How much does a Forklift Operator make?

Updated Sep 21, 2023

Experience

Industry

$43,132 / yrTotal Pay
$41,363 / yrBase Pay
$1,770 / yrAdditional Pay

$43,132

 / yr
$33K$56K
Most Likely Range
Possible Range

The estimated total pay for a Forklift Operator is $43,132 per year in the United States area, with an average salary of $41,363 per year. These numbers represent the median, which is the midpoint of the ranges from our proprietary Total Pay Estimate model and based on salaries collected from our users. The estimated additional pay is $1,770 per year. Additional pay could include cash bonus, commission, tips, and profit sharing. The "Most Likely Range" represents values that exist within the 25th and 75th percentile of all pay data available for this role.

How accurate does $43,132 look to you?

Your input helps Glassdoor refine our pay estimates over time.

Total Pay Trajectory

For Forklift Operator

$43,132 /yr
Forklift Operator
No Salary Reports
Forklift Operator III
$45,464 /yr
Lead Forklift Operator
See Full Career Path

Download as data table

What is the total pay trajectory for Forklift Operator?

Job TitleSalary
Forklift Operator$43,132 /yr
Forklift Operator III
Lead Forklift Operator$45,464 /yr

Related Job Titles

For Forklift Operator

Some related job titles are Forklift Operator - Food Warehouse Salaries with median pay of $40,118, Machine Operator Salaries with median pay of $38,515, Material Handler Salaries with median pay of $40,554, Warehouse Associate Salaries with median pay of $36,571.

Top Paying Companies

For a Forklift Operator in United States

Below is the total pay for the top 10 highest paying companies for a Forklift Operator in United States. Employers include Arch (MI), Dayton Freight and Averitt.

1
Arch (MI)
Arch (MI)
$55,750/yr
100 open jobs
6
NOV
$47,952/yr
See pay for all companies for a Forklift Operator in United StatesView data as table

Top Paying Companies

For Forklift Operator in United States

1Arch (MI)$55,750
2Dayton Freight$49,506
3Averitt$48,507
4ABF Freight$48,449
5Nestlé Purina U.S.$48,266
6NOV$47,952
7Penske Truck Leasing$47,663
8U-Haul$47,641
9Church & Dwight$47,627
10Sutton Transport$47,599
Total Pay Trajectory

For Forklift Operator

$43,132 /yr
Forklift Operator
No Salary Reports
Forklift Operator III
$45,464 /yr
Lead Forklift Operator
See Full Career Path

Download as data table

What is the total pay trajectory for Forklift Operator?

Job TitleSalary
Forklift Operator$43,132 /yr
Forklift Operator III
Lead Forklift Operator$45,464 /yr

What are total pay estimates for a Forklift Operator at different companies?

or
Sort:
Company
Jobs
Total Pay Range
Aerotek
3.5
Forklift OperatorSee 555 salaries from this location

$42,861

 / yr
FedEx SupplyChain
3.4
Forklift OperatorSee 356 salaries from this location

$45,252

 / yr
DHL Supply Chain
3.8
Forklift OperatorSee 346 salaries from this location

$22

 / hr
Express Employment Professionals
3.9
Forklift OperatorSee 304 salaries from this location

$19

 / hr
Walmart
3.4
Forklift OperatorSee 267 salaries from this location

$17

 / hr
Costco Wholesale
3.9
Forklift OperatorSee 155 salaries from this location

$19

 / hr
Randstad
3.9
Forklift OperatorSee 151 salaries from this location

$21

 / hr

Is this salary info helpful?

