Forklift operator earnings by seniority

90th percentile

Top-level forklift operator earnings begin at:

$18.41 per hour

$38,290 per year

75th percentile

Senior-level forklift operator earnings begin at:

$17.17 per hour

$35,720 per year

50th percentile

Mid-level forklift operator earnings begin at:

$13.86 per hour

$28,820 per year

25th percentile

Junior-level forklift operator earnings begin at:

$12.84 per hour

$26,700 per year

10th percentile

Starting level forklift operator earnings begin at:

$10.97 per hour

$22,830 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 18% less than similar careers in Virgin Islands, U.S.. On average, they make less than brickmasons.

Career Median Salary
Brickmason salary $46K
Maintenance worker salary $37K
HVAC technician salary $36K
Construction worker salary $36K
Sheet metal worker salary $30K
Forklift operator salary $29K

Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)