384 metro areas
Forklift Operator Salary by City (2026)
Forklift operators earn the most in Urban Honolulu, HI, an average of $63,690 a year, against $48,370 nationally. After local prices, pay goes furthest in Flint, MI ($66,410 in national-average dollars). Every metro area with its own BLS estimate is ranked below.
- US average (mean)
- $48,370BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Highest-paying city
- $63,690Urban Honolulu, HI
- Best after cost of living
- $66,410Flint, MI
- Metro areas
- 384With their own estimate
Top cities
Highest-paying cities for forklift operators
Top 10 metro areas
- Urban Honolulu, HI$63,690
- Kahului, HI$63,190
- Flint, MI$61,780
- Cheyenne, WY$59,680
- San Francisco, CA$59,030
- Vallejo, CA$56,620
- Albuquerque, NM$56,260
- San Jose, CA$56,060
- Bridgeport, CT$55,930
- Anchorage, AK$55,450
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Urban Honolulu, HI | $63,690 |
| Kahului-Wailuku, HI | $63,190 |
| Flint, MI | $61,780 |
| Cheyenne, WY | $59,680 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $59,030 |
| Vallejo, CA | $56,620 |
| Albuquerque, NM | $56,260 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $56,060 |
| Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT | $55,930 |
| Anchorage, AK | $55,450 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
Mean wage ÷ BEA price level
- Flint, MI$61,780 nominal$66,410
- Cheyenne, WY$59,680 nominal$61,850
- Decatur, AL$53,480 nominal$61,320
- Hammond, LA$51,400 nominal$60,860
- Battle Creek, MI$54,500 nominal$60,190
- Shreveport, LA$50,940 nominal$60,090
- Duluth, MN-WI$53,020 nominal$59,730
- Florence, AL$50,190 nominal$59,170
- Decatur, IL$52,100 nominal$58,920
- Albuquerque, NM$56,260 nominal$58,880
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Flint, MI | $66,410 |
| Cheyenne, WY | $61,850 |
| Decatur, AL | $61,320 |
| Hammond, LA | $60,860 |
| Battle Creek, MI | $60,190 |
| Shreveport-Bossier City, LA | $60,090 |
| Duluth, MN-WI | $59,730 |
| Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL | $59,170 |
| Decatur, IL | $58,920 |
| Albuquerque, NM | $58,880 |
Source: BLS OEWS 2025 · BEA RPP 2024
Every city
Forklift Operator salary in every metro area
Mean annual wage, with the Department of Labor's entry (Level I) and experienced (Level IV) prevailing-wage benchmarks for the same metro, and the mean at national-average prices. Sorted by mean pay.
| # | Metro area | Mean | Entry (Level I) | Experienced (Level IV) | At US prices |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $63,690 | $41,580 | $74,590 | $57,400 |
| 2 | Kahului, HI | $63,190 | $47,240 | $71,050 | $57,760 |
| 3 | Flint, MI | $61,780 | $39,770 | $72,630 | $66,410 |
| 4 | Cheyenne, WY | $59,680 | $47,780 | $65,520 | $61,850 |
| 5 | San Francisco, CA | $59,030 | $45,910 | $65,500 | $51,060 |
| 6 | Vallejo, CA | $56,620 | $44,700 | $62,480 | $52,190 |
| 7 | Albuquerque, NM | $56,260 | $43,260 | $62,670 | $58,880 |
| 8 | San Jose, CA | $56,060 | $45,160 | $61,420 | $50,770 |
| 9 | Bridgeport, CT | $55,930 | $41,640 | $62,960 | $52,340 |
| 10 | Anchorage, AK | $55,450 | $39,080 | $63,500 | $52,600 |
| 11 | Napa, CA | $55,240 | $45,320 | $60,110 | $49,080 |
| 12 | Denver, CO | $55,220 | $45,200 | $60,150 | $52,200 |
| 13 | Seattle, WA | $55,100 | $46,490 | $59,340 | $49,580 |
| 14 | Lexington Park, MD | $54,890 | $41,520 | $61,480 | $54,480 |
| 15 | Kenosha, WI | $54,810 | $43,180 | $60,530 | $54,200 |
| 16 | Norwich, CT | $54,750 | $43,530 | $60,260 | $54,510 |
| 17 | Portland, ME | $54,580 | $43,490 | $60,050 | $53,580 |
