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Lift operator salary
Average lift operator salary
$15.53
Understanding Lift Operator Salaries
The average salary for a lift operator in the U.S. is approximately $32,309 per year, translating to about $16 per hour. However, salaries can fluctuate based on several factors including experience, location, and industry.
Experience Levels Matter
Entry-level lift operators typically start with lower wages, while those with extensive experience can earn significantly more. For instance, operators with five or more years of experience often see salaries increase by 15-20%.
Geographic Impact
Where you work also plays a vital role in salary differences. States like California and New York tend to offer higher pay due to living costs and demand for skilled labor. In contrast, rural areas may present lower salary averages.
Job Type Variations
Different sectors, such as construction versus manufacturing, can influence earnings as well. Operators in specialized industries may command higher wages, reflecting the skills required. Understanding these dynamics can help lift operators navigate their career paths effectively.
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Where can a Lift Operator earn more?
Lift operator salaries by experience level
Average lift operator salary by state
The highest-paying states for lift operators are Alaska, North Dakota, and Massachusetts. The lowest average lift operator salary states are Oklahoma, Tennessee, and North Carolina.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for lift operators
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alaska | $37,617 | $18.09 |
| 2 | Massachusetts | $36,377 | $17.49 |
| 3 | Rhode Island | $33,956 | $16.32 |
| 4 | North Dakota | $37,607 | $18.08 |
| 5 | Maine | $35,247 | $16.95 |
| 6 | Pennsylvania | $33,124 | $15.93 |
| 7 | Iowa | $32,863 | $15.80 |
| 8 | New Jersey | $33,800 | $16.25 |
| 9 | Ohio | $32,066 | $15.42 |
| 10 | Wisconsin | $31,916 | $15.34 |
| 11 | New Hampshire | $32,947 | $15.84 |
| 12 | Minnesota | $32,882 | $15.81 |
| 13 | Nevada | $33,416 | $16.07 |
| 14 | Hawaii | $35,514 | $17.07 |
| 15 | Kansas | $32,479 | $15.61 |
| 16 | Wyoming | $33,951 | $16.32 |
| 17 | Nebraska | $32,548 | $15.65 |
| 18 | Maryland | $35,329 | $16.99 |
| 19 | South Dakota | $32,548 | $15.65 |
| 20 | Washington | $34,703 | $16.68 |
| 21 | Oregon | $33,325 | $16.02 |
| 22 | California | $34,943 | $16.80 |
| 23 | Kentucky | $30,991 | $14.90 |
| 24 | Montana | $32,995 | $15.86 |
| 25 | Indiana | $30,170 | $14.50 |
| 26 | Illinois | $31,672 | $15.23 |
| 27 | Michigan | $30,885 | $14.85 |
| 28 | Delaware | $32,523 | $15.64 |
| 29 | Utah | $31,238 | $15.02 |
| 30 | Florida | $31,821 | $15.30 |
| 31 | Missouri | $30,912 | $14.86 |
| 32 | New York | $32,998 | $15.86 |
| 33 | Vermont | $30,805 | $14.81 |
| 34 | Texas | $30,734 | $14.78 |
| 35 | Arizona | $30,438 | $14.63 |
| 36 | Mississippi | $29,068 | $13.97 |
| 37 | Tennessee | $28,867 | $13.88 |
| 38 | Georgia | $29,546 | $14.20 |
| 39 | Connecticut | $31,549 | $15.17 |
| 40 | New Mexico | $31,362 | $15.08 |
| 41 | District of Columbia | $32,314 | $15.54 |
| 42 | South Carolina | $29,080 | $13.98 |
| 43 | West Virginia | $29,692 | $14.28 |
| 44 | Colorado | $31,054 | $14.93 |
| 45 | North Carolina | $27,843 | $13.39 |
| 46 | Oklahoma | $28,958 | $13.92 |
| 47 | Louisiana | $29,703 | $14.28 |
| 48 | Virginia | $30,314 | $14.57 |
| 49 | Alabama | $27,470 | $13.21 |
| 50 | Arkansas | $26,408 | $12.70 |
| 51 | Idaho | $27,461 | $13.20 |
Highest paying cities for lift operators
The highest-paying cities for lift operators are Fremont, CA, Vancouver, WA, and Howell, NJ.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fremont, CA | $35,747 | $17.19 |
| 2 | Vancouver, WA | $35,133 | $16.89 |
| 3 | Howell, NJ | $33,705 | $16.20 |
| 4 | Hazleton, PA | $33,490 | $16.10 |
| 5 | Portland, OR | $33,305 | $16.01 |
| 6 | Las Vegas, NV | $33,243 | $15.98 |
| 7 | Rochester, NY | $33,044 | $15.89 |
| 8 | Chaska, MN | $32,829 | $15.78 |
| 9 | Green Bay, WI | $32,412 | $15.58 |
| 10 | Lakeland, FL | $31,849 | $15.31 |
| 11 | Columbus, OH | $31,799 | $15.29 |
| 12 | Romeoville, IL | $31,669 | $15.23 |
| 13 | Albuquerque, NM | $31,392 | $15.09 |
| 14 | Florence, KY | $31,385 | $15.09 |
| 15 | West Valley City, UT | $31,214 | $15.01 |
| 16 | Austin, TX | $30,756 | $14.79 |
| 17 | Phoenix, AZ | $30,544 | $14.68 |
| 18 | Columbus, IN | $29,922 | $14.39 |
| 19 | Gainesville, GA | $29,660 | $14.26 |
| 20 | Columbus, MS | $29,005 | $13.94 |
Lift operator salary details
A lift operator's salary ranges from $26,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $39,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a lift 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 | $32,309 | $2,692 | $16 |
| 25th Percentile | $29,000 | $2,417 | $14 |
| 10th Percentile | $26,000 | $2,167 | $13 |
Highest paying lift operator jobs
The highest paying types of lift operators are dock worker/forklift operator, terminal operator, and mill operator.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Material Handler/Forklift Operator | $36,453 | $3,038 | $17.53 | 168,379 |
| Machine Operator/Forklift Operator | $32,452 | $2,704 | $15.60 | 120,073 |
| Warehouse Machine Operator | $33,796 | $2,816 | $16.25 | 229,051 |
| Reach Truck Operator | $34,625 | $2,885 | $16.65 | 137,300 |
| Handle Machine Operator | $29,598 | $2,467 | $14.23 | 110,258 |
| Cherry Picker Operator | $33,956 | $2,830 | $16.32 | 105,023 |
Top companies hiring lift operators now:
Which companies pay lift operators the most?
