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Forklift Operator Salary

Updated

The median forklift operator in the U.S. earns $46,420 a year ($22.32 an hour). Half earn between $40,030 and $54,770. Among the 50 largest metro areas, pay is highest in San Francisco, CA ($59,240) and lowest in Grand Rapids, MI ($41,300).

Percentiles. Dark: the middle half of earners. Red line: median.
Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators, May 2025.
Annual payU.S.
10th percentile$36,840
25th percentile$40,030
Median$46,420
75th percentile$54,770
90th percentile$62,520
Average$48,370
Jobs774,420

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Forklift operator pay by city

Median annual pay, May 2025, by metro area. Compared with the U.S. median ($46,420).
CityMedianvs U.S.
San Francisco, CA$59,240+28%
Seattle, WA$55,600+20%
San Jose, CA$54,440+17%
Denver, CO$52,190+12%
Portland, OR$52,120+12%
Jacksonville, FL$50,670+9%
Tampa, FL$49,850+7%
Minneapolis, MN$49,740+7%
Washington, DC$49,710+7%
Salt Lake City, UT$49,470+7%
Philadelphia, PA$49,260+6%
Cincinnati, OH$49,000+6%
Phoenix, AZ$48,770+5%
Birmingham, AL$48,570+5%
Chicago, IL$47,950+3%
Riverside, CA$47,850+3%
Miami, FL$47,810+3%
Boston, MA$47,800+3%
Milwaukee, WI$47,780+3%
Buffalo, NY$47,630+3%
Sacramento, CA$47,570+2%
Kansas City, MO$47,350+2%
Dallas, TX$47,230+2%
Orlando, FL$47,230+2%
Virginia Beach, VA$47,040+1%
New York, NY$46,930+1%
Richmond, VA$46,920+1%
Columbus, OH$46,780+1%
Los Angeles, CA$46,600same
Detroit, MI$46,550same
Hartford, CT$46,550same
Austin, TX$46,430same
San Diego, CA$46,370same
St. Louis, MO$46,330same
Louisville, KY$46,190same
Cleveland, OH$46,090−1%
Houston, TX$45,990−1%
Oklahoma City, OK$45,960−1%
Indianapolis, IN$45,670−2%
Pittsburgh, PA$45,510−2%
San Antonio, TX$45,340−2%
Raleigh, NC$45,140−3%
Atlanta, GA$44,710−4%
Las Vegas, NV$44,660−4%
Nashville, TN$44,600−4%
Memphis, TN$44,540−4%
Providence, RI$44,490−4%
Charlotte, NC$43,880−5%
Baltimore, MD$43,850−6%
Grand Rapids, MI$41,300−11%

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Sources

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, www.bls.gov/oes. BLS.gov cannot vouch for the data or analyses derived from these data after the data have been retrieved from BLS.gov.