| 18 | Portland, OR-WA | $54,520 | $44,530 | $59,450 | $51,720 |
| 19 | Battle Creek, MI | $54,500 | $37,840 | $62,710 | $60,190 |
| 20 | Bremerton, WA | $54,450 | $44,640 | $59,280 | $51,560 |
| 21 | Washington, DC-VA-MD-WV | $54,350 | $42,720 | $60,070 | $49,920 |
| 22 | Fort Collins, CO | $54,180 | $44,220 | $59,090 | $53,580 |
| 23 | Lewiston, ME | $54,000 | $42,540 | $59,650 | $57,000 |
| 24 | Minneapolis, MN-WI | $53,830 | $42,180 | $59,570 | $51,350 |
| 25 | Fairbanks, AK | $53,620 | $40,270 | $60,200 | $51,950 |
| 26 | Mount Vernon, WA | $53,580 | $42,810 | $58,880 | $52,300 |
| 27 | Decatur, AL | $53,480 | $36,440 | $61,880 | $61,320 |
| 28 | Palm Bay, FL | $53,390 | $39,230 | $60,380 | $53,390 |
| 29 | Salt Lake City, UT | $53,330 | $41,580 | $59,110 | $52,870 |
| 30 | Buffalo, NY | $53,060 | $39,400 | $59,780 | $55,360 |
| 31 | Duluth, MN-WI | $53,020 | $40,330 | $59,260 | $59,730 |
| 32 | Modesto, CA | $52,960 | $42,020 | $58,360 | $50,870 |
| 33 | Casper, WY | $52,940 | $42,520 | $58,070 | $56,420 |
| 34 | Ann Arbor, MI | $52,850 | $38,540 | $59,900 | $52,390 |
| 35 | Utica, NY | $52,730 | $45,930 | $56,100 | $56,900 |
| 36 | Bozeman, MT | $52,620 | $44,350 | $56,700 | $51,330 |
| 37 | Atlantic City, NJ | $52,460 | $39,540 | $58,800 | $53,070 |
| 38 | Jacksonville, FL | $52,460 | $41,520 | $57,870 | $52,730 |
| 39 | Longview, WA | $52,420 | $42,620 | $57,260 | $53,740 |
| 40 | Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $52,270 | $39,060 | $58,760 | $54,810 |
| 41 | Bend, OR | $52,120 | $44,570 | $55,830 | $50,310 |
| 42 | Decatur, IL | $52,100 | $40,370 | $57,910 | $58,920 |
| 43 | New York, NY-NJ | $52,060 | $39,600 | $58,200 | $46,250 |
| 44 | Harrisonburg, VA | $51,850 | $40,790 | $57,300 | $54,640 |
| 45 | Lewiston, ID-WA | $51,790 | $43,580 | $55,850 | $56,810 |
| 46 | New Haven, CT | $51,770 | $41,520 | $56,830 | $49,510 |
| 47 | Reading, PA | $51,770 | $41,560 | $56,800 | $53,340 |
| 48 | Burlington, VT | $51,750 | $42,580 | $56,260 | $51,260 |
| 49 | Miami, FL | $51,670 | $38,540 | $58,140 | $45,260 |
| 50 | Philadelphia, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $51,540 | $40,560 | $56,930 | $50,260 |
| 51 | Albany, NY | $51,500 | $38,730 | $57,800 | $51,720 |
| 52 | Owensboro, KY | $51,480 | $38,980 | $57,640 | $58,100 |
| 53 | Allentown, PA-NJ | $51,400 | $41,350 | $56,350 | $51,420 |
| 54 | Baton Rouge, LA | $51,400 | $38,710 | $57,660 | $56,620 |
| 55 | Hammond, LA | $51,400 | $38,330 | $57,820 | $60,860 |
| 56 | Coeur d'Alene, ID | $51,360 | $37,920 | $57,990 | $52,250 |
| 57 | Oshkosh, WI | $51,270 | $42,270 | $55,720 | $55,170 |
| 58 | Boulder, CO | $51,190 | $42,180 | $55,620 | $48,660 |
| 59 | Cleveland, OH | $51,130 | $39,790 | $56,700 | $54,440 |
| 60 | Columbus, OH | $51,060 | $41,100 | $55,970 | $53,480 |
| 61 | Grants Pass, OR | $51,000 | $44,890 | $54,020 | $52,170 |
| 62 | Lancaster, PA | $50,980 | $40,750 | $55,990 | $51,880 |
| 63 | Shreveport, LA | $50,940 | $38,190 | $57,200 | $60,090 |
| 64 | Greeley, CO | $50,880 | $41,750 | $55,370 | $50,790 |
| 65 | Olympia, WA | $50,860 | $44,300 | $54,080 | $49,060 |
| 66 | Boston, MA-NH | $50,840 | $43,200 | $54,580 | $46,960 |
| 67 | Davenport, IA-IL | $50,840 | $40,460 | $55,930 | $57,070 |
| 68 | Medford, OR | $50,810 | $44,160 | $54,100 | $50,090 |
| 69 | Twin Falls, ID | $50,790 | $40,810 | $55,720 | $55,140 |
| 70 | St. Louis, MO-IL | $50,750 | $39,580 | $56,260 | $53,370 |
| 71 | Lexington, KY | $50,690 | $37,190 | $57,320 | $54,570 |
| 72 | Phoenix, AZ | $50,670 | $41,500 | $55,180 | $49,040 |
| 73 | Dubuque, IA | $50,500 | $42,910 | $54,250 | $57,830 |
