The average salary for a forklift operator in New York is around $49,030 per year.
Avg Salary
Forklift operators earn an average yearly salary of $49,030.
Wages typically start from $38,330 and go up to $73,630.
36% below national average Updated in 2025
Forklift operator earnings by seniority
90th percentile
Top-level forklift operator earnings begin at:
$35.40 per hour
$73,630 per year
75th percentile
Senior-level forklift operator earnings begin at:
$28.70 per hour
$59,700 per year
50th percentile
Mid-level forklift operator earnings begin at:
$23.57 per hour
$49,030 per year
25th percentile
Junior-level forklift operator earnings begin at:
$21.15 per hour
$44,000 per year
10th percentile
Starting level forklift operator earnings begin at:
$18.43 per hour
$38,330 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 York. On average, they make less than pump operators but more than dyeing machine operators.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Pump operator salary | $48K |
| Drill press operator salary | $55K |
| Engraver salary | $52K |
| Wellhead pumper salary | $49K |
| Upholsterer salary | $47K |
| Forklift operator salary | $49K |
| Stonemason salary | $47K |
| Machine assembler salary | $46K |
| Printing worker salary | $48K |
| Dyeing machine operator salary | $39K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)