Storage Center Worker/Forklift Operator Salary in the United States
How much does a Storage Center Worker/Forklift Operator make in the United States?
As of October 01, 2026, the average salary for a Storage Center Worker/Forklift Operator in the United States is $46,268 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $22.
However, a Storage Center Worker/Forklift Operator's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:
Top Earners (90th percentile): $54,194
Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $42,652 to $50,417
Entry-Level (10th percentile): $39,360
10%$39,360
50% (Median)$46,268
90%$54,194
Storage Center Worker/Forklift Operator Salaries by Percentile
Key Factors That Influence Storage Center Worker/Forklift Operator Salaries
A Storage Center Worker/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 Storage Center Worker/Forklift Operator Salaries?
Experience is a primary driver of a Storage Center Worker/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): $45,312
Early Career (1-2 years): $45,963
Mid-Level (2-4 years): $47,306
Senior-Level (5-8 years): $47,489
Expert (over 8 years): $47,794
Levels
Salary
Entry Level Storage Center Worker/Forklift Operator
$45,312
Intermediate Level Storage Center Worker/Forklift Operator
$45,963
Senior Level Storage Center Worker/Forklift Operator
$47,306
Specialist Level Storage Center Worker/Forklift Operator
$47,489
Expert Level Storage Center Worker/Forklift Operator
How Do Storage Center Worker/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 Storage Center Worker/Forklift Operators. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
District of Columbia: $51,228.
California: $51,034.
Massachusetts: $50,354.
District of Columbia$51,228
California$51,034
Massachusetts$50,354
Washington$50,169
New Jersey$50,150
Alaska$50,086
Connecticut$49,447
New York$49,188
Hawaii$48,360
Rhode Island$47,971
Maryland$47,707
Minnesota$47,346
Colorado$47,208
Illinois$47,161
Oregon$46,986
Delaware$46,856
New Hampshire$46,775
Virginia$46,592
Pennsylvania$46,060
Nevada$45,792
North Dakota$45,704
Michigan$45,565
Wisconsin$45,514
Vermont$45,412
Texas$45,130
Maine$45,112
Arizona$45,084
Ohio$45,052
Georgia$44,626
Indiana$44,413
Wyoming$44,371
Utah$44,307
Iowa$44,279
Kansas$44,057
Louisiana$43,992
North Carolina$43,969
Missouri$43,960
Florida$43,779
Montana$43,682
Nebraska$43,589
Kentucky$43,539
South Carolina$43,353
Tennessee$43,238
Idaho$43,192
New Mexico$42,854
Oklahoma$42,780
Alabama$42,507
South Dakota$42,049
Arkansas$41,799
West Virginia$41,665
Mississippi$41,262
Top Paying Cities for Storage Center Worker/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: $58,358
San Francisco: $57,719
Oakland: $56,503
San Jose, CA$58,358
San Francisco, CA$57,719
Oakland, CA$56,503
New York, NY$53,273
Paramus, NJ$52,625
Queens Village, NY$52,623
Passaic, NJ$52,579
Bergenfield, NJ$52,575
Stamford, CT$52,473
Huntington, NY$52,454
Newark, NJ$52,112
Bridgeport, CT$52,014
Vallejo, CA$51,922
New Brunswick, NJ$51,904
Petaluma, CA$51,876
Middlesex, NJ$51,788
Somerset, NJ$51,756
Santa Cruz, CA$51,696
Boston, MA$51,413
Monterey, CA$51,251
Seattle, WA$51,145