| 74 | Eugene, OR | $50,480 | $42,470 | $54,410 | $49,700 |
| 75 | Reno, NV | $50,480 | $41,540 | $54,890 | $49,970 |
| 76 | Stockton, CA | $50,480 | $41,890 | $54,700 | $48,040 |
| 77 | Detroit, MI | $50,460 | $38,380 | $56,430 | $50,310 |
| 78 | Eau Claire, WI | $50,460 | $41,160 | $55,040 | $54,380 |
| 79 | Charleston, SC | $50,380 | $39,170 | $55,910 | $49,900 |
| 80 | Sacramento, CA | $50,360 | $41,180 | $54,890 | $47,210 |
| 81 | Albany, OR | $50,340 | $41,230 | $54,830 | $49,300 |
| 82 | Cedar Rapids, IA | $50,290 | $40,770 | $54,970 | $56,530 |
| 83 | Glens Falls, NY | $50,270 | $40,250 | $55,220 | $52,990 |
| 84 | Wichita, KS | $50,270 | $38,920 | $55,850 | $56,520 |
| 85 | Madison, WI | $50,230 | $42,100 | $54,250 | $51,630 |
| 86 | St. Cloud, MN | $50,210 | $42,970 | $53,790 | $57,300 |
| 87 | Florence, AL | $50,190 | $35,480 | $57,430 | $59,170 |
| 88 | Santa Rosa, CA | $50,190 | $42,790 | $53,830 | $46,570 |
| 89 | Spokane, WA | $50,190 | $44,160 | $53,140 | $50,020 |
| 90 | Port St. Lucie, FL | $50,170 | $42,930 | $53,750 | $50,060 |
| 91 | Syracuse, NY | $50,150 | $40,020 | $55,160 | $52,380 |
| 92 | Milwaukee, WI | $50,110 | $40,160 | $55,000 | $51,690 |
| 93 | Toledo, OH | $50,090 | $40,040 | $55,040 | $54,770 |
| 94 | St. George, UT | $50,000 | $41,000 | $54,430 | $51,380 |
| 95 | Chicago, IL-IN | $49,980 | $40,020 | $54,890 | $48,250 |
| 96 | Canton, OH | $49,940 | $39,370 | $55,120 | $55,860 |
| 97 | Salisbury, MD | $49,920 | $37,750 | $55,910 | $52,210 |
| 98 | Bellingham, WA | $49,840 | $41,600 | $53,890 | $48,230 |
| 99 | Riverside, CA | $49,840 | $41,450 | $53,960 | $46,820 |
| 100 | Bismarck, ND | $49,800 | $39,960 | $54,660 | $54,710 |
| 101 | Rochester, MN | $49,750 | $41,600 | $53,770 | $54,780 |
| 102 | Manchester, NH | $49,730 | $41,810 | $53,620 | $47,070 |
| 103 | Tampa, FL | $49,730 | $38,850 | $55,100 | $49,290 |
| 104 | Carson City, NV | $49,670 | $42,160 | $53,350 | $50,620 |
| 105 | Dayton, OH | $49,670 | $40,040 | $54,410 | $53,580 |
| 106 | Deltona, FL | $49,670 | $40,750 | $54,060 | $49,990 |
| 107 | Missoula, MT | $49,610 | $39,210 | $54,750 | $51,440 |
| 108 | Sandusky, OH | $49,590 | $38,770 | $54,910 | $55,540 |
| 109 | Scranton, PA | $49,590 | $40,270 | $54,180 | $53,010 |
| 110 | Des Moines, IA | $49,520 | $41,790 | $53,330 | $54,000 |
| 111 | Los Angeles, CA | $49,520 | $39,500 | $54,450 | $43,600 |
| 112 | Akron, OH | $49,480 | $39,560 | $54,350 | $52,990 |
| 113 | Salem, OR | $49,480 | $41,930 | $53,210 | $47,740 |
| 114 | Billings, MT | $49,420 | $38,810 | $54,640 | $52,840 |
| 115 | Hartford, CT | $49,400 | $41,200 | $53,440 | $48,080 |
| 116 | Provo, UT | $49,360 | $40,410 | $53,750 | $50,250 |
| 117 | Topeka, KS | $49,320 | $44,080 | $51,900 | $55,530 |
| 118 | Ames, IA | $49,300 | $41,390 | $53,190 | $55,500 |
| 119 | Corvallis, OR | $49,300 | $40,390 | $53,680 | $47,400 |
| 120 | Kansas City, MO-KS | $49,280 | $40,060 | $53,810 | $53,250 |
| 121 | Santa Fe, NM | $49,280 | $37,980 | $54,850 | $49,900 |
| 122 | Cape Coral, FL | $49,150 | $36,770 | $55,240 | $48,020 |
| 123 | Lakeland, FL | $49,130 | $39,350 | $53,930 | $50,580 |
| 124 | Kingston, NY | $49,070 | $39,870 | $53,600 | $48,720 |
| 125 | Kiryas Joel, NY | $49,070 | $39,750 | $53,640 | $44,840 |
| 126 | New Orleans, LA | $49,030 | $37,860 | $54,540 | $52,950 |
| 127 | Grand Forks, ND-MN | $48,960 | $41,430 | $52,670 | $56,490 |
| 128 | Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $48,920 | $38,420 | $54,080 | $52,560 |
| 129 | Boise City, ID | $48,880 | $39,850 | $53,310 | $49,680 |
| 130 | York, PA | $48,820 | $39,710 | $53,310 | $50,850 |
