Salary guide, May 2025
Certified Forklift Operator pay, United States
Manufacturing Headhunters uses the published BLS OEWS figures below. They describe the mapped occupation and area, not an individual offer.
This is what we do all day: recruit manufacturing professionals.
The median annual wage for Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators in the United States was $46,420 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025). The middle half of workers earned between $40,030 and $54,770.
Also searched as: Forklift Operator, Reach Truck Operator, Order Picker Operator, Clamp Truck Operator. These titles share this page because BLS reports them under one occupation.
Direct match · SOC 53-7051 Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators
The Certified Forklift Operator title maps to the published occupation. The duties align, but BLS combines employers and industries.
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $36,840 | $40,030 | $46,420 | $54,770 | $62,520 |
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $17.71 | $19.24 | $22.32 | $26.33 | $30.06 |
BLS estimated 774,420 workers employed in this occupation in the United States.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. SOC 53-7051 Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators, U.S.. Official occupation data · Official area tables. Released 2026-05-15.
How does pay compare in the target metros?
| Metro | Median | 25th to 75th | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | $47,810 | $40,190 to $60,150 | 9,290 | 0.66 |
| Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | $49,850 | $41,130 to $58,740 | 5,330 | 0.74 |
| Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | $47,230 | $39,150 to $53,870 | 5,780 | 0.82 |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | $45,140 | $38,650 to $49,470 | 2,650 | 0.72 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $46,930 | $42,730 to $60,160 | 24,720 | 0.52 |
| Northern New Jersey within New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $46,930 | $42,730 to $60,160 | 24,720 | 0.52 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $47,230 | $39,280 to $52,360 | 34,650 | 1.72 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $47,950 | $43,100 to $57,660 | 22,320 | 0.99 |
Rank every metro for Certified Forklift Operator
What should you know about pay by manufacturing industry, United States?
Same BLS occupation, national estimates for each manufacturing industry (NAICS) BLS publishes, May 2025. Industry names are BLS labels.
- Motor Vehicle Manufacturing$76,510
- Ship and Boat Building$64,490
- Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing$61,600
- Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing$59,170
- Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing$59,170
- Railroad Rolling Stock Manufacturing$56,320
- Pulp, Paper, and Paperboard Mills$55,140
- Dairy Product Manufacturing$50,740
- Steel Product Manufacturing from Purchased Steel$50,440
- Iron and Steel Mills and Ferroalloy Manufacturing$50,050
- Nonferrous Metal (except Aluminum) Production and Processing$49,450
- Animal Food Manufacturing$49,030
- Leather and Hide Tanning and Finishing$48,970
- Grain and Oilseed Milling$48,900
- Electric Lighting Equipment Manufacturing$48,800
Bars show up to 15 industries with exact annual medians. The table lists every published industry.
| NAICS | Industry | Employment | 25th | Median | 75th |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 31-33 | Manufacturing | 174,010 | $39,510 | $45,860 | $50,960 |
| 311000 | Food Manufacturing | 45,090 | $39,170 | $45,450 | $50,240 |
| 321000 | Wood Product Manufacturing | 20,750 | $37,410 | $43,670 | $48,170 |
| 336000 | Transportation Equipment Manufacturing | 16,980 | $41,000 | $46,170 | $59,000 |
| 322000 | Paper Manufacturing | 14,210 | $44,990 | $48,200 | $54,840 |
| 311600 | Animal Slaughtering and Processing | 14,030 | $37,140 | $42,030 | $45,670 |
| 322200 | Converted Paper Product Manufacturing | 12,120 | $44,240 | $47,720 | $52,250 |
| 332000 | Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing | 11,350 | $39,920 | $46,030 | $51,250 |
