The average salary for a forklift operator in South Dakota is around $38,380 per year.
Avg Salary
Forklift operators earn an average yearly salary of $38,380.
Wages typically start from $29,750 and go up to $48,790.
36% 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:
$18.76 per hour
$39,030 per year
50th percentile
Mid-level forklift operator earnings begin at:
$18.45 per hour
$38,380 per year
25th percentile
Junior-level forklift operator earnings begin at:
$16.90 per hour
$35,150 per year
10th percentile
Starting level forklift operator earnings begin at:
$14.30 per hour
$29,750 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 South Dakota. On average, they make less than carpenters but more than gem workers.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Carpenter salary | $38K |
| Pipelayer salary | $38K |
| Cement mason salary | $38K |
| Printing worker salary | $37K |
| Highway maintenance worker salary | $37K |
| Forklift operator salary | $38K |
| Machine assembler salary | $38K |
| Jeweler salary | $37K |
| Precious metal worker salary | $37K |
| Gem worker salary | $37K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)