| 131 | San Diego, CA | $48,710 | $39,600 | $53,210 | $43,530 |
| 132 | Williamsport, PA | $48,710 | $38,150 | $53,910 | $52,740 |
| 133 | Michigan City, IN | $48,690 | $38,960 | $53,480 | $53,110 |
| 134 | Sioux Falls, SD-MN | $48,630 | $41,180 | $52,290 | $53,660 |
| 135 | Orlando, FL | $48,610 | $37,840 | $53,910 | $47,930 |
| 136 | Richmond, VA | $48,530 | $40,440 | $52,520 | $49,590 |
| 137 | Beaumont, TX | $48,480 | $36,360 | $54,450 | $53,840 |
| 138 | Rochester, NY | $48,480 | $38,730 | $53,290 | $49,960 |
| 139 | Hanford, CA | $48,440 | $37,670 | $53,750 | $47,670 |
| 140 | Tallahassee, FL | $48,440 | $38,080 | $53,560 | $51,580 |
| 141 | Harrisburg, PA | $48,420 | $39,000 | $53,040 | $49,080 |
| 142 | Lansing, MI | $48,420 | $38,270 | $53,410 | $50,970 |
| 143 | Colorado Springs, CO | $48,400 | $39,230 | $52,920 | $48,060 |
| 144 | Helena, MT | $48,380 | $39,420 | $52,790 | $50,570 |
| 145 | Charlottesville, VA | $48,360 | $37,250 | $53,830 | $48,780 |
| 146 | Gainesville, FL | $48,360 | $40,750 | $52,100 | $49,990 |
| 147 | Birmingham, AL | $48,260 | $36,860 | $53,870 | $52,660 |
| 148 | Ogden, UT | $48,240 | $40,310 | $52,120 | $48,070 |
| 149 | Midland, TX | $48,150 | $38,270 | $53,020 | $50,270 |
| 150 | Rapid City, SD | $48,130 | $36,480 | $53,870 | $53,980 |
| 151 | Corpus Christi, TX | $48,110 | $35,460 | $54,350 | $51,910 |
| 152 | Virginia Beach, VA-NC | $48,090 | $39,250 | $52,440 | $49,100 |
| 153 | Redding, CA | $48,070 | $38,400 | $52,830 | $47,740 |
| 154 | Burlington, NC | $48,050 | $37,610 | $53,190 | $51,560 |
| 155 | Hinesville, GA | $48,050 | $42,830 | $50,610 | $51,150 |
| 156 | Prescott Valley, AZ | $48,050 | $37,270 | $53,370 | $48,900 |
| 157 | Las Vegas, NV | $48,010 | $37,210 | $53,330 | $47,910 |
| 158 | Yakima, WA | $47,960 | $38,020 | $52,870 | $50,200 |
| 159 | Oklahoma City, OK | $47,940 | $36,920 | $53,370 | $53,030 |
| 160 | Bakersfield, CA | $47,840 | $37,940 | $52,710 | $47,420 |
| 161 | Pittsfield, MA | $47,840 | $37,480 | $52,940 | $50,300 |
| 162 | Pueblo, CO | $47,840 | $38,880 | $52,250 | $52,130 |
| 163 | Logan, UT-ID | $47,820 | $40,210 | $51,560 | $49,850 |
| 164 | Kennewick, WA | $47,780 | $40,850 | $51,170 | $47,740 |
| 165 | Mobile, AL | $47,780 | $38,920 | $52,150 | $54,240 |
| 166 | Peoria, IL | $47,780 | $38,650 | $52,270 | $52,370 |
| 167 | Visalia, CA | $47,740 | $37,440 | $52,790 | $47,820 |
| 168 | Winchester, VA-WV | $47,740 | $40,600 | $51,250 | $49,500 |
| 169 | Huntsville, AL | $47,690 | $37,900 | $52,520 | $51,240 |
| 170 | Dallas, TX | $47,670 | $37,420 | $52,710 | $46,240 |
| 171 | Grand Island, NE | $47,670 | $38,580 | $52,170 | $55,010 |
| 172 | Indianapolis, IN | $47,630 | $39,310 | $51,710 | $49,770 |
| 173 | Niles, MI | $47,630 | $36,230 | $53,250 | $51,560 |
| 174 | Pittsburgh, PA | $47,630 | $37,270 | $52,730 | $50,310 |
| 175 | Tucson, AZ | $47,570 | $40,640 | $50,980 | $49,090 |
| 176 | Little Rock, AR | $47,530 | $37,920 | $52,270 | $53,190 |
| 177 | Cape Girardeau, MO-IL | $47,510 | $34,880 | $53,730 | $55,190 |
| 178 | Naples, FL | $47,490 | $36,210 | $53,020 | $46,020 |
| 179 | Fargo, ND-MN | $47,470 | $40,230 | $51,040 | $52,240 |
| 180 | Baltimore, MD | $47,440 | $40,890 | $50,690 | $45,400 |
| 181 | Janesville, WI | $47,420 | $40,890 | $50,650 | $50,610 |
| 182 | Lincoln, NE | $47,360 | $38,880 | $51,540 | $51,710 |
| 183 | Springfield, MA | $47,340 | $42,450 | $49,750 | $49,280 |
| 184 | Green Bay, WI | $47,320 | $38,830 | $51,500 | $50,830 |
| 185 | Fond du Lac, WI | $47,280 | $38,690 | $51,520 | $51,590 |
| 186 | Racine, WI | $47,260 | $38,600 | $51,520 | $49,250 |