Let’s pay it forward! The Glassdoor community relies on people like you to share accurate salary info to promote fair compensation everywhere

Share Salary Anonymously
Amazon
3.7
Forklift OperatorSee 148 salaries from this location

$20

 / hr
Manpower
4.2
Forklift OperatorSee 146 salaries from this location

$20

 / hr
Prologistix
3.5
Forklift OperatorSee 143 salaries from this location

$19

 / hr
MyWorkChoice
3.7
Forklift OperatorSee 137 salaries from this location

$19

 / hr
NFI Industries
3.4
Forklift OperatorSee 127 salaries from this location

$22

 / hr
PepsiCo
4
Forklift OperatorSee 108 salaries from this location

$21

 / hr
XPO
3.6
Forklift OperatorSee 104 salaries from this location

$22

 / hr
Abacus
3.7
Forklift OperatorSee 100 salaries from this location

$21

 / hr
FedEx Freight
3.8
Forklift OperatorSee 95 salaries from this location

$22

 / hr
Menards
3.5
Forklift OperatorSee 90 salaries from this location

$19

 / hr
Chewy
3.5
Forklift OperatorSee 88 salaries from this location

$18

 / hr
The Home Depot
3.8
Forklift OperatorSee 87 salaries from this location

$18

 / hr
Resource Employment Solutions
2.8
Forklift OperatorSee 86 salaries from this location

$20

 / hr
Download as data table

Forklift Operator Salaries

Job TitleSalary
Aerotek Forklift Operator salaries - 555 salaries reported$42,861/yr
FedEx SupplyChain Forklift Operator salaries - 356 salaries reported$45,252/yr
DHL Supply Chain Forklift Operator salaries - 346 salaries reported$22/hr
Express Employment Professionals Forklift Operator salaries - 304 salaries reported$19/hr
Walmart Forklift Operator salaries - 267 salaries reported$17/hr
Costco Wholesale Forklift Operator salaries - 155 salaries reported$19/hr
Randstad Forklift Operator salaries - 151 salaries reported$21/hr
Amazon Forklift Operator salaries - 148 salaries reported$20/hr
Manpower Forklift Operator salaries - 146 salaries reported$20/hr
Prologistix Forklift Operator salaries - 143 salaries reported$19/hr
MyWorkChoice Forklift Operator salaries - 137 salaries reported$19/hr
NFI Industries Forklift Operator salaries - 127 salaries reported$22/hr
PepsiCo Forklift Operator salaries - 108 salaries reported$21/hr
XPO Forklift Operator salaries - 104 salaries reported$22/hr
Abacus Forklift Operator salaries - 100 salaries reported$21/hr
FedEx Freight Forklift Operator salaries - 95 salaries reported$22/hr
Menards Forklift Operator salaries - 90 salaries reported$19/hr
Chewy Forklift Operator salaries - 88 salaries reported$18/hr
The Home Depot Forklift Operator salaries - 87 salaries reported$18/hr
Resource Employment Solutions Forklift Operator salaries - 86 salaries reported$20/hr
Viewing 1 - 20 of 5,620

Top Paying Industries

For a Forklift Operator in United States

The top 5 paying industries for a Forklift Operator in United States are Energy, Mining & Utilities with a median total pay of $47,164, Transportation & Logistics with a median total pay of $45,883, Construction, Repair & Maintenance Services with a median total pay of $43,506, Agriculture with a median total pay of $43,476, and Pharmaceutical & Biotechnology with a median total pay of $43,379.

IndustryTotal PayTotal Pay Insight
  • Energy, Mining & UtilitiesEnergy, Mining & Utilities$47,164

    11% Higher than other industries

  • Transportation & LogisticsTransportation & Logistics$45,883

    9% Higher than other industries

  • Construction, Repair & Maintenance ServicesConstruction, Repair & Maintenance Services$43,506

    4% Higher than other industries

  • AgricultureAgriculture$43,476

    4% Higher than other industries

  • Pharmaceutical & BiotechnologyPharmaceutical & Biotechnology$43,379

    4% Higher than other industries

Energy, Mining & Utilities

Top paying companies in Energy, Mining & Utilities for Forklift Operator are NOV, Boral, and Schneider Electric.

