General Laborer/Forklift Operator Salary in the United States
How much does a General Laborer/Forklift Operator make in the United States?
As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for a General Laborer/Forklift Operator in the United States is $41,827 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $20.
However, a General Laborer/Forklift Operator's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:
Top Earners (90th percentile): $48,994
Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $38,559 to $45,579
Entry-Level (10th percentile): $35,584
10%$35,584
50% (Median)$41,827
90%$48,994
General Laborer/Forklift Operator Salaries by Percentile
Key Factors That Influence General Laborer/Forklift Operator Salaries
A General Laborer/Forklift Operator's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors.
Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, education
and company size
can directly affect your earning potential.
How Experience Level Affects General Laborer/Forklift Operator Salaries?
Experience is a primary driver of a General Laborer/Forklift Operator's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:
Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $40,962
Early Career (1-2 years): $41,551
Mid-Level (2-4 years): $42,765
Senior-Level (5-8 years): $42,930
Expert (over 8 years): $43,206
Levels
Salary
Entry Level General Laborer/Forklift Operator
$40,962
Intermediate Level General Laborer/Forklift Operator
$41,551
Senior Level General Laborer/Forklift Operator
$42,765
Specialist Level General Laborer/Forklift Operator
How Do General Laborer/Forklift Operator Salaries Vary from State to State?
Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract General Laborer/Forklift Operators. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
District of Columbia: $46,311.
California: $46,135.
Massachusetts: $45,520.
District of Columbia$46,311
California$46,135
Massachusetts$45,520
Washington$45,353
New Jersey$45,336
Alaska$45,278
Connecticut$44,700
New York$44,466
Hawaii$43,717
Rhode Island$43,366
Maryland$43,128
Minnesota$42,801
Colorado$42,676
Illinois$42,634
Oregon$42,475
Delaware$42,358
New Hampshire$42,284
Virginia$42,120
Pennsylvania$41,639
Nevada$41,396
North Dakota$41,317
Michigan$41,191
Wisconsin$41,145
Vermont$41,053
Texas$40,798
Maine$40,781
Arizona$40,756
Ohio$40,727
Georgia$40,342
Indiana$40,150
Wyoming$40,112
Utah$40,053
Iowa$40,028
Kansas$39,828
Louisiana$39,769
North Carolina$39,748
Missouri$39,740
Florida$39,577
Montana$39,489
Nebraska$39,405
Kentucky$39,359
South Carolina$39,192
Tennessee$39,087
Idaho$39,045
New Mexico$38,740
Oklahoma$38,673
Alabama$38,426
South Dakota$38,012
Arkansas$37,786
West Virginia$37,665
Mississippi$37,301
Top Paying Cities for General Laborer/Forklift Operators
Salaries can also vary between different cities.
Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay.
Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:
San Jose: $52,756
San Francisco: $52,179
Oakland: $51,079
San Jose, CA$52,756
San Francisco, CA$52,179
Oakland, CA$51,079
New York, NY$48,159
Paramus, NJ$47,573
Queens Village, NY$47,571
Passaic, NJ$47,532
Bergenfield, NJ$47,528
Stamford, CT$47,436
Huntington, NY$47,419
Newark, NJ$47,110
Bridgeport, CT$47,021
Vallejo, CA$46,938
New Brunswick, NJ$46,921
Petaluma, CA$46,896
Middlesex, NJ$46,817
Somerset, NJ$46,788
Santa Cruz, CA$46,733
Boston, MA$46,478
Monterey, CA$46,331
Seattle, WA$46,235
Santa Rosa, CA$46,227
Los Angeles, CA$46,215
Juneau, AK$46,106
Washington, DC$46,060
Orange, CA$45,911
Santa Ana, CA$45,800
Long Beach, CA$45,759
Anaheim, CA$45,750
Anchorage, AK$45,729
Santa Maria, CA$45,604
Everett, WA$45,596
Danbury, CT$45,448
Bremerton, WA$45,391
Tacoma, WA$45,240
New Suffolk, NY$45,239
Sacramento, CA$45,227
Santa Barbara, CA$45,181
Trenton, NJ$45,135
San Diego, CA$45,135
Brockton, MA$45,089
Fairbanks, AK$44,987
Lompoc, CA$44,880
Lowell, MA$44,846
Ventura, CA$44,838
Nashua, NH$44,830
Stockton, CA$44,826
Modesto, CA$44,521
Poughkeepsie, NY$44,429
Olympia, WA$44,349
Kennewick, WA$44,349
New Haven, CT$44,332
Lawrence, MA$44,182
Hartford, CT$44,140
Riverside, CA$44,132
New Bedford, MA$44,090
Richland, WA$44,090
Bakersfield, CA$44,031
San Bernardino, CA$44,014
New Britain, CT$44,010
Atlantic City, NJ$44,010
New London, CT$43,994
Norwich, CT$43,981
Portsmouth, NH$43,973
Boulder, CO$43,884
Portland, OR$43,826
Worcester, MA$43,822
Minneapolis, MN$43,692
Philadelphia, PA$43,634
Honolulu, HI$43,496
Saint Paul, MN$43,476
Vineland, NJ$43,467
Providence, RI$43,345
Chicago, IL$43,224
Bellingham, WA$43,174
Springfield, MA$43,140
Baltimore, MD$43,128
Chico, CA$43,023
Pittsfield, MA$42,910
Manchester, NH$42,831
Spokane, WA$42,647
Denver, CO$42,643
Albany, NY$42,446
Troy, NY$42,429
Nassau, NY$42,384
Schenectady, NY$42,341
Wilmington, DE$42,308
Burlington, VT$42,249
Salem, OR$42,233
Portland, ME$42,103
Yakima, WA$42,061
Rochester, MN$41,931
Reno, NV$41,911
Fresno, CA$41,911
Milwaukee, WI$41,873
Detroit, MI$41,831
Ann Arbor, MI$41,824
Allentown, PA$41,819
Colorado Springs, CO$41,747
Syracuse, NY$41,727
Carson City, NV$41,727
Houston, TX$41,668
Eugene, OR$41,647
Gary, IN$41,597
Springfield, OR$41,563
Bismarck, ND$41,555
Galveston, TX$41,526
Medford, OR$41,463
Fort Collins, CO$41,446
Concord, NH$41,425
Austin, TX$41,413
Mesa, AZ$41,325
Reading, PA$41,321
Phoenix, AZ$41,317
Dallas, TX$41,304
Saint Cloud, MN$41,264
Madison, WI$41,208
Utica, NY$41,095
Rochester, NY$41,028
Des Moines, IA$41,024
Raleigh, NC$41,020
Atlanta, GA$40,957
Battle Creek, MI$40,944
Salt Lake City, UT$40,932
Lancaster, PA$40,869
Harrisburg, PA$40,811
Kansas City, MO$40,769
Champaign, IL$40,760
Kansas City, KS$40,760
Fort Worth, TX$40,756
Columbus, OH$40,749
Boca Raton, FL$40,739
Pittsburgh, PA$40,723
Richmond, VA$40,706
Indianapolis, IN$40,698
Cleveland, OH$40,693
Las Vegas, NV$40,643
Cincinnati, OH$40,643
Petersburg, VA$40,580
Huntsville, AL$40,518
Lansing, MI$40,490
Lebanon, PA$40,484
Pueblo, CO$40,480
Appleton, WI$40,468
Buffalo, NY$40,451
Dayton, OH$40,438
Racine, WI$40,430
Charlotte, NC$40,426
Saint Louis, MO$40,413
York, PA$40,388
Elkhart, IN$40,388