| 187 | Chico, CA | $47,240 | $38,440 | $51,580 | $46,680 |
| 188 | Fayetteville, NC | $47,220 | $37,610 | $51,940 | $51,340 |
| 189 | Traverse City, MI | $47,220 | $37,540 | $51,980 | $50,570 |
| 190 | Atlanta, GA | $47,150 | $37,900 | $51,730 | $47,120 |
| 191 | Gettysburg, PA | $47,150 | $40,140 | $50,590 | $49,430 |
| 192 | Santa Cruz, CA | $47,130 | $39,500 | $50,900 | $42,890 |
| 193 | Iowa City, IA | $47,110 | $39,750 | $50,750 | $51,480 |
| 194 | Waterbury, CT | $47,090 | $38,830 | $51,170 | $47,190 |
| 195 | Evansville, IN | $47,070 | $38,290 | $51,400 | $51,430 |
| 196 | Appleton, WI | $47,030 | $39,400 | $50,770 | $50,890 |
| 197 | Providence, RI-MA | $47,030 | $40,980 | $50,000 | $46,210 |
| 198 | Clarksville, TN-KY | $46,970 | $37,190 | $51,790 | $51,650 |
| 199 | Pocatello, ID | $46,920 | $39,060 | $50,790 | $52,770 |
| 200 | San Luis Obispo, CA | $46,840 | $39,540 | $50,420 | $43,130 |
| 201 | South Bend, IN-MI | $46,840 | $37,980 | $51,210 | $50,440 |
| 202 | Springfield, IL | $46,800 | $36,110 | $52,040 | $50,460 |
| 203 | Flagstaff, AZ | $46,780 | $38,600 | $50,790 | $46,630 |
| 204 | Austin, TX | $46,740 | $36,170 | $51,960 | $47,660 |
| 205 | Odessa, TX | $46,720 | $37,960 | $51,020 | $49,760 |
| 206 | Joplin, MO-KS | $46,680 | $37,940 | $50,980 | $54,460 |
| 207 | Springfield, MO | $46,650 | $37,650 | $51,080 | $52,660 |
| 208 | Dover, DE | $46,630 | $37,000 | $51,380 | $47,820 |
| 209 | Fresno, CA | $46,590 | $37,020 | $51,310 | $45,610 |
| 210 | Merced, CA | $46,590 | $36,770 | $51,420 | $47,410 |
| 211 | Killeen, TX | $46,550 | $38,650 | $50,460 | $51,080 |
| 212 | Chambersburg, PA | $46,530 | $40,750 | $49,360 | $49,160 |
| 213 | Walla Walla, WA | $46,510 | $41,100 | $49,170 | $47,210 |
| 214 | Rockford, IL | $46,450 | $39,710 | $49,750 | $50,400 |
| 215 | Yuba City, CA | $46,450 | $40,140 | $49,550 | $44,560 |
| 216 | Staunton, VA | $46,380 | $38,130 | $50,460 | $50,900 |
| 217 | Bangor, ME | $46,320 | $38,920 | $49,960 | $48,000 |
| 218 | Omaha, NE-IA | $46,300 | $38,210 | $50,290 | $50,370 |
| 219 | Elizabethtown, KY | $46,280 | $36,360 | $51,150 | $51,100 |
| 220 | La Crosse, WI-MN | $46,280 | $41,950 | $48,400 | $50,430 |
| 221 | Oxnard, CA | $46,220 | $38,380 | $50,070 | $41,820 |
| 222 | Auburn, AL | $46,200 | $33,200 | $52,580 | $52,540 |
| 223 | Raleigh, NC | $46,200 | $37,290 | $50,590 | $47,070 |
| 224 | Binghamton, NY | $46,180 | $38,500 | $49,960 | $49,730 |
| 225 | Sheboygan, WI | $46,050 | $38,500 | $49,770 | $48,980 |
| 226 | Waterloo, IA | $45,910 | $39,100 | $49,250 | $52,740 |
| 227 | Sioux City, IA-NE-SD | $45,820 | $40,100 | $48,630 | $53,000 |
| 228 | Nashville, TN | $45,740 | $37,090 | $50,000 | $47,480 |
| 229 | Houston, TX | $45,700 | $35,240 | $50,860 | $46,340 |
| 230 | Fort Wayne, IN | $45,640 | $37,480 | $49,650 | $49,300 |
| 231 | Lawrence, KS | $45,640 | $38,770 | $49,030 | $50,570 |
| 232 | Worcester, MA | $45,640 | $38,880 | $48,960 | $44,520 |
| 233 | Amherst Town, MA | $45,570 | $38,440 | $49,090 | $45,460 |
| 234 | Asheville, NC | $45,550 | $37,190 | $49,670 | $47,200 |
| 235 | Grand Junction, CO | $45,550 | $37,670 | $49,420 | $47,710 |
| 236 | Kalamazoo, MI | $45,490 | $36,770 | $49,770 | $47,960 |
| 237 | Houma, LA | $45,450 | $38,000 | $49,110 | $53,410 |
| 238 | Santa Maria, CA | $45,450 | $38,310 | $48,940 | $41,770 |
| 239 | Trenton, NJ | $45,390 | $36,070 | $49,980 | $43,990 |
| 240 | Lafayette, LA | $45,360 | $34,740 | $50,610 | $52,010 |
| 241 | Jonesboro, AR | $45,300 | $35,260 | $50,250 | $52,750 |
| 242 | Elkhart, IN | $45,220 | $36,030 | $49,750 | $50,060 |
