Forklift operator demographics and statistics in the US
Forklift operator demographics research summary. Zippia estimates forklift operator demographics and statistics in the United States by using a database of 30 million profiles. Our forklift operator estimates are verified against BLS, Census, and current job openings data for accuracy. Zippia's data science team found the following key facts about forklift operators after extensive research and analysis:
- There are over 1,595,758 forklift operators currently employed in the United States.
- 8.0% of all forklift operators are women, while 92.0% are men.
- The average forklift operator age is 43 years old.
- The most common ethnicity of forklift operators is White (55.9%), followed by Hispanic or Latino (19.9%), Black or African American (16.5%) and Unknown (4.4%).
- In 2022, women earned 99% of what men earned.
- 4% of all forklift operators are LGBT.
- Forklift operators are 58% more likely to work at private companies in comparison to public companies.
On this page
Forklift operator demographics by:
Forklift operator gender statistics
8.0% of forklift operators are women and 92.0% of forklift operators are men.
- Male, 92.0%
- Female, 8.0%
Forklift operator gender ratio
| Gender | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Male | 92.0% |
| Female | 8.0% |
Forklift operator gender pay gap
Women earn 99¢ for every $1 earned by men
Male income
$34,413
Female income
$34,056
Forklift operator gender ratio over time
This data breaks down the percentage of men and women in forklift operator positions over time. Currently, 8.0% of forklift operators are female.
Forklift operator gender ratio by year
| Year | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 92.16% | 7.84% |
| 2011 | 91.92% | 8.08% |
| 2012 | 93.00% | 7.00% |
| 2013 | 93.18% | 6.82% |
| 2014 | 92.74% | 7.26% |
| 2015 | 93.65% | 6.35% |
| 2016 | 93.01% | 6.99% |
| 2017 | 91.94% | 8.06% |
| 2018 | 91.81% | 8.19% |
| 2019 | 92.59% | 7.41% |
| 2020 | 91.66% | 8.34% |
| 2021 | 92.04% | 7.96% |
Forklift operator related jobs gender ratio
We compared forklift operators with similar job titles to see how gender ratios vary. As you can see, dredge operator and tower crane operator have the biggest gender ratio gaps.
| Job title | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| Gift Wrapper | 12% | 88% |
| Gift Packer | 18% | 82% |
| Pill Packer | 19% | 81% |
| Forklift Operator | 92% | 8% |
| Green Chain Operator | 99% | 1% |
| Tower Crane Operator | 99% | 1% |
| Dredge Operator | 99% | 1% |
Male
Female
100%
75%
50%
25%
0%
0%
25%
50%
75%
100%
Forklift operator demographics by race
The most common ethnicity among forklift operators is White, which makes up 55.9% of all forklift operators. Comparatively, 19.9% of forklift operators are Hispanic or Latino and 16.5% of forklift operators are Black or African American.
- White, 55.9%
- Hispanic or Latino, 19.9%
- Black or African American, 16.5%
- Unknown, 4.4%
- Asian, 2.5%
- American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%
Forklift operator race
| Forklift operator race | Percentages |
|---|---|
| White | 55.9% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 19.9% |
| Black or African American | 16.5% |
| Unknown | 4.4% |
| Asian | 2.5% |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 0.8% |
Forklift operator race and ethnicity over time
See how forklift operator racial and ethnic diversity trended since 2010 according to the United States Census Bureau data.
Forklift operator race and ethnicity by year
| Year | White | Black or African American | Asian | Hispanic or Latino |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 60.65% | 16.77% | 2.36% | 17.70% |
| 2011 | 59.38% | 16.73% | 2.32% | 19.19% |
| 2012 | 60.04% | 16.47% | 2.25% | 18.72% |
| 2013 | 59.65% | 16.17% | 2.43% | 19.08% |
| 2014 | 59.58% | 16.00% | 2.69% | 18.91% |
| 2015 | 61.04% | 14.72% | 2.31% | 19.34% |
| 2016 | 58.48% | 17.56% | 2.21% | 19.15% |
| 2017 | 60.02% | 15.53% | 2.40% | 19.41% |
| 2018 | 58.53% | 16.21% | 2.83% | 19.51% |
| 2019 | 61.46% | 14.83% | 2.48% | 18.28% |
| 2020 | 56.25% | 16.85% | 2.74% | 18.72% |
| 2021 | 55.90% | 16.55% | 2.45% | 19.90% |
Forklift operator wage gap by race
According to our data, asian forklift operators have the highest average salary compared to other ethnicities. Black or african american forklift operators have the lowest average salary at $33,642.
| Ethnicity | Salary |
|---|---|
| Unknown | $34,462 |
| White | $34,438 |
| Black or African American | $33,642 |
| Asian | $35,227 |
| Hispanic or Latino | $34,315 |
Average forklift operator age
See how the average age of forklift operators varies based on ethnicity and gender.
Male
Female
Forklift operator age by race and gender
| Race | Male age | Female age |
|---|---|---|
| Black or African American | 44 | 37 |
| Unknown | 40 | 44 |
| Asian | 42.5 | |
| Hispanic or Latino | 42 | 42 |
| White | 45 | 49.5 |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 34 |
Forklift operator age breakdown
The average age of forklift operators is 40+ years years old, representing 60% of the forklift operator population.
