Salaries › Forklift Operator › California
Forklift Operator Salary in California (2026)
$22.97 per hour · take-home ≈ $39,495/year ($3,291/month) for a single filer
Forklift Operator pay range in California
| Percentile | Annual wage | Meaning |
| 10th percentile (entry) | $38,650 | Lowest-paid 10% earn less than this |
| 25th percentile | $43,210 | A quarter earn less |
| Median (50th) | $47,770 | Half earn more, half earn less |
| 75th percentile | $58,360 | Top quarter starts here |
| 90th percentile (top) | $63,330 | Highest-paid 10% earn more than this |
BLS reports 89,620 Forklift Operator jobs in California (occupation code 53-7051, “Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators”).
Gross vs. take-home in California
A median Forklift Operator salary of $47,770 doesn’t all reach your bank account. After federal income tax, Social Security, and Medicare, plus California state income tax, a single filer keeps about $39,495 — an effective tax rate of 17.3%.
| Gross (median) | $47,770 |
| Federal income tax | −$3,552 |
| Social Security + Medicare | −$3,654 |
| California state income tax | −$1,069 |
| Take-home (annual) | $39,495 |
| Take-home (monthly) | $3,291 |
Want your exact numbers — married, 401(k), different salary? Use the free California paycheck calculator on PaycheckTally.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Forklift Operator make in California?
- The median Forklift Operator salary in California is $47,770 per year ($22.97 per hour) according to the latest BLS data. The middle 50% earn between $43,210 and $58,360.
- What is the take-home pay for a Forklift Operator in California?
- On the median salary of $47,770, a single filer in California takes home about $39,495 per year ($3,291 per month) after federal tax, FICA, and state income tax — an effective tax rate of 17.3%.
- How many Forklift Operator jobs are there in California?
- BLS counts 89,620 Forklift Operator jobs in California in the latest survey (May 2025).
Top-paying states for Forklift Operators
Other salaries in California
Sources and methodology
Wage and employment figures: BLS OEWS May 2025 (state file, released April 2026) — the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey, the most authoritative public salary dataset. Take-home estimate: 2026 federal brackets, FICA, and verified California state tax rules (single filer, standard deduction, no credits or local taxes). Estimates only — not financial advice.
- BLS OEWS — official occupational wage data.
- PaycheckTally — interactive 2026 take-home calculator for California.