Forklift operator earnings by seniority

90th percentile

Top-level forklift operator earnings begin at:

$47.14 per hour

$98,040 per year

75th percentile

Senior-level forklift operator earnings begin at:

$29.92 per hour

$62,230 per year

50th percentile

Mid-level forklift operator earnings begin at:

$28.19 per hour

$58,640 per year

25th percentile

Junior-level forklift operator earnings begin at:

$23.28 per hour

$48,420 per year

10th percentile

Starting level forklift operator earnings begin at:

$17.69 per hour

$36,790 per year

Approximate values based on highest and lowest earning segments.

Forklift operator salary by state

State Name Average Salary
Hawaii $58,640
District of Columbia $55,380
Alaska $48,980
Montana $48,790
Delaware $48,550
Wyoming $48,550
Rhode Island $47,050
New Hampshire $46,550
Minnesota $46,010
Wisconsin $43,110
Maryland $42,450
Oregon $40,350
Illinois $39,580
Colorado $39,160
Connecticut $39,160
New York $39,160
Washington $39,010
California $38,980
Michigan $38,980
Vermont $38,980
New Jersey $38,710
Utah $38,710
Massachusetts $38,640
Arizona $38,550
North Dakota $38,500
Ohio $38,500
Pennsylvania $38,500
Virginia $38,500
New Mexico $38,380
South Dakota $38,380
Maine $38,340
Missouri $38,340
Nevada $38,320
Florida $38,300
Iowa $38,280
Indiana $38,280
Louisiana $38,200
Kentucky $38,080
Oklahoma $38,080
Kansas $37,960
Georgia $37,900
West Virginia $37,880
Idaho $37,620
North Carolina $37,620
Nebraska $37,620
Texas $37,200
Alabama $36,360
Arkansas $36,360
South Carolina $36,360
Tennessee $36,360
Mississippi $34,210
Virgin Islands, U.S. $28,820
Guam $25,860
Puerto Rico $21,920

How do forklift operator salaries compare to similar careers?

Forklift operators earn about the same as related careers in Hawaii. On average, they make less than interior designers but more than water treatment plant operators.

Career Median Salary
Interior designer salary $60K
Welder salary $63K
Rigger salary $68K
Drafter salary $61K
Hydroelectric plant technician salary $65K
Forklift operator salary $59K
Locksmith salary $60K
Surveyor salary $60K
Construction worker salary $56K
Water treatment plant operator salary $61K

Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)