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Forklift-picker salary
Average forklift-picker salary
$15.72
Average Forklift-Picker Salary
The average salary for a Forklift-Picker in the United States stands at approximately $32,704 annually. This translates to around $16 per hour. Salaries can vary significantly based on factors such as geographic location, years of experience, and the industry sector. Entry-level positions may start at lower rates, while experienced forklift-pickers can command higher salaries, especially in logistics-heavy regions.
Salary Variations by State
Different states offer varying salary scales for forklift-pickers. For instance, states with higher living costs tend to provide more competitive pay. States such as Alaska and Washington often report higher averages compared to their counterparts.
Opportunities by Experience Level
Experience plays a crucial role in salary determination. Forklift-pickers with several years in the field may find themselves earning significantly more than those just starting out. This role also opens pathways to advancement within warehouses and distribution centers, leading to supervisory or managerial positions that offer increased financial rewards.
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Where can a Forklift-Picker earn more?
Forklift-picker salaries by experience level
Average forklift-picker salary by state
The average forklift-picker salary in North Dakota, Alaska, and Colorado are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average forklift-picker salary states are Virginia, Tennessee, and Mississippi.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for forklift-pickers
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | North Dakota | $43,928 | $21.12 |
| 2 | Iowa | $35,119 | $16.88 |
| 3 | Wisconsin | $34,429 | $16.55 |
| 4 | Nebraska | $37,062 | $17.82 |
| 5 | Nevada | $34,702 | $16.68 |
| 6 | Colorado | $39,765 | $19.12 |
| 7 | Minnesota | $34,683 | $16.67 |
| 8 | Alaska | $40,456 | $19.45 |
| 9 | Wyoming | $36,467 | $17.53 |
| 10 | South Dakota | $34,640 | $16.65 |
| 11 | Utah | $34,215 | $16.45 |
| 12 | Arizona | $33,898 | $16.30 |
| 13 | Indiana | $32,297 | $15.53 |
| 14 | Montana | $35,215 | $16.93 |
| 15 | Illinois | $33,960 | $16.33 |
| 16 | Washington | $35,235 | $16.94 |
| 17 | New York | $36,219 | $17.41 |
| 18 | Rhode Island | $33,382 | $16.05 |
| 19 | Michigan | $32,248 | $15.50 |
| 20 | Massachusetts | $34,198 | $16.44 |
| 21 | Oregon | $35,178 | $16.91 |
| 22 | Maryland | $34,043 | $16.37 |
| 23 | Kansas | $31,585 | $15.19 |
| 24 | Missouri | $32,034 | $15.40 |
| 25 | New Jersey | $31,969 | $15.37 |
| 26 | Maine | $32,778 | $15.76 |
| 27 | Hawaii | $36,481 | $17.54 |
| 28 | California | $33,840 | $16.27 |
| 29 | Pennsylvania | $29,443 | $14.16 |
| 30 | Idaho | $31,796 | $15.29 |
| 31 | Vermont | $30,251 | $14.54 |
| 32 | Kentucky | $28,534 | $13.72 |
| 33 | District of Columbia | $33,805 | $16.25 |
| 34 | Ohio | $31,449 | $15.12 |
| 35 | Connecticut | $31,824 | $15.30 |
| 36 | Tennessee | $27,327 | $13.14 |
| 37 | South Carolina | $28,551 | $13.73 |
| 38 | Georgia | $28,650 | $13.77 |
| 39 | New Mexico | $31,390 | $15.09 |
| 40 | Texas | $29,363 | $14.12 |
| 41 | Arkansas | $28,546 | $13.72 |
| 42 | Delaware | $30,787 | $14.80 |
| 43 | West Virginia | $28,918 | $13.90 |
| 44 | Mississippi | $26,999 | $12.98 |
| 45 | New Hampshire | $31,044 | $14.93 |
| 46 | North Carolina | $26,804 | $12.89 |
| 47 | Alabama | $26,906 | $12.94 |
| 48 | Oklahoma | $28,134 | $13.53 |
| 49 | Virginia | $27,801 | $13.37 |
| 50 | Louisiana | $27,930 | $13.43 |
| 51 | Florida | $26,444 | $12.71 |
Highest paying cities for forklift-pickers
The highest-paying cities for forklift-pickers are Sioux Falls, SD, Batavia, IL, and Avondale, AZ.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sioux Falls, SD | $34,450 | $16.56 |
| 2 | Batavia, IL | $34,071 | $16.38 |
| 3 | Avondale, AZ | $34,030 | $16.36 |
| 4 | Fullerton, CA | $33,294 | $16.01 |
| 5 | Kansas City, MO | $32,492 | $15.62 |
| 6 | Wyoming, MI | $32,482 | $15.62 |
| 7 | Columbus, OH | $31,018 | $14.91 |
| 8 | Bethlehem, PA | $29,888 | $14.37 |
| 9 | Sherman, TX | $29,716 | $14.29 |
| 10 | Olive Branch, MS | $27,537 | $13.24 |
| 11 | Mount Juliet, TN | $27,405 | $13.18 |
| 12 | Jacksonville, FL | $26,867 | $12.92 |
| 13 | Rocky Mount, NC | $26,854 | $12.91 |
Forklift-picker salary details
A forklift-picker's salary ranges from $26,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $40,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a forklift-picker's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $40,000 | $3,333 | $19 |
| 75th Percentile | $36,000 | $3,000 | $17 |
| Average | $32,704 | $2,725 | $16 |
| 25th Percentile | $29,000 | $2,417 | $14 |
| 10th Percentile | $26,000 | $2,167 | $13 |
Highest paying forklift-picker jobs
The highest paying types of forklift-pickers are dock worker/forklift operator, lift truck operator, and material handler/forklift operator.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reach Truck Operator | $34,625 | $2,885 | $16.65 | 137,300 |
| Driver/Warehouse Worker | $35,198 | $2,933 | $16.92 | 310,383 |
| Picker And Packer | $30,841 | $2,570 | $14.83 | 67,478 |
| Cherry Picker Operator | $33,956 | $2,830 | $16.32 | 105,023 |
| Case Picker/Temp | $33,549 | $2,796 | $16.13 | 75,374 |
| Material Handler/Forklift Operator | $36,453 | $3,038 | $17.53 | 168,379 |
Top companies hiring forklift-pickers now:
Which companies pay forklift-pickers the most?
