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Best states for a forklift truck operator
- Rank 1 - 10
- 11 - 20
- 21 - 30
- 31 - 40
- 41 - 51
Not all states present equal opportunity for employees, and when it comes to forklift truck operator jobs, it's no different. We know how hard job search can be, and in order to make your life a little easier, we have the information you need in order to determine where you might want to start your job search. In fact, our research shows that Alaska is the best state for forklift truck operators in America. The best city in America for forklift truck operators with the highest pay is Allentown, PA.
To do that, we looked at the most recent data we have available for the following criteria -- average annual wages, and availability of jobs for forklift truck operators.We found that Alaska is the best state for forklift truck operator jobs, whereas Tennessee is the worst.
10 best states for forklift truck operators in 2026
1. Alaska
Total forklift truck operator jobs: 114 Average annual salary: $45,222 Lowest 10 percent earn: $40,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $51,000 Location Quotient: 1.45
2. Colorado
Total forklift truck operator jobs: 1,031 Average annual salary: $42,205 Lowest 10 percent earn: $34,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $50,000 Location Quotient: 1.84
3. Washington
Total forklift truck operator jobs: 1,347 Average annual salary: $40,011 Lowest 10 percent earn: $32,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $48,000 Location Quotient: 1.96
4. Wisconsin
Total forklift truck operator jobs: 429 Average annual salary: $41,005 Lowest 10 percent earn: $33,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $49,000 Location Quotient: 0.82
5. North Dakota
Total forklift truck operator jobs: 54 Average annual salary: $41,591 Lowest 10 percent earn: $34,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $50,000 Location Quotient: 0.62
6. Pennsylvania
Total forklift truck operator jobs: 713 Average annual salary: $40,629 Lowest 10 percent earn: $33,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $49,000 Location Quotient: 0.65
7. Rhode Island
Total forklift truck operator jobs: 146 Average annual salary: $38,230 Lowest 10 percent earn: $31,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $46,000 Location Quotient: 1.28
8. Massachusetts
Total forklift truck operator jobs: 1,119 Average annual salary: $39,005 Lowest 10 percent earn: $32,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $47,000 Location Quotient: 1.29
9. Nebraska
Total forklift truck operator jobs: 142 Average annual salary: $39,710 Lowest 10 percent earn: $32,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $47,000 Location Quotient: 0.68
10. Maryland
Total forklift truck operator jobs: 909 Average annual salary: $39,537 Lowest 10 percent earn: $32,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $48,000 Location Quotient: 1.52
Forklift truck operator jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a forklift truck operator
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a forklift truck operator
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alaska | $45,222 | $40,000 | 739,795 | 114 |
| 2 | Colorado | $42,205 | $34,000 | 5,607,154 | 1,031 |
| 3 | Washington | $40,011 | $32,000 | 7,405,743 | 1,347 |
| 4 | Wisconsin | $41,005 | $33,000 | 5,795,483 | 429 |
| 5 | North Dakota | $41,591 | $34,000 | 755,393 | 54 |
| 6 | Pennsylvania | $40,629 | $33,000 | 12,805,537 | 713 |
| 7 | Rhode Island | $38,230 | $31,000 | 1,059,639 | 146 |
| 8 | Massachusetts | $39,005 | $32,000 | 6,859,819 | 1,119 |
| 9 | Nebraska | $39,710 | $32,000 | 1,920,076 | 142 |
| 10 | Maryland | $39,537 | $32,000 | 6,052,177 | 909 |
| 11 | Virginia | $41,306 | $33,000 | 8,470,020 | 381 |
| 12 | Arizona | $36,541 | $29,000 | 7,016,270 | 881 |
