklifts are Alaska, North Dakota, and Minnesota. The lowest average forklift salary states are Texas, Oklahoma, and North Carolina.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for forklifts
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | North Dakota | $40,763 | $19.60 |
| 2 | Wisconsin | $35,215 | $16.93 |
| 3 | Minnesota | $38,054 | $18.30 |
| 4 | Nevada | $34,083 | $16.39 |
| 5 | Utah | $35,290 | $16.97 |
| 6 | Alaska | $41,366 | $19.89 |
| 7 | Oregon | $35,957 | $17.29 |
| 8 | South Dakota | $35,492 | $17.06 |
| 9 | Idaho | $35,772 | $17.20 |
| 10 | Pennsylvania | $32,484 | $15.62 |
| 11 | Washington | $35,955 | $17.29 |
| 12 | Wyoming | $36,312 | $17.46 |
| 13 | Maine | $35,700 | $17.16 |
| 14 | Kansas | $32,830 | $15.78 |
| 15 | Rhode Island | $33,578 | $16.14 |
| 16 | Illinois | $33,642 | $16.17 |
| 17 | Ohio | $31,702 | $15.24 |
| 18 | Massachusetts | $34,980 | $16.82 |
| 19 | Indiana | $31,379 | $15.09 |
| 20 | Michigan | $31,755 | $15.27 |
| 21 | Iowa | $32,079 | $15.42 |
| 22 | Colorado | $35,680 | $17.15 |
| 23 | Arizona | $32,209 | $15.49 |
| 24 | California | $34,370 | $16.52 |
| 25 | Kentucky | $30,477 | $14.65 |
| 26 | Maryland | $33,491 | $16.10 |
| 27 | Tennessee | $29,863 | $14.36 |
| 28 | Montana | $33,313 | $16.02 |
| 29 | New Jersey | $31,699 | $15.24 |
| 30 | Missouri | $31,949 | $15.36 |
| 31 | Nebraska | $31,554 | $15.17 |
| 32 | Hawaii | $36,340 | $17.47 |
| 33 | District of Columbia | $34,821 | $16.74 |
| 34 | New York | $32,937 | $15.84 |
| 35 | Delaware | $31,523 | $15.16 |
| 36 | New Hampshire | $30,252 | $14.54 |
| 37 | Georgia | $29,472 | $14.17 |
| 38 | New Mexico | $31,521 | $15.15 |
| 39 | Vermont | $30,080 | $14.46 |
| 40 | West Virginia | $29,633 | $14.25 |
| 41 | Arkansas | $28,948 | $13.92 |
| 42 | Louisiana | $30,315 | $14.57 |
| 43 | Florida | $29,578 | $14.22 |
| 44 | Mississippi | $27,349 | $13.15 |
| 45 | North Carolina | $28,600 | $13.75 |
| 46 | Oklahoma | $28,685 | $13.79 |
| 47 | Virginia | $29,894 | $14.37 |
| 48 | South Carolina | $28,259 | $13.59 |
| 49 | Texas | $28,839 | $13.86 |
| 50 | Alabama | $27,442 | $13.19 |
| 51 | Connecticut | $29,641 | $14.25 |
Highest paying cities for forklifts
The highest-paying cities for forklifts are Grand Forks, ND, Minneapolis, MN, and Portland, OR.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Grand Forks, ND | $40,890 | $19.66 |
| 2 | Minneapolis, MN | $38,135 | $18.33 |
| 3 | Portland, OR | $36,015 | $17.31 |
| 4 | Denver, CO | $35,712 | $17.17 |
| 5 | San Jose, CA | $35,538 | $17.09 |
| 6 | Twin Falls, ID | $35,346 | $16.99 |
| 7 | Salt Lake City, UT | $35,345 | $16.99 |
| 8 | Aurora, IL | $33,706 | $16.20 |
| 9 | Wilkes-Barre, PA | $33,139 | $15.93 |
| 10 | Kansas City, KS | $33,007 | $15.87 |
| 11 | Toledo, OH | $32,502 | $15.63 |
| 12 | Phoenix, AZ | $32,337 | $15.55 |
| 13 | Kansas City, MO | $32,181 | $15.47 |
| 14 | Holland, MI | $31,952 | $15.36 |
| 15 | Omaha, NE | $31,584 | $15.18 |
| 16 | Monroe, NJ | $31,572 | $15.18 |
| 17 | Indianapolis, IN | $31,124 | $14.96 |
| 18 | Bowling Green, KY | $30,052 | $14.45 |
| 19 | Lebanon, TN | $29,945 | $14.40 |
| 20 | Jacksonville, FL | $29,852 | $14.35 |
Forklift salary details
A forklift's salary ranges from $26,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $39,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a forklift's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $39,000 | $3,250 | $19 |
| 75th Percentile | $35,000 | $2,917 | $17 |
| Average | $32,015 | $2,668 | $15 |
| 25th Percentile | $28,000 | $2,333 | $13 |
| 10th Percentile | $26,000 | $2,167 | $13 |
Highest paying forklift jobs
The highest paying types of forklifts are dock worker/forklift operator, lift truck operator, and material handler/forklift operator.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Warehouse Machine Operator | $33,796 | $2,816 | $16.25 | 229,051 |
| Driver/Material Handler | $36,219 | $3,018 | $17.41 | 198,718 |
| Cherry Picker Operator | $33,956 | $2,830 | $16.32 | 105,023 |
| Reach Truck Operator | $34,625 | $2,885 | $16.65 | 137,300 |
| Picker And Packer | $30,841 | $2,570 | $14.83 | 67,478 |
| Lift Truck Operator | $36,973 | $3,081 | $17.78 | 103,337 |
Top companies hiring forklifts now:
Which companies pay forklifts the most?
