Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
Assembler and forklift operator salary
Average assembler and forklift operator salary
$15.63
Understanding the Assembler and Forklift Operator Salary
The average salary for an assembler and forklift operator is approximately $32,500 annually, translating to about $16 per hour. Salaries vary significantly based on factors such as experience, location, and the specific industry. For instance, entry-level positions may start around $28,000, while experienced operators can earn upwards of $40,000 in high-demand areas.
Where to Find Higher Salaries
States like Washington and California tend to offer higher wages, influenced by the cost of living and job demand. Cities like Seattle and San Francisco frequently rank among the highest paying locations for these roles. If you're exploring a career in this field, consider the local job market and potential growth opportunities.
Career Advancement
As you gain experience, consider additional training or certifications that can further enhance your skills and marketability. Positions that involve specialized machinery or supervisory roles often come with increased compensation. Continuous learning is key to advancing in the assembler and forklift operator career path.
Let Zippi find your next assembler and forklift operator job
Let Zippi find your next assembler and forklift operator job
Where can an Assembler And Forklift Operator earn more?
Assembler and forklift operator salaries by experience level
Average assembler and forklift operator salary by state
The highest-paying states for assembler and forklift operators are North Dakota, Minnesota, and Washington. The lowest average assembler and forklift operator salary states are Arkansas, North Carolina, and Oklahoma.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for assembler and forklift operators
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Minnesota | $37,357 | $17.96 |
| 2 | Wisconsin | $34,856 | $16.76 |
| 3 | Alaska | $37,118 | $17.85 |
| 4 | Nebraska | $36,120 | $17.37 |
| 5 | Oregon | $37,064 | $17.82 |
| 6 | Rhode Island | $33,985 | $16.34 |
| 7 | North Dakota | $38,670 | $18.59 |
| 8 | Massachusetts | $34,712 | $16.69 |
| 9 | Maine | $35,329 | $16.99 |
| 10 | Washington | $37,166 | $17.87 |
| 11 | South Dakota | $33,559 | $16.13 |
| 12 | Pennsylvania | $32,242 | $15.50 |
| 13 | Ohio | $31,642 | $15.21 |
| 14 | Kansas | $32,690 | $15.72 |
| 15 | Idaho | $34,338 | $16.51 |
| 16 | Wyoming | $35,078 | $16.86 |
| 17 | Indiana | $31,462 | $15.13 |
| 18 | Utah | $32,607 | $15.68 |
| 19 | Nevada | $33,275 | $16.00 |
| 20 | Missouri | $31,914 | $15.34 |
| 21 | Hawaii | $34,705 | $16.69 |
| 22 | Illinois | $31,963 | $15.37 |
| 23 | New Jersey | $32,025 | $15.40 |
| 24 | New Hampshire | $30,528 | $14.68 |
| 25 | Connecticut | $32,297 | $15.53 |
| 26 | Tennessee | $29,608 | $14.23 |
| 27 | District of Columbia | $34,616 | $16.64 |
| 28 | Iowa | $30,032 | $14.44 |
| 29 | Michigan | $30,950 | $14.88 |
| 30 | Arizona | $31,813 | $15.29 |
| 31 | Kentucky | $29,563 | $14.21 |
| 32 | Vermont | $30,442 | $14.64 |
| 33 | California | $32,006 | $15.39 |
| 34 | Montana | $31,672 | $15.23 |
| 35 | Maryland | $32,431 | $15.59 |
| 36 | Colorado | $31,930 | $15.35 |
| 37 | Delaware | $31,534 | $15.16 |
| 38 | South Carolina | $28,709 | $13.80 |
| 39 | New Mexico | $31,046 | $14.93 |
| 40 | Georgia | $28,322 | $13.62 |
| 41 | West Virginia | $29,302 | $14.09 |
| 42 | Texas | $28,962 | $13.92 |
| 43 | New York | $30,880 | $14.85 |
| 44 | North Carolina | $27,715 | $13.32 |
| 45 | Arkansas | $27,825 | $13.38 |
| 46 | Mississippi | $26,102 | $12.55 |
| 47 | Virginia | $29,415 | $14.14 |
| 48 | Louisiana | $28,524 | $13.71 |
| 49 | Oklahoma | $27,357 | $13.15 |
| 50 | Alabama | $26,067 | $12.53 |
| 51 | Florida | $26,492 | $12.74 |
Highest paying cities for assembler and forklift operators
The highest-paying cities for assembler and forklift operators are Tacoma, WA, New Bedford, MA, and Sacramento, CA.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tacoma, WA | $37,242 | $17.90 |
| 2 | New Bedford, MA | $34,460 | $16.57 |
| 3 | Sacramento, CA | $32,784 | $15.76 |
| 4 | Cleveland, OH | $32,312 | $15.53 |
| 5 | York, PA | $31,951 | $15.36 |
| 6 | Vestal, NY | $31,371 | $15.08 |
| 7 | Smyrna, TN | $29,660 | $14.26 |
| 8 | San Antonio, TX | $28,889 | $13.89 |
| 9 | Bowling Green, KY | $28,871 | $13.88 |
| 10 | Marietta, GA | $28,552 | $13.73 |
| 11 | Jacksonville, FL | $27,401 | $13.17 |
| 12 | Bessemer, AL | $26,148 | $12.57 |
| 13 | Hattiesburg, MS | $25,781 | $12.39 |
Assembler and forklift operator salary details
An assembler and forklift operator's salary ranges from $26,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $39,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is an assembler and forklift operator's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $39,000 | $3,250 | $19 |
| 75th Percentile | $35,000 | $2,917 | $17 |
| Average | $32,500 | $2,708 | $16 |
| 25th Percentile | $29,000 | $2,417 | $14 |
| 10th Percentile | $26,000 | $2,167 | $13 |
Highest paying assembler and forklift operator jobs
The highest paying types of assembler and forklift operators are dock worker/forklift operator, terminal operator, and mill operator.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Production Assembler | $31,611 | $2,634 | $15.20 | 73,933 |
| Forklift | $32,015 | $2,668 | $15.39 | 113,257 |
| Operator | $37,928 | $3,161 | $18.23 | 159,077 |
| Machine Operator | $32,874 | $2,740 | $15.80 | 96,834 |
| Assembler | $30,849 | $2,571 | $14.83 | 22,566 |
| Line Operator | $34,520 | $2,877 | $16.60 | 137,127 |
Top companies hiring assembler and forklift operators now:
Which companies pay assembler and forklift operators the most?
