Salaries › Forklift Operator
Forklift Operator Salary by State (2026)
Forklift Operators (Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators) hold 774,060 jobs across the US. Typical pay is $46,583 per year, but the median ranges from $41,670 in West Virginia to $83,720 in District of Columbia. Pick your state for the full pay range and an estimated take-home after taxes.
Median Forklift Operator salary in every state
| State | Median salary | Jobs |
| District of Columbia | $83,720 | 0 |
| New Mexico | $62,150 | 2,620 |
| Delaware | $60,350 | 5,230 |
| Wyoming | $59,820 | 790 |
| New Hampshire | $54,460 | 1,450 |
| Alaska | $54,190 | 410 |
| Hawaii | $53,640 | 880 |
| Oregon | $50,760 | 8,560 |
| Colorado | $50,570 | 8,570 |
| Washington | $49,910 | 18,750 |
| Minnesota | $49,740 | 7,110 |
| North Dakota | $49,260 | 930 |
| Utah | $49,040 | 6,830 |
| New York | $49,030 | 18,420 |
| Louisiana | $48,950 | 7,680 |
| Florida | $48,370 | 38,400 |
| Arizona | $48,110 | 12,340 |
| Montana | $48,060 | 910 |
| California | $47,770 | 89,620 |
| Maine | $47,730 | 2,900 |
| Pennsylvania | $47,730 | 42,110 |
| Illinois | $47,720 | 29,450 |
| Wisconsin | $47,720 | 12,150 |
| Iowa | $47,590 | 7,770 |
| Kansas | $47,430 | 7,700 |
| South Dakota | $47,410 | 1,940 |
| Vermont | $47,380 | 950 |
| Connecticut | $47,190 | 3,780 |
| Virginia | $46,920 | 19,320 |
| Massachusetts | $46,850 | 8,390 |
| Nebraska | $46,730 | 5,020 |
| Kentucky | $46,630 | 11,270 |
| Idaho | $46,600 | 2,560 |
| Ohio | $46,450 | 42,360 |
| New Jersey | $46,100 | 21,790 |
| Indiana | $45,650 | 23,090 |
| Maryland | $45,630 | 13,740 |
| Texas | $45,450 | 88,780 |
| Nevada | $45,230 | 7,300 |
| Michigan | $45,220 | 23,470 |
| Missouri | $45,190 | 11,470 |
| Rhode Island | $45,010 | 780 |
| Alabama | $44,880 | 15,360 |
| Oklahoma | $44,700 | 7,850 |
| Arkansas | $43,780 | 10,850 |
| South Carolina | $43,680 | 14,210 |
| Mississippi | $43,420 | 9,640 |
| North Carolina | $43,420 | 26,830 |
| Georgia | $43,210 | 50,260 |
| Tennessee | $42,100 | 20,070 |
| West Virginia | $41,670 | 1,400 |
Frequently asked questions
- What is the average Forklift Operator salary in the US?
- The typical (employment-weighted median) Forklift Operator salary in the US is about $46,583 per year, based on the latest BLS data covering 774,060 jobs nationwide.
- Which state pays Forklift Operators the most?
- District of Columbia has the highest median Forklift Operator salary at $83,720 per year. Remember that taxes and cost of living vary — a high gross salary can shrink after state taxes.
- Which state pays Forklift Operators the least?
- West Virginia has the lowest median at $41,670 per year. Lower-paying states often also have lower living costs and, in some cases, no state income tax.
Sources and methodology
All figures: BLS OEWS May 2025 (state file, released April 2026) (Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators, code 53-7051). “Typical pay” is the employment-weighted average of state medians. Take-home estimates on state pages use 2026 federal and verified state tax rules from our PaycheckTally engine.