The average salary for a forklift operator in Tennessee is around $36,360 per year.
Avg Salary
Forklift operators earn an average yearly salary of $36,360.
Wages typically start from $28,820 and go up to $48,000.
41% below national average Updated in 2021
Forklift operator earnings by seniority
90th percentile
Top-level forklift operator earnings begin at:
$23.08 per hour
$48,000 per year
75th percentile
Senior-level forklift operator earnings begin at:
$18.70 per hour
$38,890 per year
50th percentile
Mid-level forklift operator earnings begin at:
$17.48 per hour
$36,360 per year
25th percentile
Junior-level forklift operator earnings begin at:
$14.50 per hour
$30,150 per year
10th percentile
Starting level forklift operator earnings begin at:
$13.86 per hour
$28,820 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 Tennessee. On average, they make less than extraction workers but more than cabinetmakers.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Extraction worker salary | $37K |
| Drywall installer salary | $37K |
| Metal caster salary | $30K |
| Construction worker salary | $36K |
| Drill press operator salary | $37K |
| Forklift operator salary | $36K |
| Hand polishing worker salary | $36K |
| Upholsterer salary | $31K |
| Highway maintenance worker salary | $34K |
| Cabinetmaker salary | $35K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)