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Forklift operator salary
Average forklift operator salary
$16.45
Average Forklift Operator Salary
The average salary for a forklift operator is approximately $34,213 annually or $16 per hour. These figures can fluctuate based on several factors, including geographic location, industry, and experience level. For instance, forklift operators with several years of experience or those in specialized industries may command higher wages.
Salary by State
Wages vary significantly across different states. For example, states like California and Texas often offer higher salaries due to greater demand for skilled labor. Here’s a breakdown:
- California: $40,000
- Texas: $35,000
- New York: $38,000
Experience Matters
Experience plays a crucial role in determining salary levels. Entry-level operators may earn closer to the lower end of the spectrum, while seasoned professionals can earn upwards of $50,000 with specialized certifications. Understanding the pay scale can guide your career decisions as a forklift operator.
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Where can a Forklift Operator earn more?
Forklift operator salaries by experience level
Forklift operator salary estimates from across the web
Average forklift operator salary by state
The highest-paying states for forklift operators are North Dakota, Wyoming, and Alaska. The lowest average forklift operator salary states are Texas, North Carolina, and South Carolina.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for forklift operators
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wisconsin | $36,762 | $17.67 |
| 2 | Nevada | $37,779 | $18.16 |
| 3 | North Dakota | $40,448 | $19.45 |
| 4 | Minnesota | $39,060 | $18.78 |
| 5 | Alaska | $39,182 | $18.84 |
| 6 | Rhode Island | $36,323 | $17.46 |
| 7 | Utah | $36,481 | $17.54 |
| 8 | Massachusetts | $36,914 | $17.75 |
| 9 | Wyoming | $40,308 | $19.38 |
| 10 | Iowa | $35,176 | $16.91 |
| 11 | Indiana | $34,476 | $16.57 |
| 12 | Pennsylvania | $34,916 | $16.79 |
| 13 | Vermont | $37,267 | $17.92 |
| 14 | New Hampshire | $35,760 | $17.19 |
| 15 | Ohio | $34,609 | $16.64 |
| 16 | Oregon | $36,761 | $17.67 |
| 17 | Washington | $37,453 | $18.01 |
| 18 | Illinois | $35,037 | $16.84 |
| 19 | New Jersey | $34,896 | $16.78 |
| 20 | Montana | $36,581 | $17.59 |
| 21 | Michigan | $34,354 | $16.52 |
| 22 | Maryland | $35,633 | $17.13 |
| 23 | Hawaii | $37,302 | $17.93 |
| 24 | South Dakota | $34,916 | $16.79 |
| 25 | Kansas | $33,945 | $16.32 |
| 26 | Maine | $35,576 | $17.10 |
| 27 | Colorado | $36,065 | $17.34 |
| 28 | Kentucky | $32,830 | $15.78 |
| 29 | California | $35,201 | $16.92 |
| 30 | Idaho | $34,351 | $16.51 |
| 31 | New York | $35,754 | $17.19 |
| 32 | Missouri | $33,900 | $16.30 |
| 33 | Arizona | $33,050 | $15.89 |
| 34 | Louisiana | $34,212 | $16.45 |
| 35 | Tennessee | $31,375 | $15.08 |
| 36 | Nebraska | $33,456 | $16.08 |
| 37 | West Virginia | $33,169 | $15.95 |
| 38 | Georgia | $31,480 | $15.13 |
| 39 | Connecticut | $33,502 | $16.11 |
| 40 | Arkansas | $30,506 | $14.67 |
| 41 | North Carolina | $31,240 | $15.02 |
| 42 | District of Columbia | $34,257 | $16.47 |
| 43 | Oklahoma | $31,776 | $15.28 |
| 44 | Mississippi | $30,478 | $14.65 |
| 45 | Delaware | $32,840 | $15.79 |
| 46 | Florida | $31,848 | $15.31 |
| 47 | Virginia | $32,975 | $15.85 |
| 48 | Texas | $31,373 | $15.08 |
| 49 | South Carolina | $31,022 | $14.91 |
| 50 | Alabama | $30,522 | $14.67 |
| 51 | New Mexico | $31,746 | $15.26 |
Highest paying cities for forklift operators
The highest-paying cities for forklift operators are Minneapolis, MN, Tacoma, WA, and Portland, OR.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Minneapolis, MN | $39,103 | $18.80 |
| 2 | Tacoma, WA | $37,524 | $18.04 |
| 3 | Portland, OR | $36,752 | $17.67 |
| 4 | Milwaukee, WI | $36,730 | $17.66 |
| 5 | Salt Lake City, UT | $36,515 | $17.56 |
| 6 | Lancaster, NY | $36,279 | $17.44 |
| 7 | Richmond, CA | $36,103 | $17.36 |
| 8 | Denver, CO | $36,093 | $17.35 |
| 9 | Portland, ME | $35,609 | $17.12 |
| 10 | Allentown, PA | $35,208 | $16.93 |
| 11 | Aurora, IL | $35,075 | $16.86 |
| 12 | Des Moines, IA | $35,033 | $16.84 |
| 13 | Plainfield, NJ | $34,987 | $16.82 |
| 14 | Richmond, IN | $34,338 | $16.51 |
| 15 | Columbus, OH | $34,187 | $16.44 |
| 16 | Kansas City, KS | $34,096 | $16.39 |
| 17 | Kansas City, MO | $34,064 | $16.38 |
| 18 | Omaha, NE | $33,534 | $16.12 |
| 19 | Phoenix, AZ | $33,069 | $15.90 |
| 20 | Richmond, VA | $32,974 | $15.85 |
Forklift Operators are the most in-demand in these five cities:
Forklift operator salary details
A forklift operator's salary ranges from $27,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $42,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a forklift operator's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $42,000 | $3,500 | $20 |
| 75th Percentile | $38,000 | $3,167 | $18 |
| Average | $34,213 | $2,851 | $16 |
| 25th Percentile | $30,000 | $2,500 | $14 |
| 10th Percentile | $27,000 | $2,250 | $13 |
Highest paying forklift operator jobs
The highest paying types of forklift operators are dock worker/forklift operator, truck operator, and mill operator.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Warehouse Machine Operator | $33,796 | $2,816 | $16.25 | 229,051 |
| Handle Machine Operator | $29,598 | $2,467 | $14.23 | 110,258 |
| Cherry Picker Operator | $33,956 | $2,830 | $16.32 | 105,023 |
| Reach Truck Operator | $34,625 | $2,885 | $16.65 | 137,300 |
| Forklift | $32,015 | $2,668 | $15.39 | 113,257 |
| Operator | $37,928 | $3,161 | $18.23 | 159,077 |
Top companies hiring forklift operators now:
Which companies pay forklift operators the most?
