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Best states for a material handler/forklift operator
- Rank 1 - 10
- 11 - 20
- 21 - 30
- 31 - 40
- 41 - 51
Are you thinking of becoming a material handler/forklift operator and really want to work at FedEx? Turns out, your chances to become a material handler/forklift operator are better in some states than others.As material handler/forklift operators are popular in the U.S., we wanted to bring you a list of the best states for material handler/forklift operators. In case you are trying to decide where to start your career as a material handler/forklift operator, or if you are considering moving to a different city or state, we got you covered.
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 material handler/forklift operators.We found that Minnesota is the best state for material handler/forklift operator jobs, whereas New Mexico is the worst.
10 best states for material handler/forklift operators in 2025
1. Minnesota
Total material handler/forklift operator jobs: 1,287 Average annual salary: $43,040 Lowest 10 percent earn: $34,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $54,000 Location Quotient: 1.12. Wisconsin
Total material handler/forklift operator jobs: 1,435 Average annual salary: $41,385 Lowest 10 percent earn: $32,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $52,000 Location Quotient: 1.473. Alaska
Total material handler/forklift operator jobs: 130 Average annual salary: $46,526 Lowest 10 percent earn: $39,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $54,000 Location Quotient: 0.884. North Dakota
Total material handler/forklift operator jobs: 132 Average annual salary: $47,480 Lowest 10 percent earn: $37,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $59,000 Location Quotient: 0.815. Massachusetts
Total material handler/forklift operator jobs: 2,384 Average annual salary: $43,153 Lowest 10 percent earn: $33,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $54,000 Location Quotient: 1.476. Vermont
Total material handler/forklift operator jobs: 101 Average annual salary: $43,989 Lowest 10 percent earn: $35,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $55,000 Location Quotient: 0.757. Iowa
Total material handler/forklift operator jobs: 656 Average annual salary: $40,478 Lowest 10 percent earn: $32,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $51,000 Location Quotient: 1.038. Pennsylvania
Total material handler/forklift operator jobs: 3,749 Average annual salary: $38,949 Lowest 10 percent earn: $30,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $50,000 Location Quotient: 1.839. Rhode Island
Total material handler/forklift operator jobs: 329 Average annual salary: $39,954 Lowest 10 percent earn: $31,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $50,000 Location Quotient: 1.5410. Maine
Total material handler/forklift operator jobs: 168 Average annual salary: $41,332 Lowest 10 percent earn: $33,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $51,000 Location Quotient: 0.72
Material handler/forklift operator jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a material handler/forklift operator
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a material handler/forklift operator
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Minnesota | $43,040 | $34,000 | 5,576,606 | 1,287 |
| 2 | Wisconsin | $41,385 | $32,000 | 5,795,483 | 1,435 |
| 3 | Alaska | $46,526 | $39,000 | 739,795 | 130 |
| 4 | North Dakota | $47,480 | $37,000 | 755,393 | 132 |
| 5 | Massachusetts | $43,153 | $33,000 | 6,859,819 | 2,384 |
| 6 | Vermont | $43,989 | $35,000 | 623,657 | 101 |
| 7 | Iowa | $40,478 | $32,000 | 3,145,711 | 656 |
| 8 | Pennsylvania | $38,949 | $30,000 | 12,805,537 | 3,749 |
| 9 | Rhode Island | $39,954 | $31,000 | 1,059,639 | 329 |
| 10 | Maine | $41,332 | $33,000 | 1,335,907 | 168 |
| 11 | South Dakota | $41,141 | $32,000 | 869,666 | 119 |
| 12 | Wyoming | $41,691 | $33,000 | 579,315 | 39 |
