Salaries › Forklift Operator › South Dakota
Forklift Operator Salary in South Dakota (2026)
$22.79 per hour · take-home ≈ $40,274/year ($3,356/month) for a single filer
Forklift Operator pay range in South Dakota
| Percentile | Annual wage | Meaning |
| 10th percentile (entry) | $37,780 | Lowest-paid 10% earn less than this |
| 25th percentile | $43,320 | A quarter earn less |
| Median (50th) | $47,410 | Half earn more, half earn less |
| 75th percentile | $54,770 | Top quarter starts here |
| 90th percentile (top) | $61,080 | Highest-paid 10% earn more than this |
BLS reports 1,940 Forklift Operator jobs in South Dakota (occupation code 53-7051, “Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators”).
Gross vs. take-home in South Dakota
A median Forklift Operator salary of $47,410 doesn’t all reach your bank account. After federal income tax, Social Security, and Medicare (no state income tax in South Dakota), a single filer keeps about $40,274 — an effective tax rate of 15.1%.
| Gross (median) | $47,410 |
| Federal income tax | −$3,509 |
| Social Security + Medicare | −$3,627 |
| South Dakota state income tax | −$0 |
| Take-home (annual) | $40,274 |
| Take-home (monthly) | $3,356 |
Want your exact numbers — married, 401(k), different salary? Use the free South Dakota paycheck calculator on PaycheckTally.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Forklift Operator make in South Dakota?
- The median Forklift Operator salary in South Dakota is $47,410 per year ($22.79 per hour) according to the latest BLS data. The middle 50% earn between $43,320 and $54,770.
- What is the take-home pay for a Forklift Operator in South Dakota?
- On the median salary of $47,410, a single filer in South Dakota takes home about $40,274 per year ($3,356 per month) after federal tax, FICA — an effective tax rate of 15.1%.
- How many Forklift Operator jobs are there in South Dakota?
- BLS counts 1,940 Forklift Operator jobs in South Dakota in the latest survey (May 2025).
Top-paying states for Forklift Operators
Other salaries in South Dakota
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 South Dakota 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 South Dakota.