| 243 | Roanoke, VA | $45,200 | $35,760 | $49,840 | $48,280 |
| 244 | Lebanon, PA | $45,160 | $39,560 | $47,920 | $48,450 |
| 245 | Columbia, SC | $45,120 | $36,520 | $49,340 | $48,170 |
| 246 | Durham, NC | $45,120 | $37,210 | $49,030 | $46,240 |
| 247 | Tulsa, OK | $45,050 | $36,380 | $49,320 | $50,500 |
| 248 | North Port, FL | $45,030 | $37,190 | $48,900 | $43,970 |
| 249 | Jefferson City, MO | $44,970 | $37,460 | $48,670 | $51,120 |
| 250 | San Antonio, TX | $44,930 | $36,030 | $49,320 | $47,440 |
| 251 | Memphis, TN-MS-AR | $44,820 | $37,150 | $48,590 | $48,620 |
| 252 | Wausau, WI | $44,820 | $36,770 | $48,800 | $48,380 |
| 253 | Champaign, IL | $44,800 | $36,520 | $48,900 | $48,330 |
| 254 | Hilton Head Island, SC | $44,740 | $36,730 | $48,690 | $45,650 |
| 255 | Kankakee, IL | $44,600 | $37,520 | $48,090 | $46,270 |
| 256 | Paducah, KY-IL | $44,570 | $33,050 | $50,230 | $51,780 |
| 257 | Lake Charles, LA | $44,510 | $36,730 | $48,340 | $51,850 |
| 258 | Myrtle Beach, SC | $44,450 | $35,400 | $48,900 | $47,470 |
| 259 | Bloomington, IN | $44,430 | $36,570 | $48,320 | $46,730 |
| 260 | San Juan, PR | $44,430 | $24,900 | $54,040 | N/A |
| 261 | Brunswick, GA | $44,410 | $35,940 | $48,570 | $50,630 |
| 262 | Columbus, IN | $44,410 | $36,820 | $48,150 | $47,750 |
| 263 | Watertown, NY | $44,410 | $34,860 | $49,090 | $50,640 |
| 264 | Slidell, LA | $44,390 | $35,340 | $48,840 | $47,870 |
| 265 | Monroe, MI | $44,300 | $35,760 | $48,510 | $47,380 |
| 266 | Valdosta, GA | $44,280 | $37,650 | $47,570 | $50,160 |
| 267 | Lynchburg, VA | $44,260 | $35,240 | $48,710 | $49,530 |
| 268 | Grand Rapids, MI | $44,200 | $37,790 | $47,360 | $46,260 |
| 269 | State College, PA | $44,200 | $38,330 | $47,090 | $45,680 |
| 270 | Charlotte, NC-SC | $44,180 | $37,150 | $47,650 | $45,380 |
| 271 | Farmington, NM | $44,180 | $36,320 | $48,050 | $50,370 |
| 272 | Terre Haute, IN | $44,100 | $35,240 | $48,440 | $50,230 |
| 273 | Jackson, MI | $44,080 | $36,900 | $47,610 | $48,030 |
| 274 | Victoria, TX | $44,010 | $35,010 | $48,420 | $48,990 |
| 275 | Hagerstown, MD-WV | $43,990 | $35,610 | $48,110 | $46,710 |
| 276 | Wilmington, NC | $43,970 | $35,690 | $48,050 | $45,600 |
| 277 | Fayetteville, AR | $43,950 | $36,400 | $47,670 | $48,110 |
| 278 | Lake Havasu City, AZ | $43,930 | $35,010 | $48,340 | $46,690 |
| 279 | Saginaw, MI | $43,930 | $35,610 | $48,030 | $48,330 |
| 280 | Salinas, CA | $43,930 | $38,400 | $46,650 | $40,290 |
| 281 | Savannah, GA | $43,930 | $36,710 | $47,490 | $46,140 |
| 282 | Spartanburg, SC | $43,930 | $36,730 | $47,470 | $48,250 |
| 283 | Knoxville, TN | $43,910 | $35,760 | $47,900 | $47,430 |
| 284 | Mansfield, OH | $43,910 | $35,860 | $47,860 | $49,410 |
| 285 | Muskegon, MI | $43,910 | $36,230 | $47,690 | $47,460 |
| 286 | Bay City, MI | $43,870 | $34,940 | $48,260 | $47,730 |
| 287 | Crestview, FL | $43,870 | $35,150 | $48,170 | $45,210 |
| 288 | Florence, SC | $43,800 | $37,190 | $47,050 | $50,480 |
| 289 | Amarillo, TX | $43,760 | $34,860 | $48,150 | $47,660 |
| 290 | Huntington, WV-KY-OH | $43,720 | $33,680 | $48,670 | $49,440 |
| 291 | Lafayette, IN | $43,620 | $35,590 | $47,590 | $46,690 |
| 292 | Youngstown, OH | $43,620 | $35,300 | $47,720 | $49,910 |
| 293 | Kokomo, IN | $43,580 | $35,650 | $47,490 | $48,610 |
| 294 | Ocala, FL | $43,580 | $37,730 | $46,470 | $45,760 |
| 295 | Wenatchee, WA | $43,580 | $38,130 | $46,240 | $41,960 |
| 296 | Elmira, NY | $43,530 | $36,250 | $47,130 | $46,110 |
| 297 | El Centro, CA | $43,490 | $36,550 | $46,900 | $45,700 |
| 298 | Winston, NC | $43,470 | $36,190 | $47,050 | $47,230 |
