The average salary for a forklift operator in Iowa is around $47,590 per year.
Avg Salary
Forklift operators earn an average yearly salary of $47,590.
Wages typically start from $38,640 and go up to $61,000.
26% below national average Updated in 2025
Forklift operator earnings by seniority
90th percentile
Top-level forklift operator earnings begin at:
$29.33 per hour
$61,000 per year
75th percentile
Senior-level forklift operator earnings begin at:
$25.46 per hour
$52,950 per year
50th percentile
Mid-level forklift operator earnings begin at:
$22.88 per hour
$47,590 per year
25th percentile
Junior-level forklift operator earnings begin at:
$20.90 per hour
$43,460 per year
10th percentile
Starting level forklift operator earnings begin at:
$18.58 per hour
$38,640 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 Iowa. On average, they make less than food batchmakers but more than metal workers.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Food batchmaker salary | $48K |
| Recreational vehicle service technician salary | $48K |
| Machine assembler salary | $46K |
| Furniture finisher salary | $47K |
| Locksmith salary | $46K |
| Forklift operator salary | $48K |
| Cabinetmaker salary | $47K |
| Drill press operator salary | $44K |
| Hand polishing worker salary | $47K |
| Metal worker salary | $45K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)