Santa Rosa, CA$51,136
Los Angeles, CA$51,122
Juneau, AK$51,002
Washington, DC$50,951
Orange, CA$50,786
Santa Ana, CA$50,664
Long Beach, CA$50,618
Anaheim, CA$50,608
Anchorage, AK$50,585
Santa Maria, CA$50,446
Everett, WA$50,437
Danbury, CT$50,274
Bremerton, WA$50,210
Tacoma, WA$50,044
New Suffolk, NY$50,043
Sacramento, CA$50,030
Santa Barbara, CA$49,979
Trenton, NJ$49,928
San Diego, CA$49,928
Brockton, MA$49,877
Fairbanks, AK$49,764
Lompoc, CA$49,646
Lowell, MA$49,609
Ventura, CA$49,600
Nashua, NH$49,590
Stockton, CA$49,586
Modesto, CA$49,248
Poughkeepsie, NY$49,146
Olympia, WA$49,058
Kennewick, WA$49,058
New Haven, CT$49,040
Lawrence, MA$48,873
Hartford, CT$48,827
Riverside, CA$48,818
New Bedford, MA$48,772
Richland, WA$48,772
Bakersfield, CA$48,707
San Bernardino, CA$48,688
New Britain, CT$48,684
Atlantic City, NJ$48,684
New London, CT$48,665
Norwich, CT$48,651
Portsmouth, NH$48,642
Boulder, CO$48,544
Portland, OR$48,480
Worcester, MA$48,475
Minneapolis, MN$48,332
Philadelphia, PA$48,267
Honolulu, HI$48,115
Saint Paul, MN$48,092
Vineland, NJ$48,082
Providence, RI$47,948
Chicago, IL$47,814
Bellingham, WA$47,758
Springfield, MA$47,721
Baltimore, MD$47,707
Chico, CA$47,592
Pittsfield, MA$47,467
Manchester, NH$47,379
Spokane, WA$47,175
Denver, CO$47,171
Albany, NY$46,953
Troy, NY$46,935
Nassau, NY$46,885
Schenectady, NY$46,838
Wilmington, DE$46,800
Burlington, VT$46,736
Salem, OR$46,717
Portland, ME$46,574
Yakima, WA$46,528
Rochester, MN$46,384
Reno, NV$46,361
Fresno, CA$46,361
Milwaukee, WI$46,319
Detroit, MI$46,273
Ann Arbor, MI$46,265
Allentown, PA$46,259
Colorado Springs, CO$46,180
Syracuse, NY$46,157
Carson City, NV$46,157
Houston, TX$46,093
Eugene, OR$46,069
Gary, IN$46,014
Springfield, OR$45,977
Bismarck, ND$45,968
Galveston, TX$45,935
Medford, OR$45,866
Fort Collins, CO$45,847
Concord, NH$45,824
Austin, TX$45,810
Mesa, AZ$45,713
Reading, PA$45,709
Phoenix, AZ$45,704
Dallas, TX$45,690
Saint Cloud, MN$45,646
Madison, WI$45,584
Utica, NY$45,459
Rochester, NY$45,385
Des Moines, IA$45,380
Raleigh, NC$45,375
Atlanta, GA$45,306
Battle Creek, MI$45,292
Salt Lake City, UT$45,278
Lancaster, PA$45,209
Harrisburg, PA$45,144
Kansas City, MO$45,098
Champaign, IL$45,089
Kansas City, KS$45,089
Fort Worth, TX$45,084
Columbus, OH$45,076
Boca Raton, FL$45,065
Pittsburgh, PA$45,047
Richmond, VA$45,028
Indianapolis, IN$45,019
Cleveland, OH$45,015
Las Vegas, NV$44,959
Cincinnati, OH$44,959
Petersburg, VA$44,890
Huntsville, AL$44,820
Lansing, MI$44,789
Lebanon, PA$44,783
Pueblo, CO$44,779
Appleton, WI$44,765
Buffalo, NY$44,746
Dayton, OH$44,732
Racine, WI$44,723
Charlotte, NC$44,718
Saint Louis, MO$44,705
York, PA$44,677
Elkhart, IN$44,677
Gastonia, NC$44,668
Billings, MT$44,657
Beaumont, TX$44,644
Lorain, OH$44,635
Benton Harbor, MI$44,626
Toledo, OH$44,617
Binghamton, NY$44,593
Rock Hill, SC$44,589
Rockford, IL$44,566
Springfield, IL$44,547
Elyria, OH$44,543
Fargo, ND$44,543
Flagstaff, AZ$44,510
Fort Lauderdale, FL$44,482
Duluth, MN$44,455
Miami, FL$44,455
Cheyenne, WY$44,422
Grand Forks, ND$44,422
Bangor, ME$44,321
Cedar Rapids, IA$44,270
Durham, NC$44,250
Louisville, KY$44,246
Grand Rapids, MI$44,237
Hialeah, FL$44,233