Gastonia, NC$40,380
Billings, MT$40,370
Beaumont, TX$40,359
Lorain, OH$40,350
Benton Harbor, MI$40,342
Toledo, OH$40,334
Binghamton, NY$40,313
Rock Hill, SC$40,309
Rockford, IL$40,288
Springfield, IL$40,271
Elyria, OH$40,267
Fargo, ND$40,267
Flagstaff, AZ$40,237
Fort Lauderdale, FL$40,212
Duluth, MN$40,187
Miami, FL$40,187
Cheyenne, WY$40,158
Grand Forks, ND$40,158
Bangor, ME$40,066
Cedar Rapids, IA$40,020
Durham, NC$40,002
Louisville, KY$39,999
Grand Rapids, MI$39,991
Hialeah, FL$39,987
Casper, WY$39,928
Scranton, PA$39,878
New Orleans, LA$39,865
Virginia Beach, VA$39,861
Akron, OH$39,840
Peoria, IL$39,786
Sarasota, FL$39,777
Nashville, TN$39,748
Omaha, NE$39,748
Green Bay, WI$39,748
Baton Rouge, LA$39,727
Charleston, SC$39,719
Jamestown, NY$39,698
Davenport, IA$39,698
Tucson, AZ$39,677
Saint Petersburg, FL$39,652
Tampa, FL$39,644
Evansville, IN$39,618
Port Arthur, TX$39,618
Bradenton, FL$39,602
Santa Fe, NM$39,526
Orlando, FL$39,451
Clearwater, FL$39,439
Canton, OH$39,351
La Crosse, WI$39,351
Albuquerque, NM$39,326
Newport News, VA$39,321
High Point, NC$39,309
Ogden, UT$39,292
Corpus Christi, TX$39,259
Norfolk, VA$39,234
Laramie, WY$39,234
Rock Island, IL$39,209
Saginaw, MI$39,200
Jacksonville, FL$39,196
Salisbury, NC$39,188
Boise, ID$39,179
Moline, IL$39,158
Fort Myers, FL$39,146
Memphis, TN$39,137
Tulsa, OK$39,117
Waterloo, IA$39,091
Spartanburg, SC$39,050
Lincoln, NE$39,029
Fort Wayne, IN$39,020
Provo, UT$39,016
Cedar Falls, IA$38,966
San Antonio, TX$38,949
Greensboro, NC$38,932
South Bend, IN$38,928
Savannah, GA$38,882
Muskegon, MI$38,866
Birmingham, AL$38,861
Winston Salem, NC$38,841
Lake Charles, LA$38,740
Anderson, IN$38,732
Lexington, KY$38,719
Augusta, GA$38,707
Greenville, SC$38,707
Lima, OH$38,673
Wichita, KS$38,669
Tuscaloosa, AL$38,669
Columbia, SC$38,631
Springfield, OH$38,623
Asheville, NC$38,556
Bloomington, IN$38,527
Knoxville, TN$38,376
Shreveport, LA$38,372
Wilmington, NC$38,318
Roanoke, VA$38,318
Topeka, KS$38,242
Frankfort, KY$38,238
Oklahoma City, OK$38,209
Chillicothe, OH$38,192
Longview, TX$38,188
Melbourne, FL$38,184
Sioux Falls, SD$38,117
Mobile, AL$38,113
Terre Haute, IN$38,096
Altoona, PA$38,071
Amarillo, TX$38,042
Killeen, TX$38,029
Fayetteville, AR$37,996
Chattanooga, TN$37,983
Sioux City, IA$37,945
Idaho Falls, ID$37,937
Lynchburg, VA$37,904
Gainesville, FL$37,849
Portsmouth, OH$37,828
Little Rock, AR$37,820
Lafayette, LA$37,803
Youngstown, OH$37,803
Daytona Beach, FL$37,778
Clarksville, TN$37,774
Pensacola, FL$37,770
Temple, TX$37,767
Hopkinsville, KY$37,644
Erie, PA$37,636
Florence, SC$37,619
Charleston, WV$37,552
Great Falls, MT$37,531
Macon, GA$37,473
Tallahassee, FL$37,469
Fayetteville, NC$37,460
Waco, TX$37,452
Helena, MT$37,423
Pine Bluff, AR$37,407
Vincennes, IN$37,356
Lubbock, TX$37,339
Alamogordo, NM$37,314
Twin Falls, ID$37,276
Rapid City, SD$37,264
Jackson, MS$37,188
Huntington, WV$37,185
Greenville, MS$37,184
Parkersburg, WV$37,141
Montgomery, AL$37,134
Wichita Falls, TX$37,092
Springfield, MO$37,092
Biloxi, MS$37,071
Monroe, LA$37,029
Johnstown, PA$37,000
Sumter, SC$36,983
Columbus, GA$36,979
Pascagoula, MS$36,900
Abilene, TX$36,900
Kingsport, TN$36,791
Albany, GA$36,791
Gulfport, MS$36,778
Alexandria, LA$36,640
Fort Smith, AR$36,536
