The average salary for a forklift operator in Illinois is around $39,580 per year.
Avg Salary
Forklift operators earn an average yearly salary of $39,580.
Wages typically start from $30,480 and go up to $55,990.
38% below national average Updated in 2021
Forklift operator earnings by seniority
90th percentile
Top-level forklift operator earnings begin at:
$26.92 per hour
$55,990 per year
75th percentile
Senior-level forklift operator earnings begin at:
$22.82 per hour
$47,470 per year
50th percentile
Mid-level forklift operator earnings begin at:
$19.03 per hour
$39,580 per year
25th percentile
Junior-level forklift operator earnings begin at:
$17.89 per hour
$37,200 per year
10th percentile
Starting level forklift operator earnings begin at:
$14.65 per hour
$30,480 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 Illinois. On average, they make less than molding and casting workers but more than wellhead pumpers.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Molding and casting worker salary | $45K |
| Stone cutter salary | $45K |
| Drill press operator salary | $47K |
| Quarry rock splitter salary | $37K |
| Ship loader salary | $37K |
| Forklift operator salary | $40K |
| Hand polishing worker salary | $37K |
| Recreational vehicle service technician salary | $39K |
| Machine feeder salary | $37K |
| Wellhead pumper salary | $38K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)