Best states for a forklift operator

Q: What is the best state for forklift operators?

The best state to be a forklift operator is Wisconsin based on forklift operator salaries and job opportunities.

Q: What is the highest paying state for forklift operators?

The highest paying state for forklift operators is Mississippi based on Zippia’s salary database.

Q: What is the worst state for forklift operators?

The worst state for forklift operators is New Mexico, due to a combination of low salaries and few job opportunities.

Rank 1 - 10
11 - 20
21 - 30
31 - 40
41 - 51

Are you thinking of becoming a forklift operator and really want to work at DHL Supply Chain? Turns out, your chances to become a forklift operator are better in some states than others.Turns out, the median salary for the highest 10% of forklift operators in America is $42,000.

We figured that the best places for forklift operator jobs has three things everyone would agree on. There would be high annual wages, good career prospects (no matter what phase of the career you are in), and a lot of job opportunities.Wisconsin is the best state, and Minot is the city with the highest pay for forklift operators.

10 best states for forklift operators in 2026

1. Wisconsin
Total forklift operator jobs: 1,655
Average annual salary: $36,762
Lowest 10 percent earn: $29,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $45,000
Location Quotient:
1.64
Forklift operator jobs in Wisconsin
2. Nevada
Total forklift operator jobs: 423
Average annual salary: $37,779
Lowest 10 percent earn: $30,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $46,000
Location Quotient:
1.11
Forklift operator jobs in Nevada
3. North Dakota
Total forklift operator jobs: 137
Average annual salary: $40,448
Lowest 10 percent earn: $32,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $49,000
Location Quotient:
0.81
Forklift operator jobs in North Dakota
4. Minnesota
Total forklift operator jobs: 1,204
Average annual salary: $39,060
Lowest 10 percent earn: $31,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $48,000
Location Quotient:
0.99
Forklift operator jobs in Minnesota
5. Alaska
Total forklift operator jobs: 129
Average annual salary: $39,182
Lowest 10 percent earn: $32,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $47,000
Location Quotient:
0.85
Forklift operator jobs in Alaska
6. Rhode Island
Total forklift operator jobs: 336
Average annual salary: $36,323
Lowest 10 percent earn: $29,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $44,000
Location Quotient:
1.51
Forklift operator jobs in Rhode Island
7. Utah
Total forklift operator jobs: 537
Average annual salary: $36,481
Lowest 10 percent earn: $29,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $45,000
Location Quotient:
0.92
Forklift operator jobs in Utah
8. Massachusetts
Total forklift operator jobs: 2,265
Average annual salary: $36,914
Lowest 10 percent earn: $29,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $45,000
Location Quotient:
1.35
Forklift operator jobs in Massachusetts
9. Wyoming
Total forklift operator jobs: 37
Average annual salary: $40,308
Lowest 10 percent earn: $32,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $49,000
Location Quotient:
0.34
Forklift operator jobs in Wyoming
10. Iowa
Total forklift operator jobs: 829
Average annual salary: $35,176
Lowest 10 percent earn: $28,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $43,000
Location Quotient:
1.25
Forklift operator jobs in Iowa

Forklift operator jobsNear Columbus, OH

How Zippia determines the best states to be a forklift operator

You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.

