Salaries › Forklift Operator › Texas
Forklift Operator Salary in Texas (2026)
$21.85 per hour · take-home ≈ $38,699/year ($3,225/month) for a single filer
Forklift Operator pay range in Texas
| Percentile | Annual wage | Meaning |
| 10th percentile (entry) | $34,300 | Lowest-paid 10% earn less than this |
| 25th percentile | $37,720 | A quarter earn less |
| Median (50th) | $45,450 | Half earn more, half earn less |
| 75th percentile | $49,590 | Top quarter starts here |
| 90th percentile (top) | $59,780 | Highest-paid 10% earn more than this |
BLS reports 88,780 Forklift Operator jobs in Texas (occupation code 53-7051, “Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators”).
Gross vs. take-home in Texas
A median Forklift Operator salary of $45,450 doesn’t all reach your bank account. After federal income tax, Social Security, and Medicare (no state income tax in Texas), a single filer keeps about $38,699 — an effective tax rate of 14.9%.
| Gross (median) | $45,450 |
| Federal income tax | −$3,274 |
| Social Security + Medicare | −$3,477 |
| Texas state income tax | −$0 |
| Take-home (annual) | $38,699 |
| Take-home (monthly) | $3,225 |
Want your exact numbers — married, 401(k), different salary? Use the free Texas paycheck calculator on PaycheckTally.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Forklift Operator make in Texas?
- The median Forklift Operator salary in Texas is $45,450 per year ($21.85 per hour) according to the latest BLS data. The middle 50% earn between $37,720 and $49,590.
- What is the take-home pay for a Forklift Operator in Texas?
- On the median salary of $45,450, a single filer in Texas takes home about $38,699 per year ($3,225 per month) after federal tax, FICA — an effective tax rate of 14.9%.
- How many Forklift Operator jobs are there in Texas?
- BLS counts 88,780 Forklift Operator jobs in Texas in the latest survey (May 2025).
Top-paying states for Forklift Operators
Other salaries in Texas
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 Texas 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 Texas.