Forklift operator salaries at DeWitt LLP Law Firm and BD are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average forklift operator salary at companies like Nabors Industries and Ventura Foods are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | DeWitt LLP Law Firm | $47,352 | $22.77 |
| 2 | BD | $46,866 | $22.53 |
| 3 | Nabors Industries | $45,758 | $22.00 |
| 4 | Ventura Foods | $44,670 | $21.48 |
| 5 | Kemps | $43,764 | $21.04 |
| 6 | Schnitzer Steel | $43,631 | $20.98 |
| 7 | Teleflex | $43,527 | $20.93 |
| 8 | Dairy Farmers of America | $43,437 | $20.88 |
| 9 | Seneca Foods | $43,395 | $20.86 |
| 10 | Darigold | $43,370 | $20.85 |
| 11 | Sierra Pacific Industries | $43,338 | $20.84 |
| 12 | Koch Foods | $43,290 | $20.81 |
| 13 | Sunsweet | $42,951 | $20.65 |
| 14 | Red Gold | $42,914 | $20.63 |
| 15 | Nestlé | $42,911 | $20.63 |
| 16 | Fresh Express | $42,821 | $20.59 |
| 17 | Nation Pizza | $42,677 | $20.52 |
| 18 | CTI Foods | $42,532 | $20.45 |
| 19 | American Woodmark | $42,303 | $20.34 |
| 20 | Schneider Electric Industrial Services | $42,182 | $20.28 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Forklift Operator salary by industry
The average forklift operator salary varies across industries:
- The average forklift operator salary in the automotive industry is $37,519, the highest of any industry.
- The average forklift operator salary in the finance industry is $37,249.
- Forklift operators in the transportation industry earn an average salary of $35,358, the lowest of any industry.
Highest paying industries for forklift operators
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Automotive | $37,519 | $18.04 |
| 2 | Manufacturing | $37,249 | $17.91 |
| 3 | Technology | $35,626 | $17.13 |
| 4 | Retail | $35,386 | $17.01 |
| 5 | Transportation | $35,358 | $17.00 |
High paying forklift operator jobs
Forklift operator salary trends
The average forklift operator salary has risen by $6,877 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average forklift operator earned $27,336 annually, but today, they earn $34,213 a year. That works out to a 16% change in pay for forklift operators over the last decade.
Compare forklift operator salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average forklift operator salary over time
Compare forklift operator salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Forklift operator salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $34,200 | $16.45 | +3.6% |
| 2024 | $33,000 | $15.85 | +4.0% |
| 2023 | $31,700 | $15.22 | +3.2% |
| 2022 | $30,600 | $14.73 | +3.5% |
| 2021 | $29,600 | $14.22 | +1.1% |
Recently added forklift operator salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Axiom Staffing Group | 1St. Shift Forklift Operators | Hanover, PA | 01/26/2202 | $27,131 |
| Hormel Foods Corp | Forklift Operator (1ST and 2Nd Shift) | Papillion, NE | 06/30/2025 | $46,436 |
| Bob's Discount Furniture | Warehouse Forklift Operator-Mdpl | Noank, CT | 06/30/2025 | $37,566 |
| Ccc | Forklift Operator | West Chicago, IL | 06/30/2025 | $41,135 |
| Ccc | Forklift Operator-1St. Shift | Fresno, CA | 06/30/2025 | $43,827 |
| Ccc | Palletizer/Forklift Operator | Oil City, PA | 06/30/2025 | $34,227 |
| Ccc | Forklift Operator | Tukwila, WA | 06/30/2025 | $45,058 |
| Teijinautomotive | Forklift Operator | Seguin, TX | 06/30/2025 | $39,653 |
| Ufpi | Forklift Operator-1St. Shift | Thornton, CA | 06/30/2025 | $41,740 |
| Ufpi | Forklift Operator-1St. Shift | Peru, IL | 06/30/2025 | $34,436 |
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