Casper, WY$44,168
Scranton, PA$44,112
New Orleans, LA$44,098
Virginia Beach, VA$44,094
Akron, OH$44,071
Peoria, IL$44,011
Sarasota, FL$44,001
Nashville, TN$43,969
Omaha, NE$43,969
Green Bay, WI$43,969
Baton Rouge, LA$43,946
Charleston, SC$43,936
Jamestown, NY$43,913
Davenport, IA$43,913
Tucson, AZ$43,890
Saint Petersburg, FL$43,862
Tampa, FL$43,853
Evansville, IN$43,825
Port Arthur, TX$43,825
Bradenton, FL$43,807
Santa Fe, NM$43,724
Orlando, FL$43,640
Clearwater, FL$43,626
Canton, OH$43,529
La Crosse, WI$43,529
Albuquerque, NM$43,502
Newport News, VA$43,497
High Point, NC$43,483
Ogden, UT$43,465
Corpus Christi, TX$43,428
Norfolk, VA$43,400
Laramie, WY$43,400
Rock Island, IL$43,372
Saginaw, MI$43,363
Jacksonville, FL$43,358
Salisbury, NC$43,349
Boise, ID$43,340
Moline, IL$43,316
Fort Myers, FL$43,303
Memphis, TN$43,293
Tulsa, OK$43,270
Waterloo, IA$43,242
Spartanburg, SC$43,196
Lincoln, NE$43,173
Fort Wayne, IN$43,164
Provo, UT$43,159
Cedar Falls, IA$43,104
San Antonio, TX$43,085
Greensboro, NC$43,067
South Bend, IN$43,062
Savannah, GA$43,011
Muskegon, MI$42,993
Birmingham, AL$42,988
Winston Salem, NC$42,965
Lake Charles, LA$42,854
Anderson, IN$42,845
Lexington, KY$42,831
Augusta, GA$42,817
Greenville, SC$42,817
Lima, OH$42,780
Wichita, KS$42,775
Tuscaloosa, AL$42,775
Columbia, SC$42,733
Springfield, OH$42,724
Asheville, NC$42,650
Bloomington, IN$42,618
Knoxville, TN$42,451
Shreveport, LA$42,447
Wilmington, NC$42,386
Roanoke, VA$42,386
Topeka, KS$42,303
Frankfort, KY$42,298
Oklahoma City, OK$42,266
Chillicothe, OH$42,248
Longview, TX$42,243
Melbourne, FL$42,238
Sioux Falls, SD$42,164
Mobile, AL$42,160
Terre Haute, IN$42,141
Altoona, PA$42,113
Amarillo, TX$42,081
Killeen, TX$42,067
Fayetteville, AR$42,030
Chattanooga, TN$42,016
Sioux City, IA$41,975
Idaho Falls, ID$41,965
Lynchburg, VA$41,928
Gainesville, FL$41,868
Portsmouth, OH$41,845
Little Rock, AR$41,836
Lafayette, LA$41,817
Youngstown, OH$41,817
Daytona Beach, FL$41,790
Clarksville, TN$41,785
Pensacola, FL$41,780
Temple, TX$41,777
Hopkinsville, KY$41,642
Erie, PA$41,632
Florence, SC$41,614
Charleston, WV$41,540
Great Falls, MT$41,517
Macon, GA$41,452
Tallahassee, FL$41,447
Fayetteville, NC$41,438
Waco, TX$41,429
Helena, MT$41,396
Pine Bluff, AR$41,379
Vincennes, IN$41,322
Lubbock, TX$41,304
Alamogordo, NM$41,276
Twin Falls, ID$41,234
Rapid City, SD$41,221
Jackson, MS$41,137
Huntington, WV$41,134
Greenville, MS$41,133
Parkersburg, WV$41,085
Montgomery, AL$41,077
Wichita Falls, TX$41,031
Springfield, MO$41,031
Biloxi, MS$41,008
Monroe, LA$40,961
Johnstown, PA$40,929
Sumter, SC$40,911
Columbus, GA$40,906
Pascagoula, MS$40,818
Abilene, TX$40,818
Kingsport, TN$40,698
Albany, GA$40,698
Gulfport, MS$40,684
Alexandria, LA$40,531
Fort Smith, AR$40,415
El Paso, TX$40,291
Las Cruces, NM$40,082
Harlingen, TX$39,965
Pocatello, ID$39,957
Florence, AL$39,897
Brownsville, TX$39,888
Mcallen, TX$39,791
Dothan, AL$39,726
Columbus, MS$39,451
Altus, OK$39,236
Lawton, OK$39,148
Pierre, SD$38,981
What Skills Can Increase a Storage Center Worker/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 Storage Center Worker/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%.
