Salaries › Forklift Operator › North Carolina
Forklift Operator Salary in North Carolina (2026)
$20.88 per hour · take-home ≈ $35,844/year ($2,987/month) for a single filer
Forklift Operator pay range in North Carolina
| Percentile | Annual wage | Meaning |
| 10th percentile (entry) | $35,940 | Lowest-paid 10% earn less than this |
| 25th percentile | $38,080 | A quarter earn less |
| Median (50th) | $43,420 | Half earn more, half earn less |
| 75th percentile | $47,510 | Top quarter starts here |
| 90th percentile (top) | $56,000 | Highest-paid 10% earn more than this |
BLS reports 26,830 Forklift Operator jobs in North Carolina (occupation code 53-7051, “Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators”).
Gross vs. take-home in North Carolina
A median Forklift Operator salary of $43,420 doesn’t all reach your bank account. After federal income tax, Social Security, and Medicare, plus North Carolina state income tax, a single filer keeps about $35,844 — an effective tax rate of 17.4%.
| Gross (median) | $43,420 |
| Federal income tax | −$3,030 |
| Social Security + Medicare | −$3,322 |
| North Carolina state income tax | −$1,224 |
| Take-home (annual) | $35,844 |
| Take-home (monthly) | $2,987 |
Want your exact numbers — married, 401(k), different salary? Use the free North Carolina paycheck calculator on PaycheckTally.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Forklift Operator make in North Carolina?
- The median Forklift Operator salary in North Carolina is $43,420 per year ($20.88 per hour) according to the latest BLS data. The middle 50% earn between $38,080 and $47,510.
- What is the take-home pay for a Forklift Operator in North Carolina?
- On the median salary of $43,420, a single filer in North Carolina takes home about $35,844 per year ($2,987 per month) after federal tax, FICA, and state income tax — an effective tax rate of 17.4%.
- How many Forklift Operator jobs are there in North Carolina?
- BLS counts 26,830 Forklift Operator jobs in North Carolina in the latest survey (May 2025).
Top-paying states for Forklift Operators
Other salaries in North Carolina
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 North Carolina 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 North Carolina.