El Paso, TX$36,423
Las Cruces, NM$36,235
Harlingen, TX$36,128
Pocatello, ID$36,122
Florence, AL$36,067
Brownsville, TX$36,059
Mcallen, TX$35,971
Dothan, AL$35,913
Columbus, MS$35,664
Altus, OK$35,469
Lawton, OK$35,390
Pierre, SD$35,239
What Skills Can Increase a General Laborer/Forklift Operator's Salary?
Demanded Skills for the Role:
Attention to Detail (Mentioned in 5.41% Job Postings): Executing and completing a task with a high level of accuracy.
Container (Mentioned in 4.03% Job Postings): Container is an object used for or capable of holding, esp for transport or storage, such as a carton, box, etc.
Shipping and Receiving (Mentioned in 1.93% Job Postings): Managing and maintaining records of all products shipped and received to ensure the correct filing of orders.
Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay.
Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on a General Laborer/Forklift Operator's salary.
Initiative: Can increase your salary by up to 3%.
Products and Services: Can increase your salary by up to 3%.
Equipment Operation: Can increase your salary by up to 3%.
General Laborer/Forklift Operator Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors
For General Laborer/Forklift Operator roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential
by as much as 43% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries).
Data shows that the Energy & Utilities and Aerospace & Defense
sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 20% above the average.
In contrast, General Laborer/Forklift Operator positions in Transportation or MFG Nondurable typically offer lower base pay,
as these industries often view General Laborer/Forklift Operator as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.
The top paying industries for a General Laborer/Forklift Operator
Industry Sector
Average Annual Salary
Average Hourly Rate
Pay vs.Avg
Energy & Utilities
$50,192
$24.0
20%
Aerospace & Defense
$46,846
$23.0
12%
Pharmaceuticals
$46,010
$22.0
10%
Software & Networking
$46,010
$22.0
10%
Construction
$45,173
$22.0
8%
How Education impacts a General Laborer/Forklift Operator's Salary?
Your level of education can impact your salary potential.
While many General Laborer/Forklift Operators enter the field with a High School Diploma or Technical Certificate degree,
higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.
According to our 100% employer-reported salary data,
the median salary for a General Laborer/Forklift Operator with a High School Diploma or Technical Certificate is between
$40,353
and $42,714).
General Laborer/Forklift Operator Salaries by Degree Level
$44,400
$43,800
$43,300
$42,700
$42,100
$41,500
$41,000
$40,400
No Diploma
High School
Associates
Bachelors
Masters
Doctorate
Typical Education for General Laborer/Forklift Operator
Degree Level
% of user with this level of education
No Diploma
5.2%
High School
80.2%
Associates
10.4%
Bachelors
3.9%
Masters
0.3%
Doctorate
0.0%
Typical Education for General Laborer/Forklift Operator
General Laborer/Forklift Operator Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay
Understanding how a General Laborer/Forklift Operator's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting.
Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role.
Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.
Hourly
Monthly
Weekly
Yearly
Table View
Last Updated on September 01, 2026
$38,559
Average$41,827/year
$45,579
$3,213
Average$3,486/month
$3,798
$742
Average$804/week
$877
$19
Average$20/hour
$22
Annual Salary
Monthly Pay
Weekly Pay
Hourly Wage
75th Percentile
$45,579
$3,798
$877
$22
Average
$41,827
$3,486
$804
$20
25th Percentile
$38,559
$3,213
$742
$19
Salaries of Jobs related to General Laborer/Forklift Operator
Furnace Operator/Tender$47,407
Extrusion Operator$42,945
General Production Operator$41,585
General Operator$41,215
Surveillance Operator$41,000
General Laborer/Machine Operator$40,861
Sewing Machine Operator$39,506
Switchboard Operator$38,404
Wood Machine Operator$36,088
Salary Trends for General Laborer/Forklift Operator
Salaries for a General Laborer/Forklift Operator can change over time,
reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy.
The median salary decreased from $44,905 in 2023
to around $44,553 in 2025,
reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy.
For a detailed analysis of General Laborer/Forklift Operator salary trends,
.
Average Annual Salary of General Laborer/Forklift Operator Over Time
$???
$44,905
$44,790
$44,553
$???
$???
2022
2023
2024
2025
2026
2027
Year
Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023
$44,905
2024
$44,790
2025
$44,553
2026
View More
2027
View More
Most common benefits for General Laborer/Forklift Operator
Social Security
401 (k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
Common company salaries for General Laborer/Forklift Operator
Here are companies hiring for General Laborer/Forklift Operator and their salaries, click below for more details.
C$128,509/per year
C R Bard IncBiotechnologythe United States
H$124,697/per year
Henry Schein CanadaBiotechnologythe United States
N$123,899/per year
Nordex IncBiotechnologythe United States
N$120,416/per year
Nipro CorpBiotechnologythe United States
E$115,870/per year
EnovisBiotechnologythe United States
A$114,553/per year
Advanced Research Projects Agency - EnergyBiotechnologythe United States
M$112,110/per year
MiniMed IncBiotechnologythe United States
L$111,500/per year
Labcorp Drug DevelopmentBiotechnologythe United States
L$110,229/per year
Life Technologies CorpBiotechnologythe United States
Z$106,224/per year
Zimmer BiometBiotechnologythe United States
P$103,077/per year
Promontory TherapeuticsBiotechnologythe United States
S$102,181/per year
Steris PLCBiotechnologythe United States
G$97,274/per year
Gavin Conferences Pty LtdBiotechnologythe United States
E$94,764/per year
Endeavor BioMedicinesBiotechnologythe United States
R$94,402/per year
Replay Holdings LLCBiotechnologythe United States
P$94,235/per year
Pleno IncBiotechnologythe United States
S$93,666/per year
Simulaids IncBiotechnologythe United States
N$88,880/per year
NOIRLab/CASBiotechnologythe United States
O$86,468/per year
Onward TechnologyBiotechnologythe United States
L$84,895/per year
LED Medical Diagnostics IncBiotechnologythe United States
E$84,682/per year
Eyeco LtdBiotechnologythe United States
P$84,523/per year
PaerosolBiotechnologythe United States
I$83,525/per year
IONIQ Sciences IncBiotechnologythe United States
S$82,815/per year
Stateside PPEBiotechnologythe United States
D$82,041/per year
Digi BioBiotechnologythe United States
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FAQ about General Laborer/Forklift Operator
1. What industry pays the highest salary for General Laborer/Forklift Operator?
The Energy & Utilities industry offers the highest average compensation for General Laborer/Forklift Operator roles,
with salaries approximately 20% above the market median.
Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?
Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.
