Warehouse Material Handler/Forklift Operator Salary in the United States
How much does a Warehouse Material Handler/Forklift Operator make in the United States?
As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for a Warehouse Material Handler/Forklift Operator in the United States is $36,740 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $18.
However, a Warehouse Material Handler/Forklift Operator's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:
Top Earners (90th percentile): $41,466
Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $34,259 to $39,214
Entry-Level (10th percentile): $32,000
10%$32,000
50% (Median)$36,740
90%$41,466
Warehouse Material Handler/Forklift Operator Salaries by Percentile
Key Factors That Influence Warehouse Material Handler/Forklift Operator Salaries
A Warehouse Material Handler/Forklift Operator's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors.
Below, we'll explore how geographic location, education
and company size
can directly affect your earning potential.
How Do Warehouse Material Handler/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 Warehouse Material Handler/Forklift Operators. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
District of Columbia: $40,678.
California: $40,524.
Massachusetts: $39,984.
District of Columbia$40,678
California$40,524
Massachusetts$39,984
Washington$39,837
New Jersey$39,822
Alaska$39,771
Connecticut$39,264
New York$39,058
Hawaii$38,401
Rhode Island$38,092
Maryland$37,883
Minnesota$37,596
Colorado$37,486
Illinois$37,449
Oregon$37,309
Delaware$37,206
New Hampshire$37,142
Virginia$36,997
Pennsylvania$36,575
Nevada$36,361
North Dakota$36,292
Michigan$36,181
Wisconsin$36,141
Vermont$36,060
Texas$35,836
Maine$35,821
Arizona$35,799
Ohio$35,774
Georgia$35,436
Indiana$35,267
Wyoming$35,234
Utah$35,182
Iowa$35,160
Kansas$34,984
Louisiana$34,932
North Carolina$34,914
Missouri$34,907
Florida$34,763
Montana$34,686
Nebraska$34,613
Kentucky$34,572
South Carolina$34,425
Tennessee$34,333
Idaho$34,297
New Mexico$34,028
Oklahoma$33,970
Alabama$33,753
South Dakota$33,389
Arkansas$33,191
West Virginia$33,084
Mississippi$32,765
Top Paying Cities for Warehouse Material Handler/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: $46,340
San Francisco: $45,833
Oakland: $44,867
San Jose, CA$46,340
San Francisco, CA$45,833
Oakland, CA$44,867
New York, NY$42,302
Paramus, NJ$41,788
Queens Village, NY$41,786
Passaic, NJ$41,751
Bergenfield, NJ$41,748
Stamford, CT$41,667
Huntington, NY$41,652
Newark, NJ$41,380
Bridgeport, CT$41,303
Vallejo, CA$41,230
New Brunswick, NJ$41,215
Petaluma, CA$41,193
Middlesex, NJ$41,123
Somerset, NJ$41,097
Santa Cruz, CA$41,049
Boston, MA$40,825
Monterey, CA$40,696
Seattle, WA$40,612
Santa Rosa, CA$40,605
Los Angeles, CA$40,594
Juneau, AK$40,498
Washington, DC$40,458
Orange, CA$40,327
Santa Ana, CA$40,230
Long Beach, CA$40,193
Anaheim, CA$40,186
Anchorage, AK$40,168
Santa Maria, CA$40,058
Everett, WA$40,050
Danbury, CT$39,921
Bremerton, WA$39,870
Tacoma, WA$39,738
New Suffolk, NY$39,737
Sacramento, CA$39,727
Santa Barbara, CA$39,686
Trenton, NJ$39,646
San Diego, CA$39,646
Brockton, MA$39,606
Fairbanks, AK$39,516
Lompoc, CA$39,422
Lowell, MA$39,392
Ventura, CA$39,385
Nashua, NH$39,378
Stockton, CA$39,374
Modesto, CA$39,106
Poughkeepsie, NY$39,025
Olympia, WA$38,955
Kennewick, WA$38,955
New Haven, CT$38,941
Lawrence, MA$38,808
Hartford, CT$38,772
Riverside, CA$38,764
New Bedford, MA$38,728
Richland, WA$38,728
Bakersfield, CA$38,676
San Bernardino, CA$38,661
New Britain, CT$38,658
Atlantic City, NJ$38,658
New London, CT$38,643
Norwich, CT$38,632
Portsmouth, NH$38,625
Boulder, CO$38,547
Portland, OR$38,496
Worcester, MA$38,492
Minneapolis, MN$38,378
Philadelphia, PA$38,327
Honolulu, HI$38,206
Saint Paul, MN$38,188
Vineland, NJ$38,180
Providence, RI$38,074
Chicago, IL$37,967
Bellingham, WA$37,923
Springfield, MA$37,894
Baltimore, MD$37,883
Chico, CA$37,791
Pittsfield, MA$37,691
Manchester, NH$37,622
Spokane, WA$37,460
Denver, CO$37,456
Albany, NY$37,284
Troy, NY$37,269
Nassau, NY$37,230