| 13 | Iowa | $37,865 | $31,000 | 3,145,711 | 226 |
| 14 | Wyoming | $38,603 | $31,000 | 579,315 | 32 |
| 15 | California | $38,585 | $31,000 | 39,536,653 | 4,895 |
| 16 | New York | $41,385 | $33,000 | 19,849,399 | 325 |
| 17 | South Dakota | $36,917 | $30,000 | 869,666 | 54 |
| 18 | Maine | $37,446 | $31,000 | 1,335,907 | 59 |
| 19 | District of Columbia | $39,239 | $32,000 | 693,972 | 146 |
| 20 | Idaho | $37,354 | $30,000 | 1,716,943 | 66 |
| 21 | Hawaii | $37,854 | $32,000 | 1,427,538 | 98 |
| 22 | Montana | $37,070 | $30,000 | 1,050,493 | 42 |
| 23 | Florida | $35,106 | $28,000 | 20,984,400 | 2,418 |
| 24 | Ohio | $34,086 | $27,000 | 11,658,609 | 1,024 |
| 25 | Minnesota | $36,850 | $30,000 | 5,576,606 | 330 |
| 26 | Nevada | $35,946 | $29,000 | 2,998,039 | 78 |
| 27 | New Jersey | $36,229 | $29,000 | 9,005,644 | 838 |
| 28 | Utah | $35,680 | $29,000 | 3,101,833 | 153 |
| 29 | Kansas | $34,190 | $28,000 | 2,913,123 | 219 |
| 30 | Oregon | $37,059 | $30,000 | 4,142,776 | 125 |
| 31 | Delaware | $35,740 | $29,000 | 961,939 | 80 |
| 32 | West Virginia | $32,863 | $26,000 | 1,815,857 | 135 |
| 33 | Missouri | $35,040 | $28,000 | 6,113,532 | 371 |
| 34 | Indiana | $33,531 | $27,000 | 6,666,818 | 550 |
| 35 | Georgia | $33,182 | $27,000 | 10,429,379 | 1,122 |
| 36 | South Carolina | $32,558 | $27,000 | 5,024,369 | 492 |
| 37 | Kentucky | $32,354 | $26,000 | 4,454,189 | 379 |
| 38 | New Hampshire | $35,128 | $29,000 | 1,342,795 | 60 |
| 39 | Illinois | $33,896 | $27,000 | 12,802,023 | 1,151 |
| 40 | Vermont | $34,075 | $28,000 | 623,657 | 55 |
| 41 | Connecticut | $36,288 | $29,000 | 3,588,184 | 116 |
| 42 | Arkansas | $31,785 | $26,000 | 3,004,279 | 252 |
| 43 | New Mexico | $34,083 | $28,000 | 2,088,070 | 70 |
| 44 | Texas | $33,226 | $27,000 | 28,304,596 | 1,183 |
| 45 | North Carolina | $32,837 | $27,000 | 10,273,419 | 590 |
| 46 | Mississippi | $30,461 | $25,000 | 2,984,100 | 252 |
| 47 | Michigan | $32,049 | $26,000 | 9,962,311 | 347 |
| 48 | Oklahoma | $30,970 | $25,000 | 3,930,864 | 235 |
| 49 | Alabama | $30,467 | $25,000 | 4,874,747 | 293 |
| 50 | Louisiana | $31,515 | $25,000 | 4,684,333 | 210 |
| 51 | Tennessee | $29,215 | $24,000 | 6,715,984 | 571 |
Highest paying states for forklift truck operators
| Rank | State | Avg. Forklift Truck Operator Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alaska | $45,222 |
| 2 | Colorado | $42,205 |
| 3 | Washington | $40,011 |
| 4 | Wisconsin | $41,005 |
| 5 | North Dakota | $41,591 |
| 6 | Pennsylvania | $40,629 |
| 7 | Rhode Island | $38,230 |
| 8 | Massachusetts | $39,005 |
| 9 | Nebraska | $39,710 |
| 10 | Maryland | $39,537 |
| 11 | Virginia | $41,306 |
| 12 | Arizona | $36,541 |
| 13 | Iowa | $37,865 |
| 14 | Wyoming | $38,603 |
| 15 | California | $38,585 |
| 16 | New York | $41,385 |
| 17 | South Dakota | $36,917 |
| 18 | Maine | $37,446 |
| 19 | District of Columbia | $39,239 |
| 20 | Idaho | $37,354 |
| 21 | Hawaii | $37,854 |
| 22 | Montana | $37,070 |
| 23 | Florida | $35,106 |
| 24 | Ohio | $34,086 |
| 25 | Minnesota | $36,850 |
| 26 | Nevada | $35,946 |
| 27 | New Jersey | $36,229 |
| 28 | Utah | $35,680 |
| 29 | Kansas | $34,190 |
| 30 | Oregon | $37,059 |
| 31 | Delaware | $35,740 |
| 32 | West Virginia | $32,863 |
| 33 | Missouri | $35,040 |
| 34 | Indiana | $33,531 |
| 35 | Georgia | $33,182 |
| 36 | South Carolina | $32,558 |
| 37 | Kentucky | $32,354 |
| 38 | New Hampshire | $35,128 |
| 39 | Illinois | $33,896 |
| 40 | Vermont | $34,075 |
| 41 | Connecticut | $36,288 |
| 42 | Arkansas | $31,785 |
| 43 | New Mexico | $34,083 |
| 44 | Texas | $33,226 |
| 45 | North Carolina | $32,837 |
| 46 | Mississippi | $30,461 |
| 47 | Michigan | $32,049 |
| 48 | Oklahoma | $30,970 |
| 49 | Alabama | $30,467 |
| 50 | Louisiana | $31,515 |
| 51 | Tennessee | $29,215 |
Forklift truck operator best states FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025