The average salary for a forklift operator in District of Columbia is around $83,720 per year.
Avg Salary
Forklift operators earn an average yearly salary of $83,720.
Wages typically start from $57,050 and go up to $83,720.
15% below national average Updated in 2025
Forklift operator earnings by seniority
90th percentile
Top-level forklift operator earnings begin at:
$40.25 per hour
$83,720 per year
75th percentile
Senior-level forklift operator earnings begin at:
$40.25 per hour
$83,720 per year
50th percentile
Mid-level forklift operator earnings begin at:
$40.25 per hour
$83,720 per year
25th percentile
Junior-level forklift operator earnings begin at:
$33.99 per hour
$70,710 per year
10th percentile
Starting level forklift operator earnings begin at:
$27.43 per hour
$57,050 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 District of Columbia. On average, they make less than electricians but more than ironworkers.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Electrician salary | $79K |
| HVAC technician salary | $84K |
| Industrial machinery mechanic salary | $88K |
| Quality control inspector salary | $79K |
| Locksmith salary | $77K |
| Forklift operator salary | $84K |
| Brickmason salary | $64K |
| Glazier salary | $78K |
| Machinist salary | $73K |
| Ironworker salary | $61K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)