Schenectady, NY$37,192
Wilmington, DE$37,162
Burlington, VT$37,111
Salem, OR$37,096
Portland, ME$36,982
Yakima, WA$36,946
Rochester, MN$36,832
Reno, NV$36,813
Fresno, CA$36,813
Milwaukee, WI$36,780
Detroit, MI$36,744
Ann Arbor, MI$36,737
Allentown, PA$36,733
Colorado Springs, CO$36,670
Syracuse, NY$36,652
Carson City, NV$36,652
Houston, TX$36,600
Eugene, OR$36,582
Gary, IN$36,538
Springfield, OR$36,508
Bismarck, ND$36,501
Galveston, TX$36,475
Medford, OR$36,420
Fort Collins, CO$36,406
Concord, NH$36,387
Austin, TX$36,376
Mesa, AZ$36,299
Reading, PA$36,295
Phoenix, AZ$36,292
Dallas, TX$36,281
Saint Cloud, MN$36,245
Madison, WI$36,196
Utica, NY$36,097
Rochester, NY$36,038
Des Moines, IA$36,034
Raleigh, NC$36,031
Atlanta, GA$35,976
Battle Creek, MI$35,965
Salt Lake City, UT$35,954
Lancaster, PA$35,899
Harrisburg, PA$35,847
Kansas City, MO$35,810
Champaign, IL$35,803
Kansas City, KS$35,803
Fort Worth, TX$35,799
Columbus, OH$35,793
Boca Raton, FL$35,785
Pittsburgh, PA$35,770
Richmond, VA$35,755
Indianapolis, IN$35,748
Cleveland, OH$35,744
Las Vegas, NV$35,700
Cincinnati, OH$35,700
Petersburg, VA$35,645
Huntsville, AL$35,590
Lansing, MI$35,565
Lebanon, PA$35,561
Pueblo, CO$35,557
Appleton, WI$35,546
Buffalo, NY$35,531
Dayton, OH$35,520
Racine, WI$35,513
Charlotte, NC$35,509
Saint Louis, MO$35,498
York, PA$35,476
Elkhart, IN$35,476
Gastonia, NC$35,469
Billings, MT$35,460
Beaumont, TX$35,450
Lorain, OH$35,443
Benton Harbor, MI$35,436
Toledo, OH$35,428
Binghamton, NY$35,410
Rock Hill, SC$35,406
Rockford, IL$35,388
Springfield, IL$35,373
Elyria, OH$35,370
Fargo, ND$35,370
Flagstaff, AZ$35,344
Fort Lauderdale, FL$35,322
Duluth, MN$35,300
Miami, FL$35,300
Cheyenne, WY$35,274
Grand Forks, ND$35,274
Bangor, ME$35,193
Cedar Rapids, IA$35,153
Durham, NC$35,137
Louisville, KY$35,134
Grand Rapids, MI$35,127
Hialeah, FL$35,123
Casper, WY$35,072
Scranton, PA$35,028
New Orleans, LA$35,017
Virginia Beach, VA$35,013
Akron, OH$34,995
Peoria, IL$34,947
Sarasota, FL$34,940
Nashville, TN$34,914
Omaha, NE$34,914
Green Bay, WI$34,914
Baton Rouge, LA$34,896
Charleston, SC$34,888
Jamestown, NY$34,870
Davenport, IA$34,870
Tucson, AZ$34,851
Saint Petersburg, FL$34,829
Tampa, FL$34,822
Evansville, IN$34,800
Port Arthur, TX$34,800
Bradenton, FL$34,785
Santa Fe, NM$34,719
Orlando, FL$34,653
Clearwater, FL$34,642
Canton, OH$34,565
La Crosse, WI$34,565
Albuquerque, NM$34,543
Newport News, VA$34,539
High Point, NC$34,528
Ogden, UT$34,513
Corpus Christi, TX$34,484
Norfolk, VA$34,462
Laramie, WY$34,462
Rock Island, IL$34,440
Saginaw, MI$34,433
Jacksonville, FL$34,429
Salisbury, NC$34,422
Boise, ID$34,414
Moline, IL$34,396
Fort Myers, FL$34,385
Memphis, TN$34,378
Tulsa, OK$34,359
Waterloo, IA$34,337
Spartanburg, SC$34,300
Lincoln, NE$34,282
Fort Wayne, IN$34,275
Provo, UT$34,271
Cedar Falls, IA$34,227
San Antonio, TX$34,212
Greensboro, NC$34,197
South Bend, IN$34,194
Savannah, GA$34,153
Muskegon, MI$34,139
Birmingham, AL$34,135
Winston Salem, NC$34,117
Lake Charles, LA$34,028
Anderson, IN$34,021
Lexington, KY$34,010
Augusta, GA$33,999
Greenville, SC$33,999
Lima, OH$33,970
Wichita, KS$33,966
Tuscaloosa, AL$33,966
Columbia, SC$33,933
Springfield, OH$33,926
Asheville, NC$33,867
Bloomington, IN$33,841
Knoxville, TN$33,709
Shreveport, LA$33,705
Wilmington, NC$33,657
Roanoke, VA$33,657
Topeka, KS$33,591
Frankfort, KY$33,587
Oklahoma City, OK$33,562
Chillicothe, OH$33,547
Longview, TX$33,544
Melbourne, FL$33,540
Sioux Falls, SD$33,481
Mobile, AL$33,477
Terre Haute, IN$33,463
Altoona, PA$33,441
Amarillo, TX$33,415
Killeen, TX$33,404
Fayetteville, AR$33,375
Chattanooga, TN$33,364
Sioux City, IA$33,330
Idaho Falls, ID$33,323
Lynchburg, VA$33,294
Gainesville, FL$33,246
Portsmouth, OH$33,228
Little Rock, AR$33,220
Lafayette, LA$33,206
Youngstown, OH$33,206
Daytona Beach, FL$33,183
Clarksville, TN$33,180
Pensacola, FL$33,176
Temple, TX$33,174
Hopkinsville, KY$33,066
Erie, PA$33,059
Florence, SC$33,044
Charleston, WV$32,985
Great Falls, MT$32,967
Macon, GA$32,915
Tallahassee, FL$32,912
Fayetteville, NC$32,904
Waco, TX$32,897