| 326000 | Plastics and Rubber Products Manufacturing | 11,140 | $39,010 | $44,940 | $49,130 |
| 336300 | Motor Vehicle Parts Manufacturing | 10,570 | $39,720 | $44,430 | $47,430 |
| 321900 | Other Wood Product Manufacturing | 9,710 | $36,830 | $42,050 | $46,870 |
| 326100 | Plastics Product Manufacturing | 9,610 | $38,960 | $44,910 | $48,880 |
| 327000 | Nonmetallic Mineral Product Manufacturing | 9,370 | $43,070 | $47,530 | $55,000 |
| 327000 | Nonmetallic Mineral Product Manufacturing | 9,370 | $43,070 | $47,530 | $55,000 |
| 311400 | Fruit and Vegetable Preserving and Specialty Food Manufacturing | 9,320 | $40,210 | $45,510 | $48,520 |
| 312000 | Beverage and Tobacco Product Manufacturing | 8,930 | $44,120 | $48,500 | $57,280 |
| 312100 | Beverage Manufacturing | 8,630 | $44,550 | $48,640 | $57,340 |
| 311900 | Other Food Manufacturing | 8,400 | $39,660 | $47,640 | $53,140 |
| 325000 | Chemical Manufacturing | 7,620 | $39,440 | $46,120 | $51,890 |
| 321100 | Sawmills and Wood Preservation | 7,380 | $37,440 | $43,800 | $48,840 |
| 331000 | Primary Metal Manufacturing | 6,340 | $41,890 | $48,220 | $57,430 |
| 333000 | Machinery Manufacturing | 5,840 | $40,800 | $46,230 | $50,460 |
| 3320A2 | Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing (3323 and 3324 only) | 5,680 | $40,660 | $47,340 | $54,170 |
| 3330A1 | Machinery Manufacturing (3331, 3332, 3334, and 3339 only) | 4,980 | $40,850 | $46,280 | $50,460 |
| 311500 | Dairy Product Manufacturing | 4,470 | $45,900 | $50,740 | $58,920 |
| 3250A1 | Chemical Manufacturing (3251, 3252, 3253, and 3259 only) | 4,010 | $39,420 | $46,550 | $52,030 |
| 321200 | Veneer, Plywood, and Engineered Wood Product Manufacturing | 3,670 | $40,150 | $46,970 | $50,420 |
| 3320A1 | Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing (3321, 3322, 3325, 3326, and 3329 only) | 3,540 | $40,740 | $45,820 | $50,720 |
| 335000 | Electrical Equipment, Appliance, and Component Manufacturing | 3,220 | $40,260 | $46,190 | $48,980 |
| 337000 | Furniture and Related Product Manufacturing | 3,190 | $37,650 | $41,160 | $45,790 |
| 311800 | Bakeries and Tortilla Manufacturing | 3,110 | $39,960 | $45,880 | $50,020 |
| 3370A1 | Furniture and Related Product Manufacturing (3371 and 3372 only) | 2,830 | $37,710 | $41,080 | $45,720 |
| 336100 | Motor Vehicle Manufacturing | 2,700 | $61,410 | $76,510 | $76,510 |
| 311100 | Animal Food Manufacturing | 2,240 | $40,620 | $49,030 | $56,370 |
| 314000 | Textile Product Mills | 2,230 | $37,060 | $39,020 | $41,860 |
| 339000 | Miscellaneous Manufacturing | 2,170 | $38,730 | $43,260 | $48,230 |
| 322100 | Pulp, Paper, and Paperboard Mills | 2,090 | $49,090 | $55,140 | $59,630 |
| 3250A2 | Chemical Manufacturing (3255 and 3256 only) | 2,030 | $38,670 | $45,500 | $50,400 |
| 314100 | Textile Furnishings Mills | 2,000 | $37,390 | $39,070 | $41,800 |
| 331100 | Iron and Steel Mills and Ferroalloy Manufacturing | 1,960 | $41,670 | $50,050 | $59,600 |
| 311200 | Grain and Oilseed Milling | 1,910 | $44,040 | $48,900 | $60,120 |
| 323000 | Printing and Related Support Activities | 1,730 | $38,210 | $42,380 | $46,290 |
| 323100 | Printing and Related Support Activities | 1,730 | $38,210 | $42,380 | $46,290 |
| 335200 | Household Appliance Manufacturing | 1,710 | $40,710 | $46,190 | $48,400 |
| 324000 | Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing | 1,650 | $53,640 | $59,170 | $66,410 |
| 324100 | Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing | 1,650 | $53,640 | $59,170 | $66,410 |
| 325400 | Pharmaceutical and Medicine Manufacturing | 1,580 | $40,290 | $46,150 | $50,290 |
| 326200 | Rubber Product Manufacturing | 1,530 | $39,350 | $45,770 | $50,780 |
| 339900 | Other Miscellaneous Manufacturing | 1,510 | $38,420 | $42,620 | $45,970 |
| 336200 | Motor Vehicle Body and Trailer Manufacturing | 1,450 | $39,990 | $45,130 | $48,970 |
| 331400 | Nonferrous Metal (except Aluminum) Production and Processing | 1,330 | $44,030 | $49,450 | $54,920 |
| 332800 | Coating, Engraving, Heat Treating, and Allied Activities | 1,320 | $37,240 | $42,540 | $47,990 |
| 311300 | Sugar and Confectionery Product Manufacturing | 1,240 | $39,410 | $47,950 | $52,950 |