| 299 | Greensboro, NC | $43,430 | $35,710 | $47,240 | $46,770 |
| 300 | Panama City, FL | $43,430 | $34,260 | $47,940 | $44,640 |
| 301 | Punta Gorda, FL | $43,310 | $35,380 | $47,200 | $43,080 |
| 302 | Sherman, TX | $43,220 | $35,240 | $47,150 | $46,090 |
| 303 | Idaho Falls, ID | $43,180 | $34,490 | $47,470 | $45,740 |
| 304 | Hickory, NC | $43,060 | $35,980 | $46,550 | $48,660 |
| 305 | Muncie, IN | $43,040 | $34,920 | $47,030 | $48,830 |
| 306 | Charleston, WV | $43,010 | $34,150 | $47,380 | $48,480 |
| 307 | Sebastian, FL | $43,010 | $34,280 | $47,300 | $43,750 |
| 308 | Vineland, NJ | $42,990 | $36,210 | $46,340 | $44,800 |
| 309 | Lima, OH | $42,950 | $35,010 | $46,840 | $47,900 |
| 310 | Wichita Falls, TX | $42,850 | $34,170 | $47,130 | $47,870 |
| 311 | Gainesville, GA | $42,810 | $35,340 | $46,490 | $44,240 |
| 312 | Anniston, AL | $42,760 | $33,630 | $47,280 | $49,750 |
| 313 | Bowling Green, KY | $42,760 | $33,590 | $47,280 | $47,420 |
| 314 | Great Falls, MT | $42,740 | $35,090 | $46,530 | $44,130 |
| 315 | Longview, TX | $42,740 | $33,760 | $47,170 | $47,760 |
| 316 | Greenville, SC | $42,720 | $35,920 | $46,070 | $45,810 |
| 317 | St. Joseph, MO-KS | $42,720 | $36,690 | $45,680 | $49,450 |
| 318 | Parkersburg, WV | $42,680 | $33,200 | $47,340 | $49,020 |
| 319 | Bloomington, IL | $42,520 | $34,670 | $46,380 | $45,460 |
| 320 | Columbia, MO | $42,490 | $35,590 | $45,880 | $47,510 |
| 321 | Erie, PA | $42,490 | $33,800 | $46,780 | $46,720 |
| 322 | Montgomery, AL | $42,490 | $32,300 | $47,530 | $47,380 |
| 323 | Pensacola, FL | $42,430 | $34,740 | $46,220 | $43,420 |
| 324 | Tyler, TX | $42,370 | $33,800 | $46,570 | $45,980 |
| 325 | Athens, GA | $42,290 | $35,670 | $45,550 | $45,310 |
| 326 | Johnson City, TN | $42,240 | $35,090 | $45,780 | $48,040 |
| 327 | Altoona, PA | $42,220 | $35,420 | $45,570 | $47,170 |
| 328 | Johnstown, PA | $42,200 | $34,030 | $46,240 | $49,110 |
| 329 | Augusta, GA-SC | $42,100 | $34,610 | $45,800 | $45,810 |
| 330 | Homosassa Springs, FL | $42,100 | $35,260 | $45,470 | $45,040 |
| 331 | Kingsport, TN-VA | $42,080 | $35,130 | $45,510 | $48,680 |
| 332 | Waco, TX | $42,080 | $35,030 | $45,570 | $45,470 |
| 333 | Jackson, MS | $42,000 | $34,720 | $45,570 | $47,170 |
| 334 | Wheeling, WV-OH | $42,000 | $37,270 | $44,300 | $47,550 |
| 335 | San Angelo, TX | $41,950 | $33,530 | $46,090 | $45,370 |
| 336 | Springfield, OH | $41,910 | $35,840 | $44,930 | $46,320 |
| 337 | Warner Robins, GA | $41,850 | $33,630 | $45,880 | $44,620 |
| 338 | Tuscaloosa, AL | $41,700 | $34,860 | $45,090 | $47,540 |
| 339 | Greenville, NC | $41,680 | $34,320 | $45,300 | $47,150 |
| 340 | Wildwood, FL | $41,540 | $35,170 | $44,680 | $48,630 |
| 341 | Daphne, AL | $41,520 | $34,470 | $44,990 | $43,850 |
| 342 | Chattanooga, TN-GA | $41,500 | $36,840 | $43,780 | $45,370 |
| 343 | Alexandria, LA | $41,480 | $32,800 | $45,760 | $48,410 |
| 344 | College Station, TX | $41,450 | $33,180 | $45,510 | $45,570 |
| 345 | Goldsboro, NC | $41,410 | $36,900 | $43,620 | $46,810 |
| 346 | Morristown, TN | $41,230 | $34,800 | $44,390 | $47,740 |
| 347 | Monroe, LA | $41,100 | $32,780 | $45,200 | $49,160 |
| 348 | Blacksburg, VA | $40,870 | $34,490 | $43,990 | $44,080 |
| 349 | Abilene, TX | $40,810 | $32,160 | $45,050 | $45,160 |
| 350 | Jackson, TN | $40,710 | $34,650 | $43,680 | $47,600 |
| 351 | Sumter, SC | $40,680 | $35,340 | $43,330 | $46,220 |
| 352 | Cleveland, TN | $40,560 | $33,450 | $44,050 | $46,050 |
| 353 | Lubbock, TX | $40,500 | $33,090 | $44,140 | $44,350 |
| 354 | Macon, GA | $40,460 | $35,260 | $43,010 | $45,700 |
| 355 | Texarkana, TX-AR | $40,410 | $30,760 | $45,180 | $48,100 |