Storage Center Worker/Forklift Operator Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors
For Storage Center Worker/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, Storage Center Worker/Forklift Operator positions in Transportation or MFG Nondurable typically offer lower base pay,
as these industries often view Storage Center Worker/Forklift Operator as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.
The top paying industries for a Storage Center Worker/Forklift Operator
Industry Sector
Average Annual Salary
Average Hourly Rate
Pay vs.Avg
Energy & Utilities
$55,522
$27.0
20%
Aerospace & Defense
$51,821
$25.0
12%
Pharmaceuticals
$50,895
$24.0
10%
Software & Networking
$50,895
$24.0
10%
Construction
$49,970
$24.0
8%
How Education impacts a Storage Center Worker/Forklift Operator's Salary?
Your level of education can impact your salary potential.
While many Storage Center Worker/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 Storage Center Worker/Forklift Operator with a High School Diploma or Technical Certificate is between
$40,353
and $42,714).
Storage Center Worker/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 Storage Center Worker/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 Storage Center Worker/Forklift Operator
Storage Center Worker/Forklift Operator Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay
Understanding how a Storage Center Worker/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 October 01, 2026
$42,652
Average$46,268/year
$50,417
$3,554
Average$3,856/month
$4,201
$820
Average$890/week
$970
$21
Average$22/hour
$24
Annual Salary
Monthly Pay
Weekly Pay
Hourly Wage
75th Percentile
$50,417
$4,201
$970
$24
Average
$46,268
$3,856
$890
$22
25th Percentile
$42,652
$3,554
$820
$21
Salaries of Jobs related to Storage Center Worker/Forklift Operator
Storage Center Worker III$124,011
Haul Storage Center Manager$97,883
Center Storage Manager$97,106
Storage Center Worker II$95,166
Storage/Distribution Terminal Operator III$75,100
Storage/Distribution Terminal Operator II$67,730
Storage/Distribution Terminal Operator I$60,800
Data Center Operator$55,221
Command Center Operator$43,335
Control Center Operator$41,613
Storage Center Worker$33,493
Salary Trends for Storage Center Worker/Forklift Operator
Salaries for a Storage Center Worker/Forklift Operator can change over time,
reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy.
The median salary decreased from $47,446 in 2023
to around $47,074 in 2025,
reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy.
For a detailed analysis of Storage Center Worker/Forklift Operator salary trends,
.
Average Annual Salary of Storage Center Worker/Forklift Operator Over Time
$???
$47,446
$47,325
$47,074
$???
$???
2022
2023
2024
2025
2026
2027
Year
Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023
$47,446
2024
$47,325
2025
$47,074
2026
View More
2027
View More
Most common benefits for Storage Center Worker/Forklift Operator
Social Security
401 (k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
Common company salaries for Storage Center Worker/Forklift Operator
Here are companies hiring for Storage Center Worker/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 Storage Center Worker/Forklift Operator
1. What industry pays the highest salary for Storage Center Worker/Forklift Operator?
The Energy & Utilities industry offers the highest average compensation for Storage Center Worker/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.