Assembler and forklift operator salaries at FIS and TERRA Staffing Group are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average assembler and forklift operator salary at companies like Elwood Staffing and Aerotek are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | FIS | $35,048 | $16.85 |
| 2 | TERRA Staffing Group | $32,783 | $15.76 |
| 3 | Elwood Staffing | $32,654 | $15.70 |
| 4 | Aerotek | $32,585 | $15.67 |
| 5 | Area Temps | $32,563 | $15.66 |
| 6 | Kelly Services | $32,429 | $15.59 |
| 7 | Monroe Staffing | $32,064 | $15.42 |
| 8 | ManpowerGroup | $31,772 | $15.28 |
| 9 | First Option Recruiting | $30,613 | $14.72 |
| 10 | Randstad North America, Inc. | $29,587 | $14.22 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Assembler And Forklift Operator salary by industry
The average assembler and forklift operator salary varies across industries:
- The average assembler and forklift operator salary in the automotive industry is $36,271, the highest of any industry.
- The average assembler and forklift operator salary in the finance industry is $34,685.
- Assembler and forklift operators in the transportation industry earn an average salary of $32,307, the lowest of any industry.
Highest paying industries for assembler and forklift operators
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Automotive | $36,271 | $17.44 |
| 2 | Manufacturing | $34,685 | $16.68 |
| 3 | Professional | $32,545 | $15.65 |
| 4 | Transportation | $32,307 | $15.53 |
High paying assembler and forklift operator jobs
Assembler and forklift operator salary trends
The average assembler and forklift operator salary has risen by $6,533 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average assembler and forklift operator earned $25,967 annually, but today, they earn $32,500 a year. That works out to a 16% change in pay for assembler and forklift operators over the last decade.
Compare assembler and forklift operator salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average assembler and forklift operator salary over time
Compare assembler and forklift operator salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Assembler and forklift operator salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $32,500 | $15.63 | +3.6% |
| 2024 | $31,300 | $15.06 | +4.0% |
| 2023 | $30,100 | $14.46 | +3.2% |
| 2022 | $29,100 | $13.99 | +3.5% |
| 2021 | $28,100 | $13.50 | +1.1% |
Recently added assembler and forklift operator salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bcforward | Assembly Technician I/Forklift Operator | Fontana, CA | 06/29/2025 | $24,898 |
| Adecco Us, Inc. | Industrial Forklift/Assembly | York, SC | 06/27/2025 | $35,479 |
| Bob's Discount Furniture | Warehouse Forklift Operator-Assembly | Shorewood, IL | 06/25/2025 | $37,566 |
| Idexcel | Assembly Technician I/Forklift Operator | Fontana, CA | 06/10/2025 | $24,898 |
| Bcforward | Assembly Technician I/Forklift Operator | Fontana, CA | 05/28/2025 | $24,898 |
| Bob's Discount Furniture | Warehouse Forklift Operator-Assembly | Shorewood, IL | 05/19/2025 | $37,566 |
| Bcforward | Assembly Technician I/Forklift Operator | Fontana, CA | 04/30/2025 | $24,898 |
| Idexcel | Assembly Technician I/Forklift Operator | Fontana, CA | 04/28/2025 | $24,898 |
| Bcforward | Assembly Technician I/Forklift Operator | Fontana, CA | 03/29/2025 | $24,898 |
| Potential With Quanex | Fireplace Assembler/Forklift Operator-1St. Shift | Rice Lake, WI | 03/16/2025 | $40,697 |
Assembler and forklift operator salary FAQs
Search for assembler and forklift operator jobs