| 356 | Lawton, OK | $40,370 | $35,460 | $42,810 | $46,970 |
| 357 | Fort Smith, AR-OK | $40,350 | $34,300 | $43,350 | $46,980 |
| 358 | Manhattan, KS | $40,350 | $36,770 | $42,120 | $44,750 |
| 359 | Hattiesburg, MS | $40,230 | $32,510 | $44,010 | $45,910 |
| 360 | Jacksonville, NC | $40,040 | $33,630 | $43,180 | $43,480 |
| 361 | Beckley, WV | $40,000 | $31,180 | $44,350 | $45,260 |
| 362 | Las Cruces, NM | $39,940 | $32,610 | $43,530 | $44,270 |
| 363 | Hot Springs, AR | $39,580 | $31,930 | $43,350 | $46,170 |
| 364 | Gulfport, MS | $39,540 | $32,220 | $43,160 | $43,930 |
| 365 | Rocky Mount, NC | $39,080 | $33,490 | $41,850 | $44,400 |
| 366 | El Paso, TX | $38,830 | $30,620 | $42,870 | $43,190 |
| 367 | Columbus, GA-AL | $38,810 | $33,280 | $41,540 | $43,460 |
| 368 | Enid, OK | $38,770 | $32,470 | $41,870 | $46,010 |
| 369 | Albany, GA | $38,650 | $31,840 | $42,000 | $44,090 |
| 370 | Dalton, GA | $38,580 | $34,860 | $40,440 | $42,940 |
| 371 | Pinehurst, NC | $38,360 | $33,700 | $40,640 | $43,430 |
| 372 | Yuma, AZ | $38,330 | $34,030 | $40,460 | $41,350 |
| 373 | Dothan, AL | $37,710 | $31,300 | $40,870 | $44,980 |
| 374 | Sebring, FL | $36,880 | $29,390 | $40,560 | $39,880 |
| 375 | Gadsden, AL | $36,610 | $32,550 | $38,600 | $42,740 |
| 376 | Rome, GA | $36,610 | $32,470 | $38,630 | $40,610 |
| 377 | Ponce, PR | $35,760 | $26,290 | $40,410 | N/A |
| 378 | Brownsville, TX | $35,150 | $27,620 | $38,880 | $40,880 |
| 379 | McAllen, TX | $34,510 | $25,810 | $38,790 | $40,180 |
| 380 | Laredo, TX | $32,950 | $27,440 | $35,650 | $37,890 |
| 381 | Arecibo, PR | $32,160 | $23,280 | $36,520 | N/A |
| 382 | Eagle Pass, TX | $31,760 | $26,920 | $34,150 | $37,900 |
| 383 | Mayaguez, PR | $30,040 | $21,860 | $34,070 | N/A |
| 384 | Aguadilla, PR | $26,980 | $21,960 | $29,450 | N/A |
More
More on forklift operators
Method
About these numbers
- Mean wages are BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) May 2025 estimates for each metropolitan statistical area, as published in the Department of Labor’s 2026–27 OFLC prevailing-wage file. Only metros with their own BLS estimate are listed.
- Entry (Level I) and experienced (Level IV) are the Department of Labor’s prevailing-wage levels for the occupation in that metro, used for employer visa filings. They are benchmarks from the same OEWS survey, not percentiles.
- OEWS top-codes wages at $115 an hour ($239,200 a year); top-coded means are shown as "$239,200+" and left out of rankings.
- At US prices divides the mean by the metro’s BEA Regional Price Parity (2024) over 100, a NueCareer calculation.
Questions
Forklift Operator salary by city: FAQ
Which city pays forklift operators the most?
Urban Honolulu, HI, where the average (mean) wage is $63,690 a year, followed by Kahului, HI ($63,190), Flint, MI ($61,780), Cheyenne, WY ($59,680). The national mean is $48,370 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
Where do forklift operators earn the most after cost of living?
Divided by each metro's BEA price level, pay goes furthest in Flint, MI ($66,410 at national prices, $61,780 nominal), Cheyenne, WY ($61,850 at national prices, $59,680 nominal), Decatur, AL ($61,320 at national prices, $53,480 nominal).
How much do forklift operators make in the biggest cities?
New York, NY-NJ: $52,060; Los Angeles, CA: $49,520; Chicago, IL-IN: $49,980; Dallas, TX: $47,670; Houston, TX: $45,700 (mean annual wage, BLS OEWS May 2025).
Where do forklift operators earn the least?
Of the 384 metro areas with their own estimate, Aguadilla, PR has the lowest mean wage, $26,980.