The average salary for a forklift operator in Minnesota is around $49,740 per year.
Avg Salary
Forklift operators earn an average yearly salary of $49,740.
Wages typically start from $39,940 and go up to $73,870.
28% below national average Updated in 2025
Forklift operator earnings by seniority
90th percentile
Top-level forklift operator earnings begin at:
$35.51 per hour
$73,870 per year
75th percentile
Senior-level forklift operator earnings begin at:
$28.70 per hour
$59,690 per year
50th percentile
Mid-level forklift operator earnings begin at:
$23.91 per hour
$49,740 per year
25th percentile
Junior-level forklift operator earnings begin at:
$21.42 per hour
$44,550 per year
10th percentile
Starting level forklift operator earnings begin at:
$19.20 per hour
$39,940 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 Minnesota. On average, they make less than quarry rock splitters but more than precious metal workers.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Quarry rock splitter salary | $58K |
| Machine assembler salary | $59K |
| Recreational vehicle service technician salary | $59K |
| Quality control inspector salary | $49K |
| Avionics technician salary | $56K |
| Forklift operator salary | $50K |
| Printing worker salary | $49K |
| Cabinetmaker salary | $49K |
| Metal worker salary | $50K |
| Precious metal worker salary | $54K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)