| 13 | Maryland | $42,048 | $32,000 | 6,052,177 | 1,176 |
| 14 | New Jersey | $39,904 | $30,000 | 9,005,644 | 2,957 |
| 15 | Indiana | $37,472 | $29,000 | 6,666,818 | 2,139 |
| 16 | Nebraska | $40,267 | $32,000 | 1,920,076 | 266 |
| 17 | Nevada | $38,841 | $30,000 | 2,998,039 | 416 |
| 18 | Washington | $42,230 | $33,000 | 7,405,743 | 762 |
| 19 | Montana | $41,638 | $32,000 | 1,050,493 | 86 |
| 20 | Colorado | $41,920 | $33,000 | 5,607,154 | 520 |
| 21 | Utah | $38,942 | $30,000 | 3,101,833 | 520 |
| 22 | Kansas | $37,654 | $30,000 | 2,913,123 | 636 |
| 23 | New York | $42,326 | $32,000 | 19,849,399 | 1,379 |
| 24 | Illinois | $39,296 | $31,000 | 12,802,023 | 2,208 |
| 25 | Oregon | $40,039 | $31,000 | 4,142,776 | 563 |
| 26 | Hawaii | $41,310 | $33,000 | 1,427,538 | 143 |
| 27 | Ohio | $36,646 | $28,000 | 11,658,609 | 2,382 |
| 28 | New Hampshire | $37,923 | $30,000 | 1,342,795 | 311 |
| 29 | Kentucky | $36,146 | $28,000 | 4,454,189 | 990 |
| 30 | Michigan | $36,798 | $28,000 | 9,962,311 | 1,639 |
| 31 | California | $39,002 | $30,000 | 39,536,653 | 4,428 |
| 32 | Louisiana | $38,744 | $30,000 | 4,684,333 | 245 |
| 33 | Idaho | $37,407 | $29,000 | 1,716,943 | 216 |
| 34 | West Virginia | $37,716 | $29,000 | 1,815,857 | 109 |
| 35 | Missouri | $37,259 | $29,000 | 6,113,532 | 881 |
| 36 | Tennessee | $33,622 | $27,000 | 6,715,984 | 1,491 |
| 37 | Delaware | $38,621 | $29,000 | 961,939 | 119 |
| 38 | Connecticut | $37,446 | $29,000 | 3,588,184 | 382 |
| 39 | Arizona | $34,449 | $27,000 | 7,016,270 | 1,051 |
| 40 | North Carolina | $34,307 | $27,000 | 10,273,419 | 1,566 |
| 41 | District of Columbia | $38,411 | $29,000 | 693,972 | 152 |
| 42 | Georgia | $33,446 | $26,000 | 10,429,379 | 2,110 |
| 43 | Arkansas | $33,095 | $26,000 | 3,004,279 | 374 |
| 44 | Mississippi | $32,079 | $25,000 | 2,984,100 | 434 |
| 45 | Florida | $34,883 | $27,000 | 20,984,400 | 1,926 |
| 46 | Alabama | $33,844 | $27,000 | 4,874,747 | 462 |
| 47 | Oklahoma | $34,082 | $27,000 | 3,930,864 | 300 |
| 48 | South Carolina | $32,791 | $26,000 | 5,024,369 | 653 |
| 49 | Virginia | $34,854 | $27,000 | 8,470,020 | 1,019 |
| 50 | Texas | $33,056 | $26,000 | 28,304,596 | 2,629 |
| 51 | New Mexico | $29,690 | $23,000 | 2,088,070 | 96 |
Highest paying states for material handler/forklift operators
| Rank | State | Avg. Material Handler/Forklift Operator Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Minnesota | $43,040 |
| 2 | Wisconsin | $41,385 |
| 3 | Alaska | $46,526 |
| 4 | North Dakota | $47,480 |
| 5 | Massachusetts | $43,153 |
| 6 | Vermont | $43,989 |
| 7 | Iowa | $40,478 |
| 8 | Pennsylvania | $38,949 |
| 9 | Rhode Island | $39,954 |
| 10 | Maine | $41,332 |
| 11 | South Dakota | $41,141 |
| 12 | Wyoming | $41,691 |
| 13 | Maryland | $42,048 |
| 14 | New Jersey | $39,904 |
| 15 | Indiana | $37,472 |
| 16 | Nebraska | $40,267 |
| 17 | Nevada | $38,841 |
| 18 | Washington | $42,230 |
| 19 | Montana | $41,638 |
| 20 | Colorado | $41,920 |
| 21 | Utah | $38,942 |
| 22 | Kansas | $37,654 |
| 23 | New York | $42,326 |
| 24 | Illinois | $39,296 |
| 25 | Oregon | $40,039 |
| 26 | Hawaii | $41,310 |
| 27 | Ohio | $36,646 |
| 28 | New Hampshire | $37,923 |
| 29 | Kentucky | $36,146 |
| 30 | Michigan | $36,798 |
| 31 | California | $39,002 |
| 32 | Louisiana | $38,744 |
| 33 | Idaho | $37,407 |
| 34 | West Virginia | $37,716 |
| 35 | Missouri | $37,259 |
| 36 | Tennessee | $33,622 |
| 37 | Delaware | $38,621 |
| 38 | Connecticut | $37,446 |
| 39 | Arizona | $34,449 |
| 40 | North Carolina | $34,307 |
| 41 | District of Columbia | $38,411 |
| 42 | Georgia | $33,446 |
| 43 | Arkansas | $33,095 |
| 44 | Mississippi | $32,079 |
| 45 | Florida | $34,883 |
| 46 | Alabama | $33,844 |
| 47 | Oklahoma | $34,082 |
| 48 | South Carolina | $32,791 |
| 49 | Virginia | $34,854 |
| 50 | Texas | $33,056 |
| 51 | New Mexico | $29,690 |
Material handler/forklift operator best states FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025