Forklift operator age breakdown
| Forklift Operator Years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| 40+ years | 60% |
| 30-40 years | 24% |
| 20-30 years | 17% |
Forklift operator educational attainment
The most common degree for forklift operators is high school diploma, with 59% of forklift operators earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are diploma degree at 15% and diploma degree at 13%.
- High School Diploma, 59%
- Diploma, 15%
- Associate, 13%
- Bachelor's, 7%
- Other Degrees, 6%
Forklift operators by degree level
| Forklift operator degree | Percentages |
|---|---|
| High School Diploma | 59% |
| Diploma | 15% |
| Associate | 13% |
| Bachelor's | 7% |
| Other Degrees | 6% |
Forklift operator jobs you might like
Forklift operator wage gap by degree level
According to the data, forklift operators with a Associate degree earn more than those without, at $35,190 annually. With a High School Diploma degree, forklift operators earn a median annual income of $34,492 compared to $34,428 for forklift operators with an Bachelor's degree.
| Education | Salary |
|---|---|
| High School Diploma or Less | $34,492 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $34,428 |
| Some College/ Associate Degree | $35,190 |
Forklift operator employment statistics
Most forklift operators work for a private in the manufacturing industry.
Company size where forklift operators work
Below, you can see the size of companies where forklift operators work.
Forklift operator jobs by employer size
| Company size | Percentages |
|---|---|
| < 50 employees | 3% |
| 50 - 100 employees | 7% |
| 100 - 500 employees | 11% |
| 500 - 1,000 employees | 5% |
| 1,000 - 10,000 employees | 30% |
| > 10,000 employees | 43% |
Forklift operator jobs by company type
Employees with the forklift operator job title have their preferences when it comes to working for a company. For instance, most forklift operators prefer to work at private companies over public companies.
Forklift operator jobs by sector
| Company type | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Education | 1% |
| Public | 39% |
| Private | 58% |
| Government | 1% |
Forklift operator jobs by industry
The most common industries for forklift operators are manufacturing, transportation and retail.
Forklift operator industry statistics
| Industry | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Fortune 500 | 19% |
| Manufacturing | 18% |
| Transportation | 15% |
| Retail | 14% |
| Professional | 11% |
| Automotive | 3% |
| Hospitality | 2% |
| Finance | 2% |
| Construction | 2% |
| Health Care | 2% |
| Technology | 2% |
| Agriculture | 2% |
| Pharmaceutical | 1% |
| Media | 1% |
| Internet | 1% |
| Government | 1% |
| Energy | 1% |
| Non Profits | 1% |
| Real Estate | 1% |
| Education | 1% |
Forklift operator turnover and employment statistics
Forklift operator unemployment rate over time
The unemployment rate for forklift operators between 2008 and the most recent data has varied, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Forklift operator unemployment rate by year
| Year | Forklift operator unemployment rate |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 17.04% |
| 2011 | 14.60% |
| 2012 | 12.67% |
| 2013 | 10.05% |
| 2014 | 9.10% |
| 2015 | 6.72% |
| 2016 | 6.89% |
| 2017 | 5.99% |
| 2018 | 5.33% |
| 2019 | 4.81% |
| 2020 | 7.22% |
| 2021 | 6.71% |
Average forklift operator tenure
The average forklift operator stays at their job for 1-2 years, based on the 192,871 forklift operators resumes in Zippia's database.
Forklift operator tenure statistics
| Number of years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Less than 1 year | 32% |
| 1-2 years | 33% |
| 3-4 years | 13% |
| 5-7 years | 13% |
| 8-10 years | 4% |
| 11+ years | 6% |
Forklift operator LGBT ratio compared to similar jobs
Review the percent of forklift operators that are members of the LGBT community. You can see how this compares to similar jobs in the chart below.
| Job title | LGBT | Job openings |
|---|---|---|
| Gantry Crane Operator | 1.94% | 30,035 |
| Forklift Operator | 3.85% | - |
| Commercial Front Load Driver | 4.13% | 96,423 |
| Reconditioner | 4.59% | 4,833 |
| Furniture Packer | 4.67% | 16,993 |
| Supplies Packer | 6.68% | 16,193 |
| Pulp Grinder Feeder | 10.43% | 1,163 |
Similar forklift operator jobs LGBT demographics
| Profession | Percentages of LGBT | Job openings |
|---|---|---|
| Gantry Crane Operator | 1.94% | 30,035 |
| Commercial Front Load Driver | 4.13% | 96,423 |
| Reconditioner | 4.59% | 4,833 |
| Furniture Packer | 4.67% | 16,993 |
| Supplies Packer | 6.68% | 16,193 |
| Pulp Grinder Feeder | 10.43% | 1,163 |
Foreign languages spoken by forklift operators
The most common foreign language among forklift operators is Spanish at 84.6%. The second-most popular foreign language spoken is French at 4.0% and Carrier is the third-most popular at 2.6%.
- Spanish, 84.6%
- French, 4.0%
- Carrier, 2.6%
- German, 1.3%
- Arabic, 1.3%
- Other, 6.2%
Forklift operator languages spoken
| Foreign language | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Spanish | 84.6% |
| French | 4.0% |
| Carrier | 2.6% |
| German | 1.3% |
| Arabic | 1.3% |
| Other | 6.2% |
