Forklift-picker vs lift truck operator

The differences between forklift-pickers and lift truck operators can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a forklift-picker and a lift truck operator. Additionally, a lift truck operator has an average salary of $36,973, which is higher than the $32,704 average annual salary of a forklift-picker.

The top three skills for a forklift-picker include pallets, pallet jack and rf scanner. The most important skills for a lift truck operator are pallets, safety procedures, and load trailers.

Forklift-picker vs lift truck operator overview

	Forklift-Picker	Lift Truck Operator
Yearly salary	$32,704	$36,973
Hourly rate	$15.72	$17.78
Growth rate	7%	7%
Number of jobs	44,786	103,337
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 65%	High School Diploma, 53%
Average age	43	43
Years of experience	4	4

Forklift-picker vs lift truck operator salary

Forklift-pickers and lift truck operators have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Forklift-Picker	Lift Truck Operator
Average salary	$32,704	$36,973
Salary range	Between $26,000 And $40,000	Between $29,000 And $46,000
Highest paying City	Sioux Falls, SD	Springfield, OR
Highest paying state	North Dakota	Alaska
Best paying company	Tyson Foods	Nestlé
Best paying industry	Technology	Finance

Differences between forklift-picker and lift truck operator education

There are a few differences between a forklift-picker and a lift truck operator in terms of educational background:

	Forklift-Picker	Lift Truck Operator
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 65%	High School Diploma, 53%
Most common major	Business	Business
Most common college	-	-

Forklift-picker vs lift truck operator demographics

Here are the differences between forklift-pickers' and lift truck operators' demographics:

	Forklift-Picker	Lift Truck Operator
Average age	43	43
Gender ratio	Male, 89.6% Female, 10.4%	Male, 89.7% Female, 10.3%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 14.3% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 20.9% Asian, 2.8% White, 56.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9%	Black or African American, 16.6% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 18.5% Asian, 2.4% White, 57.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%
LGBT Percentage	4%	4%

Differences between forklift-picker and lift truck operator duties and responsibilities

Forklift-picker example responsibilities.

Operate forklift to organize and wrap complete pallets, also operate other machinery that handle completed pallets to load company trucks.
Maintain accurate and timely documentation as is required by organization and OSHA.
Shrink wrap pallet and then set pallet by the correct load door to be check for accuracy.
Certify cherry picker operator / pull orders and putaway

Lift truck operator example responsibilities.

Certify on stand up/sit down forks, clamps, slip sheets and cherry picker
Used WMS system to adjust inventory, either in, out, or amounts.
Perform trailer inspections, loading and unloading inventory, RFT scanner experience, WMS.
Relocate pallets from receiving dock to desire location within warehouse.
Maintain accurate and timely documentation as is required by organization and OSHA.
Load and unload items from machines and dollies.

Forklift-picker vs lift truck operator skills

Common forklift-picker skills

Pallets, 22%
Pallet Jack, 17%
RF Scanner, 10%
Load Trucks, 8%
Shipping Receiving, 7%
Reach Truck, 6%

Common lift truck operator skills

Pallets, 18%
Safety Procedures, 11%
Load Trailers, 6%
AS400, 5%
Electric Pallet Jack, 5%
Forks, 4%

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Transportation Industry
Forklift-Picker
Forklift-Picker vs Lift Truck Operator

Updated January 8, 2025

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