Forklift Operator Demographics and Statistics In The US
Research Summary. Using a database of 30 million profiles, Zippia estimates demographics and statistics for forklift operators in the United States. Our estimates are verified against BLS, Census, and current job openings data for accuracy. After extensive research and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
- 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 age of an employed forklift operator 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 2021, 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.
Forklift Operator Statistics By Gender
8.0% of forklift operators are women and 92.0% of forklift operators are men.
- Male, 92.0%
- Female, 8.0%
Forklift Operators By Gender
| Gender | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Male | 92.0% |
| Female | 8.0% |
Gender Pay Gap For Forklift Operator
Women Earn 99ยข For Every $1 Earned By Men
Forklift Operator Gender Over Time
This data shows how men and women predominate in the forklift operator position over time.
Forklift Operator Gender 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 Male to Female Ratio
We compared this job title with other job titles to see how gender percentages varied. As you can see, dredge operator and tower crane operator have the biggest difference in gender.
| 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% |
Forklift Operator Statistics By Race
The most common ethnicity among forklift operators is White, which makes up 55.9% of all forklift operators. Comparatively, there are 19.9% of the Hispanic or Latino ethnicity and 16.5% of the Black or African American ethnicity.
- 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
Using the Census Bureau data, we found out how the percentage of each ethnic category trended between 2010-2019 among forklift operators.
- White
- Asian
- Hispanic or Latino
- Black or African American
Forklift Operator Race 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
| Ethnicity | Salary |
|---|---|
| Unknown | $34,462 |
| White | $34,438 |
| Black or African American | $33,642 |
| Asian | $35,227 |
| Hispanic or Latino | $34,315 |
Forklift Operator JOBS
Average Age of a Forklift Operator
We determined the average age of forklift operators based on ethnicity and gender.
Forklift Operator Age By Race
| 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
This chart breaks down the ages of forklift operator employees. Interestingly enough, the average age of forklift operators is 40+ years old, which represents 60% of the population.
Forklift Operator Age
| Forklift Operator Years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| 40+ years | 60% |
| 30-40 years | 24% |
| 20-30 years | 17% |
Types of Forklift Operator Degree Levels
The most common degree for forklift operators is high school diploma 59% of forklift operators earn that degree. A close second is diploma with 15% and rounding it off is associate degree with 13%.
- High School Diploma, 59%
- Diploma, 15%
- Associate, 13%
- Bachelors, 7%
- Other Degrees, 6%
Forklift Operators By Education
| Forklift Operator Degree | Percentages |
|---|---|
| High School Diploma | 59% |
| Diploma | 15% |
| Associate | 13% |
| Bachelors | 7% |
| Other Degrees | 6% |
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Forklift Operator Wage Gap By Education
| Education | Salary |
|---|---|
| High School Diploma or Less | $34,492 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $34,428 |
| Some College/ Associate Degree | $35,190 |
Forklift Operator Employment Statistics
This section highlights information about where forklift operators work. We found most forklift operators work for a private company. In addition, the industry that employs the most forklift operators is the manufacturing industry.
Company Size
We created this chart to show you the average size of companies that typically hire forklift operators.
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% |
The Types Of Companies Forklift Operator Work In
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% |
Top Industries Hiring Forklift Operators
Just based on the number of employees within each industry, we were able to determine the most common industries that employ forklift operators. Those industries include 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 Bureau of Labor Statistics came in clutch when it came down to figuring out how the unemployment rate has changed over time. Between 2008 and 2018, this is how the number of forklift operators changed.
- Unemployment rate
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% |
The Average Number of Years That Forklift Operator Stay in a Job
By looking over 192,871 forklift operators resumes, we figured out that the average forklift operator enjoys staying at their job for 1-2 years for a percentage of 33%.
Forklift Operator Tenure
| Number or 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% |
Comparing The LGBT Ratio of Forklift Operators with Other Job Titles
After finding the gender ratio, we wondered if the percentages of LGBT persons were different as well. Using the data below, you can see how other job titles compare to forklift operators.
| 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 |
Forklift Operator 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% |
Forklift Operator Jobs
Recently Added Forklift Operator Jobs
Forklift Operator Heatmaps
The amount you can make as a forklift operator can depend on where you live. For example, the highest salary of forklift operators is $40,465. Use our chart to find out where that salary is located.
Where Do Forklift Operators Earn The Most?
Forklift operators earn the most in North Dakota, where the average forklift operator salary is $40,448. The map here shows where forklift operators earn the highest salaries in the U.S. The darker areas across the 50 states highlight the highest salaries.
Which State Has The Most Forklift Operators?
By looking through more than 192,871 resumes, we found that the most popular places for forklift operators are Houston, TX and Memphis, TN.
Number Of Forklift Operator Jobs By State
Where Are Forklift Operators In High Demand?
Forklift operators are in high demand in Charlotte, NC. There are currently 82 job openings for forklift operators here. We looked over job openings to determine where in the country forklift operators are in the most demand.
Forklift Operator Demographics FAQs
What Percentage Of Forklift Operators Are Female?
10.5% of forklift operators are female in the United States. This is -1.1 percentage points lower than last year. Additionally, the percentage of female forklift operators has decreased by -0.6 percentage points since 2010. That means there are a total of 164,287 female forklift operators in the U.S. and 1,400,352 male forklift operators in the United States. Note that Zippia's estimate accounts only for the 1,564,639 people with the specific job title of forklift operator and doesn't include grouping similar job titles, or people with potentially similar credentialing.