The average salary for a forklift operator in South Dakota is around $47,410 per year.
Avg Salary
Forklift operators earn an average yearly salary of $47,410.
Wages typically start from $37,780 and go up to $61,080.
23% below national average Updated in 2025
Forklift operator earnings by seniority
Top-level forklift operator earnings begin at:
$29.36 per hour
$61,080 per year
Senior-level forklift operator earnings begin at:
$26.33 per hour
$54,770 per year
Mid-level forklift operator earnings begin at:
$22.79 per hour
$47,410 per year
Junior-level forklift operator earnings begin at:
$20.83 per hour
$43,320 per year
Starting level forklift operator earnings begin at:
$18.17 per hour
$37,780 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 Dakota. On average, they make less than drywall installers but more than recreational vehicle service technicians.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Drywall installer salary | $49K |
| Highway maintenance worker salary | $49K |
| Pipelayer salary | $51K |
| Maintenance worker salary | $48K |
| Cement mason salary | $47K |
| Forklift operator salary | $47K |
| Precious metal worker salary | $45K |
| Gem worker salary | $45K |
| Jeweler salary | $45K |
| Recreational vehicle service technician salary | $40K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)