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Machine operator/forklift operator salary
Average machine operator/forklift operator salary
$15.6
Understanding the Salary of Machine Operators/Forklift Operators
In the United States, the average salary for a machine operator/forklift operator is approximately $32,452 per year, translating to about $16 per hour. Salaries can vary significantly based on factors such as location, years of experience, and specific industries. For instance, operators in states like California and Texas tend to earn higher wages due to demand and cost of living.
Entry-level positions typically start at a lower wage, but with experience, operators can advance to supervisory roles, which offer increased pay and responsibilities. According to recent data, the highest-paying cities for machine operators include San Jose, San Francisco, and Seattle, where opportunities are abundant in manufacturing and logistics.
As the economy continues to evolve, the demand for skilled machine operators is expected to grow, providing stable job prospects for individuals entering this field. Those looking to enhance their skills through certifications in material handling or equipment operation may find even more lucrative opportunities.
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Where can a Machine Operator/Forklift Operator earn more?
Machine operator/forklift operator salaries by experience level
Average machine operator/forklift operator salary by state
The average machine operator/forklift operator salary in Alaska, North Dakota, and Hawaii are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average machine operator/forklift operator salary states are Tennessee, South Carolina, and Georgia.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for machine operator/forklift operators
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alaska | $41,117 | $19.77 |
| 2 | Massachusetts | $34,916 | $16.79 |
| 3 | Iowa | $32,601 | $15.67 |
| 4 | Maine | $34,257 | $16.47 |
| 5 | North Dakota | $38,277 | $18.40 |
| 6 | Minnesota | $33,005 | $15.87 |
| 7 | Wisconsin | $31,812 | $15.29 |
| 8 | Hawaii | $37,097 | $17.84 |
| 9 | Nevada | $33,642 | $16.17 |
| 10 | Nebraska | $32,158 | $15.46 |
| 11 | Oregon | $34,427 | $16.55 |
| 12 | Rhode Island | $32,486 | $15.62 |
| 13 | Washington | $36,111 | $17.36 |
| 14 | New Hampshire | $31,838 | $15.31 |
| 15 | Wyoming | $34,176 | $16.43 |
| 16 | Pennsylvania | $31,514 | $15.15 |
| 17 | Ohio | $31,111 | $14.96 |
| 18 | South Dakota | $32,602 | $15.67 |
| 19 | Montana | $33,963 | $16.33 |
| 20 | Illinois | $32,042 | $15.40 |
| 21 | Kansas | $31,379 | $15.09 |
| 22 | Utah | $31,601 | $15.19 |
| 23 | Indiana | $29,827 | $14.34 |
| 24 | New Jersey | $32,117 | $15.44 |
| 25 | Michigan | $30,627 | $14.72 |
| 26 | California | $33,285 | $16.00 |
| 27 | New York | $32,761 | $15.75 |
| 28 | Maryland | $33,419 | $16.07 |
| 29 | Kentucky | $28,504 | $13.70 |
| 30 | Missouri | $29,734 | $14.30 |
| 31 | Vermont | $30,205 | $14.52 |
| 32 | Arizona | $30,393 | $14.61 |
| 33 | New Mexico | $30,985 | $14.90 |
| 34 | Delaware | $30,788 | $14.80 |
| 35 | Connecticut | $30,197 | $14.52 |
| 36 | Tennessee | $26,769 | $12.87 |
| 37 | Colorado | $30,821 | $14.82 |
| 38 | District of Columbia | $30,480 | $14.65 |
| 39 | West Virginia | $28,168 | $13.54 |
| 40 | Idaho | $28,278 | $13.60 |
| 41 | Mississippi | $26,960 | $12.96 |
| 42 | Georgia | $26,463 | $12.72 |
| 43 | Florida | $27,986 | $13.45 |
| 44 | Oklahoma | $27,623 | $13.28 |
| 45 | South Carolina | $26,534 | $12.76 |
| 46 | North Carolina | $25,500 | $12.26 |
| 47 | Louisiana | $27,727 | $13.33 |
| 48 | Texas | $27,580 | $13.26 |
| 49 | Virginia | $28,059 | $13.49 |
| 50 | Arkansas | $24,758 | $11.90 |
| 51 | Alabama | $25,253 | $12.14 |
Highest paying cities for machine operator/forklift operators
The highest-paying cities for machine operator/forklift operators are Renton, WA, Wakefield, MA, and Reno, NV.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Renton, WA | $36,214 | $17.41 |
| 2 | Wakefield, MA | $35,042 | $16.85 |
| 3 | Reno, NV | $34,763 | $16.71 |
| 4 | Visalia, CA | $33,624 | $16.17 |
| 5 | Baltimore, MD | $33,589 | $16.15 |
| 6 | Saint Cloud, MN | $33,252 | $15.99 |
| 7 | Belvidere, IL | $32,297 | $15.53 |
| 8 | Williamsport, PA | $32,064 | $15.42 |
| 9 | Lincoln, NE | $32,000 | $15.38 |
| 10 | Springville, UT | $31,494 | $15.14 |
| 11 | Phoenix, AZ | $30,435 | $14.63 |
| 12 | West Haven, CT | $30,148 | $14.49 |
| 13 | Greenwood, IN | $29,455 | $14.16 |
| 14 | Henderson, KY | $28,403 | $13.66 |
| 15 | Tampa, FL | $28,114 | $13.52 |
| 16 | Oklahoma City, OK | $27,620 | $13.28 |
| 17 | Fort Worth, TX | $27,320 | $13.13 |
| 18 | Smyrna, GA | $26,558 | $12.77 |
| 19 | Durham, NC | $25,627 | $12.32 |
| 20 | Huntsville, AL | $25,366 | $12.20 |
Machine operator/forklift operator salary details
A machine operator/forklift operator's salary ranges from $26,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $39,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a machine operator/forklift operator's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $39,000 | $3,250 | $19 |
| 75th Percentile | $36,000 | $3,000 | $17 |
| Average | $32,452 | $2,704 | $16 |
| 25th Percentile | $29,000 | $2,417 | $14 |
| 10th Percentile | $26,000 | $2,167 | $13 |
Highest paying machine operator/forklift operator jobs
The highest paying types of machine operator/forklift operators are dock worker/forklift operator, mill operator, and press machine operator.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saw Operator | $32,319 | $2,693 | $15.54 | 58,465 |
| Mill Operator | $39,045 | $3,254 | $18.77 | 64,574 |
| Lift Operator | $32,309 | $2,692 | $15.53 | 72,445 |
| Line Operator | $34,520 | $2,877 | $16.60 | 137,127 |
| Assembling Machine Operator | $31,275 | $2,606 | $15.04 | 87,253 |
| Warehouse Machine Operator | $33,796 | $2,816 | $16.25 | 229,051 |
Top companies hiring machine operator/forklift operators now:
Which companies pay machine operator/forklift operators the most?