| 331300 | Alumina and Aluminum Production and Processing | 1,190 | $39,130 | $45,460 | $50,090 |
| 313000 | Textile Mills | 1,080 | $35,930 | $37,930 | $38,480 |
| 331200 | Steel Product Manufacturing from Purchased Steel | 1,010 | $43,680 | $50,440 | $55,870 |
| 331500 | Foundries | 850 | $39,620 | $44,720 | $50,390 |
| 335900 | Other Electrical Equipment and Component Manufacturing | 840 | $40,420 | $48,230 | $50,800 |
| 332700 | Machine Shops; Turned Product; and Screw, Nut, and Bolt Manufacturing | 810 | $39,000 | $44,950 | $50,580 |
| 334000 | Computer and Electronic Product Manufacturing | 810 | $38,670 | $43,050 | $47,000 |
| 336400 | Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing | 710 | $52,770 | $61,600 | $77,460 |
| 339100 | Medical Equipment and Supplies Manufacturing | 660 | $39,280 | $45,340 | $54,300 |
| 336600 | Ship and Boat Building | 600 | $49,110 | $64,490 | $64,850 |
| 313100 | Fiber, Yarn, and Thread Mills | 590 | $37,730 | $37,930 | $37,990 |
| 332710 | Machine Shops | 560 | $39,400 | $44,470 | $51,380 |
| 335300 | Electrical Equipment Manufacturing | 430 | $38,760 | $45,310 | $48,110 |
| 333500 | Metalworking Machinery Manufacturing | 390 | $38,320 | $43,160 | $48,320 |
| 311700 | Seafood Product Preparation and Packaging | 370 | $37,810 | $45,470 | $55,440 |
| 337900 | Other Furniture Related Product Manufacturing | 370 | $37,010 | $42,100 | $46,720 |
| 313200 | Fabric Mills | 350 | $34,220 | $36,320 | $38,520 |
| 333600 | Engine, Turbine, and Power Transmission Equipment Manufacturing | 350 | $43,930 | $47,990 | $59,650 |
| 312200 | Tobacco Manufacturing | 300 | $34,070 | $36,380 | $50,390 |
| 334500 | Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing | 280 | $38,530 | $41,140 | $49,060 |
| 332720 | Turned Product and Screw, Nut, and Bolt Manufacturing | 250 | $38,050 | $45,050 | $50,580 |
| 314900 | Other Textile Product Mills | 240 | $31,880 | $37,630 | $42,220 |
| 335100 | Electric Lighting Equipment Manufacturing | 240 | $36,870 | $48,800 | $50,600 |
| 315200 | Cut and Sew Apparel Manufacturing | 210 | $35,820 | $39,600 | $44,510 |
| 334400 | Semiconductor and Other Electronic Component Manufacturing | 200 | $40,760 | $43,980 | $46,500 |
| 334300 | Audio and Video Equipment Manufacturing | 180 | $38,590 | $44,150 | $46,930 |
| 313300 | Textile and Fabric Finishing and Fabric Coating Mills | 140 | $32,460 | $37,530 | $42,380 |
| 333300 | Commercial and Service Industry Machinery Manufacturing | 120 | $40,070 | $47,460 | $48,860 |
| 334200 | Communications Equipment Manufacturing | 100 | $40,280 | $41,910 | $45,200 |
| 334100 | Computer and Peripheral Equipment Manufacturing | 50 | $25,070 | $25,580 | $40,360 |
| 316100 | Leather and Hide Tanning and Finishing | 40 | $47,920 | $48,970 | $52,560 |
| 336500 | Railroad Rolling Stock Manufacturing | Not published by BLS | $48,660 | $56,320 | $58,630 |
| 336900 | Other Transportation Equipment Manufacturing | Not published by BLS | $40,350 | $45,300 | $48,600 |
What should you know about manufacturing pay mix?
For Certified Forklift Operator, write the straight-time rate separately from shift coverage and extra hours. OEWS includes base rate, guaranteed pay and production incentive pay. It excludes overtime premium, shift differentials and nonproduction bonuses. An attendance bonus is not a production bonus; confirm its purpose and treatment rather than adding every bonus to the BLS figure.
Skills-based pay steps affect the base rate when they are part of straight-time pay; BLS does not publish a separate rate for each plant's skill grade. Ask whether a tool allowance is expense reimbursement or wage pay. OEWS does not publish a separate tool-allowance component. Keep these items separate in the offer so the published wage is not mistaken for the whole package.
Pay mix here means how published medians for this one BLS occupation differ across manufacturing industries and against the all-industry median. It does not split pay into base, incentive or overtime. BLS wages are straight-time gross pay and exclude overtime, shift differentials and nonproduction bonuses.
