The average salary for a fork lift operator in the United States is around $35,182 per year.
Avg Salary
Fork lift operators earn an average yearly salary of $35,182.
Wages typically start from $25,356 and go up to $48,815.
45% below national average Updated in 2019
Fork lift operator earnings by seniority
90th percentile
Top-level fork lift operator earnings begin at:
$23.47 per hour
$48,815 per year
75th percentile
Senior-level fork lift operator earnings begin at:
$20.10 per hour
$41,800 per year
50th percentile
Mid-level fork lift operator earnings begin at:
$16.91 per hour
$35,182 per year
25th percentile
Junior-level fork lift operator earnings begin at:
$14.24 per hour
$29,611 per year
10th percentile
Starting level fork lift operator earnings begin at:
$12.19 per hour
$25,356 per year
Approximate values based on highest and lowest earning segments.
Fork lift operator salary by state
| State Name | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Alaska | $53,340 |
| District of Columbia | $53,250 |
| Hawaii | $45,460 |
| New Hampshire | $42,510 |
| Delaware | $40,780 |
| Connecticut | $40,778 |
| Washington | $40,570 |
| Minnesota | $39,990 |
| New York | $39,220 |
| North Dakota | $38,880 |
| Vermont | $37,980 |
| Maryland | $37,820 |
| Rhode Island | $37,770 |
| West Virginia | $37,770 |
| Massachusetts | $37,480 |
| New Mexico | $37,450 |
| Iowa | $37,331 |
| Wisconsin | $37,320 |
| Montana | $37,110 |
| Wyoming | $36,930 |
| Virginia | $36,550 |
| Oregon | $36,490 |
| Kansas | $36,440 |
| Nevada | $36,020 |
| Maine | $35,670 |
| Illinois | $35,561 |
| Ohio | $35,490 |
| California | $35,460 |
| Michigan | $35,370 |
| Colorado | $35,180 |
| Idaho | $35,020 |
| Florida | $34,750 |
| Louisiana | $34,700 |
| South Dakota | $34,560 |
| Georgia | $34,480 |
| Oklahoma | $34,470 |
| Missouri | $34,110 |
| New Jersey | $33,900 |
| Utah | $33,810 |
| North Carolina | $33,200 |
| Arizona | $33,141 |
| Alabama | $32,840 |
| Nebraska | $32,730 |
| Indiana | $32,696 |
| Kentucky | $32,462 |
| South Carolina | $32,240 |
| Arkansas | $32,227 |
| Texas | $32,210 |
| Tennessee | $31,810 |
| Mississippi | $30,850 |
| Pennsylvania | $29,311 |
| Guam | $27,680 |
| Virgin Islands, U.S. | $24,870 |
| Puerto Rico | $19,070 |
How do fork lift operator salaries compare to similar careers?
Fork lift operators earn about the same as related careers in the United States. On average, they make less than roofers but more than metal workers.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Roofer salary | $37K |
| Welder salary | $38K |
| Log grader salary | $37K |
| Quarry rock splitter salary | $36K |
| Construction painter salary | $35K |
| Fork lift operator salary | $35K |
| Stone cutter salary | $34K |
| Molding and casting worker salary | $34K |
| Cabinetmaker salary | $33K |
| Metal worker salary | $33K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)