The average salary for a forklift operator in Iowa is around $38,280 per year.
Avg Salary
Forklift operators earn an average yearly salary of $38,280.
Wages typically start from $30,390 and go up to $48,790.
37% below national average Updated in 2021
Forklift operator earnings by seniority
90th percentile
Top-level forklift operator earnings begin at:
$23.46 per hour
$48,790 per year
75th percentile
Senior-level forklift operator earnings begin at:
$22.07 per hour
$45,900 per year
50th percentile
Mid-level forklift operator earnings begin at:
$18.41 per hour
$38,280 per year
25th percentile
Junior-level forklift operator earnings begin at:
$17.59 per hour
$36,590 per year
10th percentile
Starting level forklift operator earnings begin at:
$14.61 per hour
$30,390 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 Iowa. On average, they make less than cabinetmakers but more than professional painters.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Cabinetmaker salary | $39K |
| Tile and marble setter salary | $38K |
| Machine feeder salary | $38K |
| Construction worker salary | $38K |
| Furniture finisher salary | $47K |
| Forklift operator salary | $38K |
| Hazardous materials removal worker salary | $38K |
| Metal worker salary | $37K |
| Food batchmaker salary | $37K |
| Professional painter salary | $38K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)