Salaries › Forklift Operator › Tennessee
Forklift Operator Salary in Tennessee (2026)
$20.24 per hour · take-home ≈ $36,007/year ($3,001/month) for a single filer
Forklift Operator pay range in Tennessee
| Percentile | Annual wage | Meaning |
| 10th percentile (entry) | $35,520 | Lowest-paid 10% earn less than this |
| 25th percentile | $37,740 | A quarter earn less |
| Median (50th) | $42,100 | Half earn more, half earn less |
| 75th percentile | $47,660 | Top quarter starts here |
| 90th percentile (top) | $54,660 | Highest-paid 10% earn more than this |
BLS reports 20,070 Forklift Operator jobs in Tennessee (occupation code 53-7051, “Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators”).
Gross vs. take-home in Tennessee
A median Forklift Operator salary of $42,100 doesn’t all reach your bank account. After federal income tax, Social Security, and Medicare (no state income tax in Tennessee), a single filer keeps about $36,007 — an effective tax rate of 14.5%.
| Gross (median) | $42,100 |
| Federal income tax | −$2,872 |
| Social Security + Medicare | −$3,221 |
| Tennessee state income tax | −$0 |
| Take-home (annual) | $36,007 |
| Take-home (monthly) | $3,001 |
Want your exact numbers — married, 401(k), different salary? Use the free Tennessee paycheck calculator on PaycheckTally.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Forklift Operator make in Tennessee?
- The median Forklift Operator salary in Tennessee is $42,100 per year ($20.24 per hour) according to the latest BLS data. The middle 50% earn between $37,740 and $47,660.
- What is the take-home pay for a Forklift Operator in Tennessee?
- On the median salary of $42,100, a single filer in Tennessee takes home about $36,007 per year ($3,001 per month) after federal tax, FICA — an effective tax rate of 14.5%.
- How many Forklift Operator jobs are there in Tennessee?
- BLS counts 20,070 Forklift Operator jobs in Tennessee in the latest survey (May 2025).
Top-paying states for Forklift Operators
Other salaries in Tennessee
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 Tennessee 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 Tennessee.