Detailed list of the best states for a forklift operator

Rank	State	Average salary	Lowest 10% earn	Population	Job count
1	Wisconsin	$36,762	$29,000	5,795,483	1,655
2	Nevada	$37,779	$30,000	2,998,039	423
3	North Dakota	$40,448	$32,000	755,393	137
4	Minnesota	$39,060	$31,000	5,576,606	1,204
5	Alaska	$39,182	$32,000	739,795	129
6	Rhode Island	$36,323	$29,000	1,059,639	336
7	Utah	$36,481	$29,000	3,101,833	537
8	Massachusetts	$36,914	$29,000	6,859,819	2,265
9	Wyoming	$40,308	$32,000	579,315	37
10	Iowa	$35,176	$28,000	3,145,711	829
11	Indiana	$34,476	$28,000	6,666,818	2,275
12	Pennsylvania	$34,916	$28,000	12,805,537	3,811
13	Vermont	$37,267	$30,000	623,657	108
14	New Hampshire	$35,760	$29,000	1,342,795	295
15	Ohio	$34,609	$28,000	11,658,609	2,190
16	Oregon	$36,761	$29,000	4,142,776	555
17	Washington	$37,453	$30,000	7,405,743	851
18	Illinois	$35,037	$28,000	12,802,023	2,434
19	New Jersey	$34,896	$28,000	9,005,644	2,920
20	Montana	$36,581	$29,000	1,050,493	71
21	Michigan	$34,354	$27,000	9,962,311	1,658
22	Maryland	$35,633	$28,000	6,052,177	1,923
23	Hawaii	$37,302	$31,000	1,427,538	134
24	South Dakota	$34,916	$28,000	869,666	103
25	Kansas	$33,945	$27,000	2,913,123	648
26	Maine	$35,576	$28,000	1,335,907	128
27	Colorado	$36,065	$29,000	5,607,154	576
28	Kentucky	$32,830	$26,000	4,454,189	951
29	California	$35,201	$28,000	39,536,653	4,777
30	Idaho	$34,351	$27,000	1,716,943	225
31	New York	$35,754	$28,000	19,849,399	1,322
32	Missouri	$33,900	$27,000	6,113,532	803
33	Arizona	$33,050	$26,000	7,016,270	1,109
34	Louisiana	$34,212	$27,000	4,684,333	272
35	Tennessee	$31,375	$25,000	6,715,984	1,275
36	Nebraska	$33,456	$27,000	1,920,076	276
37	West Virginia	$33,169	$27,000	1,815,857	112
38	Georgia	$31,480	$25,000	10,429,379	2,357
39	Connecticut	$33,502	$27,000	3,588,184	387
40	Arkansas	$30,506	$25,000	3,004,279	402
41	North Carolina	$31,240	$25,000	10,273,419	1,461
42	District of Columbia	$34,257	$27,000	693,972	127
43	Oklahoma	$31,776	$26,000	3,930,864	312
44	Mississippi	$30,478	$24,000	2,984,100	371
45	Delaware	$32,840	$26,000	961,939	135
46	Florida	$31,848	$25,000	20,984,400	2,240
47	Virginia	$32,975	$26,000	8,470,020	1,139
48	Texas	$31,373	$25,000	28,304,596	2,616
49	South Carolina	$31,022	$25,000	5,024,369	634
50	Alabama	$30,522	$24,000	4,874,747	516
51	New Mexico	$31,746	$25,000	2,088,070	85

Highest paying states for forklift operators

Rank	State	Avg. Forklift Operator Salary
1	Wisconsin	$36,762
2	Nevada	$37,779
3	North Dakota	$40,448
4	Minnesota	$39,060
5	Alaska	$39,182
6	Rhode Island	$36,323
7	Utah	$36,481
8	Massachusetts	$36,914
9	Wyoming	$40,308
10	Iowa	$35,176
11	Indiana	$34,476
12	Pennsylvania	$34,916
13	Vermont	$37,267
14	New Hampshire	$35,760
15	Ohio	$34,609
16	Oregon	$36,761
17	Washington	$37,453
18	Illinois	$35,037
19	New Jersey	$34,896
20	Montana	$36,581
21	Michigan	$34,354
22	Maryland	$35,633
23	Hawaii	$37,302
24	South Dakota	$34,916
25	Kansas	$33,945
26	Maine	$35,576
27	Colorado	$36,065
28	Kentucky	$32,830
29	California	$35,201
30	Idaho	$34,351
31	New York	$35,754
32	Missouri	$33,900
33	Arizona	$33,050
34	Louisiana	$34,212
35	Tennessee	$31,375
36	Nebraska	$33,456
37	West Virginia	$33,169
38	Georgia	$31,480
39	Connecticut	$33,502
40	Arkansas	$30,506
41	North Carolina	$31,240
42	District of Columbia	$34,257
43	Oklahoma	$31,776
44	Mississippi	$30,478
45	Delaware	$32,840
46	Florida	$31,848
47	Virginia	$32,975
48	Texas	$31,373
49	South Carolina	$31,022
50	Alabama	$30,522
51	New Mexico	$31,746

Forklift operator best states FAQs

What is the best state for forklift operators?

What is the highest paying state for forklift operators?

What is the worst state for forklift operators?

Have more questions? See all answers to common transportation questions.

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Best states for Forklift Operators

Updated January 8, 2025

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Total forklift operator jobs:	1,655
Average annual salary:	$36,762
Lowest 10 percent earn:	$29,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$45,000
Location Quotient:	1.64

Best states for a forklift operator

10 best states for forklift operators in 2026

1. Wisconsin

2. Nevada

3. North Dakota

4. Minnesota

5. Alaska

6. Rhode Island

7. Utah

8. Massachusetts

9. Wyoming

10. Iowa