Salary guide, May 2025
Certified Forklift Operator pay in Ames, IA
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The median annual wage for Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators in Ames, IA was $48,310 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025). The middle half of workers earned between $44,720 and $54,490.
The Ames, IA median is $1,890 above the national median of $46,420, both from BLS May 2025.
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.
What should you know about ames, IA?
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $38,560 | $44,720 | $48,310 | $54,490 | $54,540 |
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $18.54 | $21.50 | $23.23 | $26.20 | $26.22 |
BLS estimated 110 workers employed in this occupation in Ames, IA. Location quotient: 0.4.
What should you know about united States?
| 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 |
What should you know about role pay against all occupations here?
The published Certified Forklift Operator median is $48,310. The all-occupations median in Ames, IA is $50,220. Ratio: 0.96 (role median divided by all-occupations median, same units, BLS May 2025). Location quotient 0.4 measures how concentrated this occupation's employment is here against the nation. It is not a wage index.
What should you know about two BLS releases?
| Release period | 25th | Median | 75th |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2024 | $41,530 | $45,780 | $53,160 |
| May 2025 | $44,720 | $48,310 | $54,490 |
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.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. SOC 53-7051 Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators, Ames, IA. Official occupation data · Official area tables. Released 2026-05-15.
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.
What should you know about nearby areas?
| Area | Median | 25th to 75th |
|---|---|---|
| Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | $49,080 | $45,650 to $53,290 |
| Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA | $43,670 | $40,830 to $49,370 |
All roles in Ames, IA · National page · Certified Forklift Operator ranked across metros