Salaries › Forklift Operator › Kentucky
Forklift Operator Salary in Kentucky (2026)
$22.42 per hour · take-home ≈ $38,015/year ($3,168/month) for a single filer
Forklift Operator pay range in Kentucky
| Percentile | Annual wage | Meaning |
| 10th percentile (entry) | $35,540 | Lowest-paid 10% earn less than this |
| 25th percentile | $38,820 | A quarter earn less |
| Median (50th) | $46,630 | Half earn more, half earn less |
| 75th percentile | $59,470 | Top quarter starts here |
| 90th percentile (top) | $70,840 | Highest-paid 10% earn more than this |
BLS reports 11,270 Forklift Operator jobs in Kentucky (occupation code 53-7051, “Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators”).
Gross vs. take-home in Kentucky
A median Forklift Operator salary of $46,630 doesn’t all reach your bank account. After federal income tax, Social Security, and Medicare, plus Kentucky state income tax, a single filer keeps about $38,015 — an effective tax rate of 18.5%.
| Gross (median) | $46,630 |
| Federal income tax | −$3,416 |
| Social Security + Medicare | −$3,567 |
| Kentucky state income tax | −$1,632 |
| Take-home (annual) | $38,015 |
| Take-home (monthly) | $3,168 |
Want your exact numbers — married, 401(k), different salary? Use the free Kentucky paycheck calculator on PaycheckTally.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Forklift Operator make in Kentucky?
- The median Forklift Operator salary in Kentucky is $46,630 per year ($22.42 per hour) according to the latest BLS data. The middle 50% earn between $38,820 and $59,470.
- What is the take-home pay for a Forklift Operator in Kentucky?
- On the median salary of $46,630, a single filer in Kentucky takes home about $38,015 per year ($3,168 per month) after federal tax, FICA, and state income tax — an effective tax rate of 18.5%.
- How many Forklift Operator jobs are there in Kentucky?
- BLS counts 11,270 Forklift Operator jobs in Kentucky in the latest survey (May 2025).
Top-paying states for Forklift Operators
Other salaries in Kentucky
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 Kentucky 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 Kentucky.