Forklift operator salary in United States

The average salary for a Forklift Operator is $19.18 per hour in the United States. This figure is based on 84k salaries taken from job postings on Indeed in the past 36 months, last updated on August 10, 2026.

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Forklift Operator salaries typically range between a low of $15.42 and a high of $23.87 per hour, depending on experience, location, and the hiring company.

Some of the highest-paying cities for Forklift Operator include Groveport, OH at $19.75 per hour, Ontario, CA at $19.74 per hour, and Indianapolis, IN at $19.34 per hour.

Based on recent job postings on Indeed, some of the top-paying companies for Forklift Operator include CORONA MILLWORKS ($375,000 per year) and Empire National ($261,814 per year).