The average salary for a forklift operator in the United States is around $46,420 per year.
Avg Salary
Forklift operators earn an average yearly salary of $46,420.
Wages typically start from $36,840 and go up to $62,520.
30% below national average Updated in 2025
Forklift operator earnings by seniority
Top-level forklift operator earnings begin at:
$30.06 per hour
$62,520 per year
Senior-level forklift operator earnings begin at:
$26.33 per hour
$54,770 per year
Mid-level forklift operator earnings begin at:
$22.32 per hour
$46,420 per year
Junior-level forklift operator earnings begin at:
$19.24 per hour
$40,030 per year
Starting level forklift operator earnings begin at:
$17.71 per hour
$36,840 per year
Approximate values based on highest and lowest earning segments.
Forklift operator salary by state
| State Name | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $83,720 |
| New Mexico | $62,150 |
| Delaware | $60,350 |
| Wyoming | $59,820 |
| New Hampshire | $54,460 |
| Alaska | $54,190 |
| Hawaii | $53,640 |
| Oregon | $50,760 |
| Colorado | $50,570 |
| Washington | $49,910 |
| Minnesota | $49,740 |
| North Dakota | $49,260 |
| Utah | $49,040 |
| New York | $49,030 |
| Louisiana | $48,950 |
| Florida | $48,370 |
| Arizona | $48,110 |
| Montana | $48,060 |
| California | $47,770 |
| Maine | $47,730 |
| Pennsylvania | $47,730 |
| Illinois | $47,720 |
| Wisconsin | $47,720 |
| Iowa | $47,590 |
| Kansas | $47,430 |
| South Dakota | $47,410 |
| Vermont | $47,380 |
| Connecticut | $47,190 |
| Virginia | $46,920 |
| Massachusetts | $46,850 |
| Nebraska | $46,730 |
| Kentucky | $46,630 |
| Idaho | $46,600 |
| Ohio | $46,450 |
| New Jersey | $46,100 |
| Indiana | $45,650 |
| Maryland | $45,630 |
| Texas | $45,450 |
| Nevada | $45,230 |
| Michigan | $45,220 |
| Missouri | $45,190 |
| Rhode Island | $45,010 |
| Alabama | $44,880 |
| Oklahoma | $44,700 |
| Arkansas | $43,780 |
| South Carolina | $43,680 |
| Mississippi | $43,420 |
| North Carolina | $43,420 |
| Georgia | $43,210 |
| Tennessee | $42,100 |
| West Virginia | $41,670 |
| 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 the United States. On average, they make less than highway maintenance workers but more than molding and casting workers.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Highway maintenance worker salary | $50K |
| Construction worker salary | $47K |
| Drill press operator salary | $49K |
| Quarry rock splitter salary | $49K |
| Extraction worker salary | $48K |
| Forklift operator salary | $46K |
| Cabinetmaker salary | $47K |
| Log grader salary | $46K |
| Stone cutter salary | $46K |
| Molding and casting worker salary | $46K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)