Salaries › Forklift Operator › Missouri
Forklift Operator Salary in Missouri (2026)
$21.73 per hour · take-home ≈ $37,304/year ($3,109/month) for a single filer
Forklift Operator pay range in Missouri
| Percentile | Annual wage | Meaning |
| 10th percentile (entry) | $36,240 | Lowest-paid 10% earn less than this |
| 25th percentile | $39,230 | A quarter earn less |
| Median (50th) | $45,190 | Half earn more, half earn less |
| 75th percentile | $55,860 | Top quarter starts here |
| 90th percentile (top) | $64,620 | Highest-paid 10% earn more than this |
BLS reports 11,470 Forklift Operator jobs in Missouri (occupation code 53-7051, “Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators”).
Gross vs. take-home in Missouri
A median Forklift Operator salary of $45,190 doesn’t all reach your bank account. After federal income tax, Social Security, and Medicare, plus Missouri state income tax, a single filer keeps about $37,304 — an effective tax rate of 17.5%.
| Gross (median) | $45,190 |
| Federal income tax | −$3,243 |
| Social Security + Medicare | −$3,457 |
| Missouri state income tax | −$1,187 |
| Take-home (annual) | $37,304 |
| Take-home (monthly) | $3,109 |
Want your exact numbers — married, 401(k), different salary? Use the free Missouri paycheck calculator on PaycheckTally.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Forklift Operator make in Missouri?
- The median Forklift Operator salary in Missouri is $45,190 per year ($21.73 per hour) according to the latest BLS data. The middle 50% earn between $39,230 and $55,860.
- What is the take-home pay for a Forklift Operator in Missouri?
- On the median salary of $45,190, a single filer in Missouri takes home about $37,304 per year ($3,109 per month) after federal tax, FICA, and state income tax — an effective tax rate of 17.5%.
- How many Forklift Operator jobs are there in Missouri?
- BLS counts 11,470 Forklift Operator jobs in Missouri in the latest survey (May 2025).
Top-paying states for Forklift Operators
Other salaries in Missouri
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 Missouri 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 Missouri.