Lift operator salaries at BD and Blue Diamond Growers are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average lift operator salary at companies like Kloeckner Metals and United Natural Foods are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | BD | $45,835 | $22.04 |
| 2 | Blue Diamond Growers | $45,267 | $21.76 |
| 3 | Kloeckner Metals | $42,258 | $20.32 |
| 4 | United Natural Foods | $41,433 | $19.92 |
| 5 | Steris | $41,380 | $19.89 |
| 6 | ABB | $40,374 | $19.41 |
| 7 | Manhasset Bay Yacht Club | $38,811 | $18.66 |
| 8 | Boise Cascade | $38,026 | $18.28 |
| 9 | Land O'Lakes | $37,801 | $18.17 |
| 10 | Keurig Dr Pepper | $37,599 | $18.08 |
| 11 | Pactiv | $37,552 | $18.05 |
| 12 | International Paper | $37,526 | $18.04 |
| 13 | WestRock | $37,175 | $17.87 |
| 14 | Johnsonville | $37,109 | $17.84 |
| 15 | Atkore International | $37,006 | $17.79 |
| 16 | Waste Connections | $36,998 | $17.79 |
| 17 | JELD-WEN | $36,965 | $17.77 |
| 18 | Hormel Foods | $36,848 | $17.72 |
| 19 | Ashley HomeStore | $36,606 | $17.60 |
| 20 | US Foods | $36,513 | $17.55 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Lift Operator salary by industry
The average lift operator salary varies across industries:
- The average lift operator salary in the automotive industry is $36,028, the highest of any industry.
- The average lift operator salary in the finance industry is $33,789.
- Lift operators in the hospitality industry earn an average salary of $29,330, the lowest of any industry.
Highest paying industries for lift operators
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Automotive | $36,028 | $17.32 |
| 2 | Manufacturing | $33,789 | $16.24 |
| 3 | Transportation | $33,530 | $16.12 |
| 4 | Retail | $30,858 | $14.84 |
| 5 | Hospitality | $29,330 | $14.10 |
High paying lift operator jobs
Lift operator salary trends
The average lift operator salary has risen by $6,495 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average lift operator earned $25,814 annually, but today, they earn $32,309 a year. That works out to a 16% change in pay for lift operators over the last decade.
Compare lift operator salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average lift operator salary over time
Compare lift operator salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Lift operator salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $32,300 | $15.53 | +3.6% |
| 2025 | $31,100 | $14.97 | +4.0% |
| 2024 | $29,900 | $14.37 | +3.2% |
| 2023 | $28,900 | $13.91 | +3.5% |
| 2022 | $27,900 | $13.42 | +1.1% |
Recently added lift operator salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Universal Logistics Holdings | 1St. Shift Fork Lift Operator | Shakopee, MN | 06/29/2025 | $37,566 |
| United Natural Foods Inc. | PTL Lift Operator | Carlisle, PA | 06/28/2025 | $44,349 |
| Vail Resorts | Lift Operator | Leavenworth, WA | 06/28/2025 | $41,740 |
| Adecco Us, Inc. | Fork Lift Operator | Holland, MI | 06/28/2025 | $44,662 |
| Adecco Us, Inc. | Fork Lift Operator | Newport, TN | 06/28/2025 | $38,610 |
| United Natural Foods Inc. | Warehouse Lift Operator (7 AM Start) | Quincy, FL | 06/27/2025 | $40,175 |
| Vail Resorts | Lift Operator | Stowe, VT | 06/27/2025 | $41,740 |
| Best Buy | Fork Lift Operator-5 AM Start | Bellingham, MA | 06/26/2025 | $45,914 |
| Kelly Services | Fork Lift Operator | Jackson, TN | 06/26/2025 | $35,479 |
| Mammoth Mountain Ski Area | Lift Operator | Pine Mountain, GA | 06/26/2025 | $41,740 |
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