The average salary for a forklift operator in New Jersey is around $46,100 per year.
Avg Salary
Forklift operators earn an average yearly salary of $46,100.
Wages typically start from $36,680 and go up to $65,820.
40% below national average Updated in 2025
Forklift operator earnings by seniority
90th percentile
Top-level forklift operator earnings begin at:
$31.65 per hour
$65,820 per year
75th percentile
Senior-level forklift operator earnings begin at:
$27.16 per hour
$56,480 per year
50th percentile
Mid-level forklift operator earnings begin at:
$22.16 per hour
$46,100 per year
25th percentile
Junior-level forklift operator earnings begin at:
$19.04 per hour
$39,600 per year
10th percentile
Starting level forklift operator earnings begin at:
$17.63 per hour
$36,680 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 New Jersey. On average, they make less than molding and casting workers but more than machine feeders.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Molding and casting worker salary | $47K |
| Stone cutter salary | $47K |
| Extraction worker salary | $54K |
| Upholsterer salary | $43K |
| Drill press operator salary | $48K |
| Forklift operator salary | $46K |
| Hand polishing worker salary | $48K |
| Shoemaker salary | $47K |
| Furniture finisher salary | $38K |
| Machine feeder salary | $45K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)