The average salary for a forklift operator in South Carolina is around $43,680 per year.
Avg Salary
Forklift operators earn an average yearly salary of $43,680.
Wages typically start from $35,780 and go up to $56,980.
31% below national average Updated in 2025
Forklift operator earnings by seniority
Top-level forklift operator earnings begin at:
$27.40 per hour
$56,980 per year
Senior-level forklift operator earnings begin at:
$22.88 per hour
$47,590 per year
Mid-level forklift operator earnings begin at:
$21.00 per hour
$43,680 per year
Junior-level forklift operator earnings begin at:
$18.48 per hour
$38,440 per year
Starting level forklift operator earnings begin at:
$17.20 per hour
$35,780 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 South Carolina. On average, they make less than molding and casting workers but more than printing workers.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Molding and casting worker salary | $46K |
| Metal worker salary | $45K |
| Pipelayer salary | $45K |
| Hand polishing worker salary | $46K |
| Construction worker salary | $43K |
| Forklift operator salary | $44K |
| Upholsterer salary | $39K |
| Log grader salary | $44K |
| Furniture finisher salary | $43K |
| Printing worker salary | $40K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)