What should you know about two BLS releases?
| Release period | 25th | Median | 75th |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2024 | $39,780 | $46,390 | $53,680 |
| May 2025 | $40,030 | $46,420 | $54,770 |
These are two separate BLS estimates from different survey panels. The workers and employers behind them differ, so the gap is not like-for-like pay for the same workers and is not a growth rate. We show no percentage change.
What should you know about supervisory and worker occupations?
BLS publishes these as separate occupations. Pay for one is not a pay step for the other.
- Supervisor occupation: Logistics Supervisor pay (SOC 53-1047)
Recruiter's read. Qualitative, not BLS data.
What should you know about red flags when we screen an operator?
A red flag is any hint of horseplay, speeding or riding forks. Another is skipped daily truck inspection. We also listen for people who cannot explain the load center or capacity plate. We ask about the worst near miss they saw and what changed afterward.
What should you know about questions?
Wages for the OEWS survey are straight-time, gross pay, exclusive of premium pay. Base rate; cost-of-living allowances; guaranteed pay; hazardous-duty pay; incentive pay, including commissions and production bonuses; and tips are included. Excluded are overtime pay, severance pay, shift differentials, nonproduction bonuses, employer cost for supplementary benefits, and tuition reimbursements.
What is the median pay for a Certified Forklift Operator?
The median annual wage for Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators in the United States was $46,420 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025). The middle half of workers earned between $40,030 and $54,770.
What does the 10th percentile mean here?
10% of workers in this occupation and area earned less than $36,840. 90% earned less than $62,520.
Does this include overtime or bonuses?
Wages for the OEWS survey are straight-time, gross pay, exclusive of premium pay. Base rate; cost-of-living allowances; guaranteed pay; hazardous-duty pay; incentive pay, including commissions and production bonuses; and tips are included. Excluded are overtime pay, severance pay, shift differentials, nonproduction bonuses, employer cost for supplementary benefits, and tuition reimbursements.
Is this the pay for a Certified Forklift Operator at a plant?
The Certified Forklift Operator title maps to the published occupation. The duties align, but BLS combines employers and industries. These are occupation estimates across all industries, not an offer for a particular manufacturing title.
How many people work in this occupation?
BLS estimated 774,420 workers employed in this occupation in the United States.
What should you know about related?
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What does this data mean for your opening?
Certified Forklift Operator positions align with SOC 53-7051, Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators. The national median annual wage is $46,420, representing a minor increase of $30 from the previous year. Manufacturing Headhunters highlights significant sectoral differences in national medians, with Motor Vehicle Manufacturing reaching $76,510, while Ship and Boat Building stands at $64,490 and Aerospace at $61,600.
It is crucial to remember that BLS methodology aggregates these roles, so the data is not specific to forklift operators alone and omits benefits or performance-based incentives.
When evaluating top employment hubs, the Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX, region shows a median of $47,230, while the Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA, region reports a median of $44,710. The Dallas median sits slightly higher than the national average, whereas the Atlanta figure is lower. These disparities occur within the broader aggregate, meaning the inclusion of varied industrial truck and tractor operating tasks influences these figures. Employers should consider that the medianChange in both locations was negative, signaling a cooling in local wage growth for this broad category compared to the prior May 2024 survey period.
Recruiters need to isolate the skills of a certified operator from the broad BLS occupation group. The middle-band width confirms that pay is relatively compressed compared to technical specialist roles. However, because OSHA certification is a requirement for this specific role, hiring managers should lean toward the P75 range if the work environment is high-intensity or involves complex line feeding duties. Location quotients confirm a high density of these roles in the selected hubs, but hiring teams must focus on safety records and specific truck class training rather than assuming a deep, easily accessible candidate pool at the median salary.
Which pay questions should you settle before hiring?
Why is there negative median change in the hub locations?
This can happen when the composition of the workforce within the occupation changes, such as more entry-level operators being hired. It does not necessarily indicate that pay rates for existing operators were reduced.
Should I focus on the national median or industry-specific medians?
You should prioritize the industry-specific median if you operate in sectors like Motor Vehicle Manufacturing, as they deviate strongly from the occupation-wide average. The national median acts as a broader, less precise baseline.
Does the middle-band width indicate room for performance-based salary growth?
The middle-band width shows the difference between the 25th and 75th percentiles. This range represents the primary competitive pay territory for the majority of the current workforce.
Related recruiting or pay page · Related wage comparison 1 · Data methodology · Related wage comparison 3 · Related wage comparison 4