NOVNOV$47,952/yr
BoralBoral$47,164/yr

Recent Salaries Shared

For forklift operator

Salary Share
Anonymously share your pay to help the community

Job Title

Location

Total Pay

Base Pay | Additional Pay

Total Years of Experience

Years at Recent Employer

Submitted

Date or Time

Forklift Operator

United States of America

 | 1-3 years

$20

/hr

Submitted Yesterday

1-3 years
Yesterday
Forklift Operator

United States of America

 | 15+ years

$25

/hr

Submitted Yesterday

15+ years
Yesterday
Welder/Forklift Operator/Shipping and Handling

United States of America

 | 1-3 years

$19

/hr

Submitted Yesterday

1-3 years
Yesterday
Forklift Operator

United States of America

 | 4-6 years

$18

/hr

Submitted Yesterday

4-6 years
Yesterday
Warehouse Operator

United States of America

 | 1-3 years

$18

/hr

Submitted Yesterday

1-3 years
Yesterday
Forklift Operator

United States of America

 | 10-14 years

$50,000

/yr

Submitted Yesterday

10-14 years
Yesterday
Forklift Operator

United States of America

 | 1-3 years

$19

/hr

Submitted Yesterday

1-3 years
Yesterday
Forklift Operator

United States of America

 | 1-3 years

$17

/hr

Submitted Yesterday

1-3 years
Yesterday
Material Handler/Forklift Operator

United States of America

 | 1-3 years

$23

/hr

Submitted Yesterday

1-3 years
Yesterday

Forklift Operator pay FAQ

The average salary for a Forklift Operator is $43,132 per year in United States. Salaries estimates are based on 19080 salaries submitted anonymously to Glassdoor by a Forklift Operator employees in United States.

The highest salary for a Forklift Operator in United States is $49,465 per year.

The lowest salary for a Forklift Operator in United States is $37,738 per year.

If you are thinking of becoming a Forklift Operator or planning the next step in your career, find details about the role, the career path and salary trajectory of a Forklift Operator.

Forklift operators are paid salaries slightly below that of other skilled workers including crane operators, millwrights, welders, cutters, plumbers, tool makers, and medical equipment repairers. Forklift operators working as apprentices earn less pay than operators who have completed the programs, and overall pay generally raises with seniority and experience. Most forklift operators work full time. Overtime or late-night shifts are typically available. Successful forklift drivers can be promoted into managerial positions.

Powered by Glassdoor Economic Research

Many forklift operators work in warehouses and other large facilities where overtime and profit sharing can bring in an average of $1,769.74 per year. Around 68% of forklift operators claim to be satisfied with their salary.

A forklift operator's total pay varies depending on the industry and region of the country. Top-earners in the forklift operator career path can earn a salary and bonuses up to $55,942.18 per year. The average operator earns about $41,363.49, while those at the start of their career are at the low end of the pay range, around $33,489.87.

Forklift operators have upward mobility within their job roles, as there are steps that can be taken to increase income. For starters, switching to a night shift and taking advantage of overtime opportunities may produce an immediate pay increase. Their value to the company can also be improved by learning to work with new types of forklift equipment and by proving they are able to handle difficult tasks and expensive inventory. Finally, many companies will reward workers who become OSHA Powered Industrial Trucks certified and may even pay for this training.

Forklift operators with an impeccable safety record and proven expertise in executing difficult forklift tasks should be in a good position to negotiate an increase in their forklift operator salary. Review the job descriptions of a senior forklift operator by reading job openings. If you meet or exceed the job requirements for a senior role, then prepare to state your case to management. Emphasize your extensive forklift experience, the types of forklifts you can operate, and your excellent safety record. If you are applying for a new position, your job interview is a great opportunity to negotiate a higher starting salary as a forklift operator.

About 67.52% of Forklift Operator professionals feel satisfied with their salary, according to anonymous Glassdoor ratings. An additional $1,770 in potential pay per year, among other factors, can qualify the annual pay of a Forklift Operator in United States as a good salary.

Forklift Operator professionals in United States have a wide total pay range, between $33,490 and $55,942 depending on experience, with an estimated total pay of $43,133 following the average career path of a Forklift Operator.

Salaries

 > 

forklift operator

 > 

United States