Forklift salaries at Steel Dynamics and Olympic Steel are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average forklift salary at companies like ADM and Tyson Foods are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Steel Dynamics | $42,386 | $20.38 |
| 2 | Olympic Steel | $41,380 | $19.89 |
| 3 | ADM | $39,971 | $19.22 |
| 4 | Tyson Foods | $39,921 | $19.19 |
| 5 | J.R. Simplot | $39,487 | $18.98 |
| 6 | Golden State Foods | $39,326 | $18.91 |
| 7 | Green Mountain Coffee Roasters | $39,127 | $18.81 |
| 8 | Butterball | $38,894 | $18.70 |
| 9 | Conagra Brands | $38,605 | $18.56 |
| 10 | West Fraser | $38,010 | $18.27 |
| 11 | Xpress Global Systems | $37,618 | $18.09 |
| 12 | Shaw Industries | $37,181 | $17.88 |
| 13 | Shoe Carnival | $36,703 | $17.65 |
| 14 | International Paper | $36,577 | $17.59 |
| 15 | Ryder System | $36,075 | $17.34 |
| 16 | Lippert Components | $36,046 | $17.33 |
| 17 | VisionCorp Rep | $35,601 | $17.12 |
| 18 | Standard Motor Products | $35,444 | $17.04 |
| 19 | 1-800-Flowers.com | $35,419 | $17.03 |
| 20 | True Value | $35,298 | $16.97 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Forklift salary by industry
The average forklift salary varies across industries:
- The average forklift salary in the transportation industry is $34,824, the highest of any industry.
- The average forklift salary in the finance industry is $34,097.
- Forklifts in the energy industry earn an average salary of $29,918, the lowest of any industry.
Highest paying industries for forklifts
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Transportation | $34,824 | $16.74 |
| 2 | Manufacturing | $34,097 | $16.39 |
| 3 | Retail | $32,633 | $15.69 |
| 4 | Professional | $30,837 | $14.83 |
| 5 | Energy | $29,918 | $14.38 |
High paying forklift jobs
Forklift salary trends
The average forklift salary has risen by $6,435 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average forklift earned $25,580 annually, but today, they earn $32,015 a year. That works out to a 16% change in pay for forklifts over the last decade.
Compare forklift salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average forklift salary over time
Compare forklift salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Forklift salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $32,000 | $15.39 | +3.6% |
| 2024 | $30,900 | $14.83 | +4.0% |
| 2023 | $29,600 | $14.24 | +3.2% |
| 2022 | $28,700 | $13.78 | +3.5% |
| 2021 | $27,700 | $13.30 | +1.1% |
Recently added forklift salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Universal Logistics Holdings | Hilo Forklift | Detroit, MI | 06/29/2025 | $36,001 |
| Core Mark | Stand Up Reach Forklift-Warehouse Days Cooler + Incentive | Lebanon, TN | 06/27/2025 | $42,784 |
| Performance Food Group | Stand Up Reach Forklift-Warehouse Days Cooler + Incentive | Lebanon, TN | 06/27/2025 | $42,784 |
| BJ's Wholesale Club | Overnight Forklift | Monroe, NY | 06/27/2025 | $36,001 |
| People Source | Forklift/General Labor | Oklahoma City, OK | 06/27/2025 | $31,305 |
| Kane Logistics | Sitdown Forklift | Hanover, PA | 06/27/2025 | $39,653 |
| Kane Logistics | Mhe2, General Forklift | Joliet, IL | 06/27/2025 | $40,697 |
| Aventure Staffing | Forklift Dirver | Fairmont, MN | 06/27/2025 | $32,662 |
| ADM | Forklift | Ashburn, GA | 06/26/2025 | $29,218 |
| Sysco | Forklift Outbound | Orlando, FL | 06/26/2025 | $39,653 |
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