The average salary for a forklift operator in Missouri is around $45,190 per year.
Avg Salary
Forklift operators earn an average yearly salary of $45,190.
Wages typically start from $36,240 and go up to $64,620.
28% below national average Updated in 2025
Forklift operator earnings by seniority
Top-level forklift operator earnings begin at:
$31.07 per hour
$64,620 per year
Senior-level forklift operator earnings begin at:
$26.85 per hour
$55,860 per year
Mid-level forklift operator earnings begin at:
$21.73 per hour
$45,190 per year
Junior-level forklift operator earnings begin at:
$18.86 per hour
$39,230 per year
Starting level forklift operator earnings begin at:
$17.42 per hour
$36,240 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 Missouri. On average, they make less than mining machine operators but more than molding and casting workers.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Mining machine operator salary | $47K |
| Hand polishing worker salary | $47K |
| Machine feeder salary | $47K |
| Machine assembler salary | $47K |
| Highway maintenance worker salary | $47K |
| Forklift operator salary | $45K |
| Food batchmaker salary | $46K |
| Printing worker salary | $46K |
| Stone cutter salary | $46K |
| Molding and casting worker salary | $46K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)