Forklift-picker salaries at Tyson Foods and Mohawk Industries are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average forklift-picker salary at companies like C&R; Systems and Novo are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyson Foods | $37,685 | $18.12 |
| 2 | Mohawk Industries | $36,171 | $17.39 |
| 3 | C&R Systems | $33,098 | $15.91 |
| 4 | Novo | $32,996 | $15.86 |
| 5 | Staffing Resources | $32,039 | $15.40 |
| 6 | Kelly Services | $31,788 | $15.28 |
| 7 | Elwood Staffing | $31,772 | $15.28 |
| 8 | ManpowerGroup | $31,625 | $15.20 |
| 9 | Workbox Staffing | $31,415 | $15.10 |
| 10 | SelecSource | $31,323 | $15.06 |
| 11 | Staffmark | $31,315 | $15.06 |
| 12 | PrideStaff | $31,229 | $15.01 |
| 13 | Link Staffing | $31,196 | $15.00 |
| 14 | Express Employment Indy South | $31,184 | $14.99 |
| 15 | Aerotek | $31,180 | $14.99 |
| 16 | Adecco | $31,059 | $14.93 |
| 17 | Randstad North America, Inc. | $29,945 | $14.40 |
| 18 | Trc Staffing Services | $28,898 | $13.89 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Forklift-Picker salary by industry
The average forklift-picker salary varies across industries:
- The average forklift-picker salary in the technology industry is $35,383, the highest of any industry.
- The average forklift-picker salary in the finance industry is $35,075.
- Forklift-pickers in the transportation industry earn an average salary of $31,581, the lowest of any industry.
Highest paying industries for forklift-pickers
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Technology | $35,383 | $17.01 |
| 2 | Manufacturing | $35,075 | $16.86 |
| 3 | Professional | $32,920 | $15.83 |
| 4 | Retail | $32,432 | $15.59 |
| 5 | Automotive | $32,351 | $15.55 |
| 6 | Transportation | $31,581 | $15.18 |
High paying forklift-picker jobs
Forklift-picker salary trends
The average forklift-picker salary has risen by $6,574 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average forklift-picker earned $26,130 annually, but today, they earn $32,704 a year. That works out to a 16% change in pay for forklift-pickers over the last decade.
Compare forklift-picker salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average forklift-picker salary over time
Compare forklift-picker salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Forklift-picker salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $32,700 | $15.72 | +3.6% |
| 2024 | $31,500 | $15.15 | +4.0% |
| 2023 | $30,300 | $14.55 | +3.2% |
| 2022 | $29,300 | $14.08 | +3.5% |
| 2021 | $28,300 | $13.59 | +1.1% |
Recently added forklift-picker salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nice North America | Forklift/Picker | Olive Branch, MS | 06/27/2025 | $35,479 |
| Chase Staffing Formerly Chase Professionals | Forklift Cherry Picker Please Read Ad First | Lithia Springs, GA | 06/25/2025 | $41,740 |
| Axiom Staffing Group | Cherry Picker Forklift-1St. Shift | Jacksonville, FL | 06/25/2025 | $39,131 |
| Bradley Personnel | Forklift-Cherry Picker | Charlotte, NC | 06/24/2025 | $37,566 |
| Advance Services | 1St. Shift Cherry Picker Forklift | Shakopee, MN | 06/13/2025 | $41,740 |
| Tyler Staffing Services | Stand-Up and Cherry Picker Forklift Shipping | Lithia Springs, GA | 05/24/2025 | $35,479 |
| Performance Food Group | Forklift Cherry Picker-1St. Shift | Shepherdsville, KY | 05/23/2025 | $35,479 |
| Chase Staffing Formerly Chase Professionals | Stand-Up and Cherry Picker Forklift Shipping | Lithia Springs, GA | 05/23/2025 | $35,479 |
| Axiom Staffing Group | Cherry Picker Forklift-1St. Shift | Jacksonville, FL | 05/21/2025 | $39,131 |
| Wilmar | Forklift Picker-Day Shift | Kent, WA | 05/18/2025 | $41,740 |
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