The average salary for a forklift operator in West Virginia is around $41,670 per year.
Avg Salary
Forklift operators earn an average yearly salary of $41,670.
Wages typically start from $28,700 and go up to $54,920.
31% below national average Updated in 2025
Forklift operator earnings by seniority
Top-level forklift operator earnings begin at:
$26.40 per hour
$54,920 per year
Senior-level forklift operator earnings begin at:
$23.10 per hour
$48,040 per year
Mid-level forklift operator earnings begin at:
$20.03 per hour
$41,670 per year
Junior-level forklift operator earnings begin at:
$17.41 per hour
$36,210 per year
Starting level forklift operator earnings begin at:
$13.80 per hour
$28,700 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 West Virginia. On average, they make less than jewelers but more than recreational vehicle service technicians.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Jeweler salary | $46K |
| Precious metal worker salary | $46K |
| Log grader salary | $43K |
| Pipelayer salary | $40K |
| Printing worker salary | $41K |
| Forklift operator salary | $42K |
| Cabinetmaker salary | $42K |
| Food batchmaker salary | $35K |
| Machine feeder salary | $39K |
| Recreational vehicle service technician salary | $36K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)