Salaries › Forklift Operator › Illinois
Forklift Operator Salary in Illinois (2026)
$22.94 per hour · take-home ≈ $38,161/year ($3,180/month) for a single filer
Forklift Operator pay range in Illinois
| Percentile | Annual wage | Meaning |
| 10th percentile (entry) | $37,990 | Lowest-paid 10% earn less than this |
| 25th percentile | $42,850 | A quarter earn less |
| Median (50th) | $47,720 | Half earn more, half earn less |
| 75th percentile | $57,550 | Top quarter starts here |
| 90th percentile (top) | $63,140 | Highest-paid 10% earn more than this |
BLS reports 29,450 Forklift Operator jobs in Illinois (occupation code 53-7051, “Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators”).
Gross vs. take-home in Illinois
A median Forklift Operator salary of $47,720 doesn’t all reach your bank account. After federal income tax, Social Security, and Medicare, plus Illinois state income tax, a single filer keeps about $38,161 — an effective tax rate of 20.0%.
| Gross (median) | $47,720 |
| Federal income tax | −$3,546 |
| Social Security + Medicare | −$3,651 |
| Illinois state income tax | −$2,362 |
| Take-home (annual) | $38,161 |
| Take-home (monthly) | $3,180 |
Want your exact numbers — married, 401(k), different salary? Use the free Illinois paycheck calculator on PaycheckTally.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Forklift Operator make in Illinois?
- The median Forklift Operator salary in Illinois is $47,720 per year ($22.94 per hour) according to the latest BLS data. The middle 50% earn between $42,850 and $57,550.
- What is the take-home pay for a Forklift Operator in Illinois?
- On the median salary of $47,720, a single filer in Illinois takes home about $38,161 per year ($3,180 per month) after federal tax, FICA, and state income tax — an effective tax rate of 20.0%.
- How many Forklift Operator jobs are there in Illinois?
- BLS counts 29,450 Forklift Operator jobs in Illinois in the latest survey (May 2025).
Top-paying states for Forklift Operators
Other salaries in Illinois
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 Illinois 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 Illinois.