Machine operator/forklift operator salaries at TreeHouse Foods and General Mills are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average machine operator/forklift operator salary at companies like MasterBrand Cabinets and WestRock are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | TreeHouse Foods | $37,649 | $18.10 |
| 2 | General Mills | $37,603 | $18.08 |
| 3 | MasterBrand Cabinets | $36,689 | $17.64 |
| 4 | WestRock | $36,639 | $17.61 |
| 5 | James Hardie | $36,442 | $17.52 |
| 6 | Pactiv | $35,824 | $17.22 |
| 7 | MetalTek International | $35,189 | $16.92 |
| 8 | Volt Systems LLC | $35,182 | $16.91 |
| 9 | All In One Data Products | $35,104 | $16.88 |
| 10 | Hormel Foods | $34,895 | $16.78 |
| 11 | BCforward | $33,976 | $16.33 |
| 12 | TEKWISSEN | $33,661 | $16.18 |
| 13 | Workforce Strategies, Inc. | $32,714 | $15.73 |
| 14 | HW Staffing Solutions | $32,714 | $15.73 |
| 15 | Allegiance Staffing | $32,711 | $15.73 |
| 16 | Automation Personnel Services | $32,690 | $15.72 |
| 17 | Adecco | $32,606 | $15.68 |
| 18 | Stella-Jones | $32,569 | $15.66 |
| 19 | Aerotek | $32,517 | $15.63 |
| 20 | NESCO | $32,471 | $15.61 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Machine Operator/Forklift Operator salary by industry
The average machine operator/forklift operator salary varies across industries:
- The average machine operator/forklift operator salary in the automotive industry is $36,711, the highest of any industry.
- The average machine operator/forklift operator salary in the finance industry is $33,807.
- Machine operator/forklift operators in the retail industry earn an average salary of $31,417, the lowest of any industry.
Highest paying industries for machine operator/forklift operators
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Automotive | $36,711 | $17.65 |
| 2 | Manufacturing | $33,807 | $16.25 |
| 3 | Transportation | $33,547 | $16.13 |
| 4 | Retail | $31,417 | $15.10 |
High paying machine operator/forklift operator jobs
Machine operator/forklift operator salary trends
The average machine operator/forklift operator salary has risen by $6,523 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average machine operator/forklift operator earned $25,929 annually, but today, they earn $32,452 a year. That works out to a 16% change in pay for machine operator/forklift operators over the last decade.
Compare machine operator/forklift operator salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average machine operator/forklift operator salary over time
Compare machine operator/forklift operator salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Machine operator/forklift operator salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $32,500 | $15.60 | +3.6% |
| 2024 | $31,300 | $15.04 | +4.0% |
| 2023 | $30,000 | $14.43 | +3.2% |
| 2022 | $29,100 | $13.97 | +3.5% |
| 2021 | $28,000 | $13.48 | +1.1% |
Recently added machine operator/forklift operator salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A2Z Intl | Machine Operator/Forklift Operator | Surprise, AZ | 06/20/2025 | $39,653 |
| Hamilton Connections | Production/Machine Operators and Forklift Operators | Shelton, CT | 06/20/2025 | $36,001 |
| Continental Labor & Staffing Resources | Forklift Operator/Machine Operator | Bakersfield, CA | 06/18/2025 | $45,914 |
| Adecco Us, Inc. | Machine Operator/Forklift | Vincennes, IN | 06/11/2025 | $39,695 |
| Hamilton Connections | Packers-Machine Operators-Forklift Operators | Shelton, CT | 05/22/2025 | $36,001 |
| Aerotek | Forklift/Machine Operator | Gettysburg, PA | 05/21/2025 | $40,697 |
| Treehouse Foods | Machine/Forklift Operator | Wayland, MI | 05/18/2025 | $53,532 |
| A2Z Intl | Machine Operator/Forklift Operator | Surprise, AZ | 04/28/2025 | $39,653 |
| A2Z Staffing | Machine Operator/Forklift Operator | Phoenix, AZ | 04/21/2025 | $39,653 |
| Inova Staffing | Forklift/Machine/Skid Steer Operator (Talent Pool) | Durham, NC | 04/21/2025 | $35,479 |
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