Helena, MT$32,871
Pine Bluff, AR$32,857
Vincennes, IN$32,812
Lubbock, TX$32,798
Alamogordo, NM$32,776
Twin Falls, ID$32,743
Rapid City, SD$32,732
Jackson, MS$32,665
Huntington, WV$32,663
Greenville, MS$32,662
Parkersburg, WV$32,624
Montgomery, AL$32,618
Wichita Falls, TX$32,581
Springfield, MO$32,581
Biloxi, MS$32,563
Monroe, LA$32,526
Johnstown, PA$32,500
Sumter, SC$32,485
Columbus, GA$32,482
Pascagoula, MS$32,412
Abilene, TX$32,412
Kingsport, TN$32,316
Albany, GA$32,316
Gulfport, MS$32,305
Alexandria, LA$32,184
Fort Smith, AR$32,092
El Paso, TX$31,993
Las Cruces, NM$31,828
Harlingen, TX$31,734
Pocatello, ID$31,729
Florence, AL$31,681
Brownsville, TX$31,673
Mcallen, TX$31,596
Dothan, AL$31,545
Columbus, MS$31,327
Altus, OK$31,155
Lawton, OK$31,086
Pierre, SD$30,953
What Skills Can Increase a Warehouse Material Handler/Forklift Operator's Salary?
Demanded Skills for the Role:
Customer Service (Mentioned in 8.15% Job Postings): Customer service is the provision of service to customers before, during and after a purchase. The perception of success of such interactions is dependent on employees "who can adjust themselves to the personality of the guest". Customer service concerns the priority an organization assigns to customer service relative to components such as product innovation and pricing. In this sense, an organization that values good customer service may spend more money in training employees than the average organization or may proactively interview customers for feedback. From the point of view of an overall sales process engineering effort, customer service plays an important role in an organization's ability to generate income and revenue. From that perspective, customer service should be included as part of an overall approach to systematic improvement. One good customer service experience can change the entire perception a customer holds towards the organization.
Inventory Control (Mentioned in 3.09% Job Postings): Inventory control or stock control can be broadly defined as "the activity of checking a shop’s stock." However, a more focused definition takes into account the more science-based, methodical practice of not only verifying a business' inventory but also focusing on the many related facets of inventory management (such as forecasting future demand) "within an organisation to meet the demand placed upon that business economically." Other facets of inventory control include supply chain management, production control, financial flexibility, and customer satisfaction. At the root of inventory control, however, is the inventory control problem, which involves determining when to order, how much to order, and the logistics (where) of those decisions. An extension of inventory control is the inventory control system. This may come in the form of a technological system and its programmed software used for managing various aspects of inventory problems , or it may refer to a methodology (which may include the use of technological barriers) for handling loss prevention in a business.
ERP (Mentioned in 1.47% Job Postings): Enterprise resource planning (ERP) refers to a type of software that organizations use to manage day-to-day business activities such as accounting, procurement, project management, risk management and compliance, and supply chain operations.
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 Warehouse Material Handler/Forklift Operator's salary.
Troubleshooting: Can increase your salary by up to 7%.
Microsoft Office: Can increase your salary by up to 6%.
Hard Working: Can increase your salary by up to 5%.
Warehouse Material Handler/Forklift Operator Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors
For Warehouse Material Handler/Forklift Operator roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential
by as much as 50% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries).
Data shows that the Pharmaceuticals and Energy & Utilities
sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 28% above the average.
In contrast, Warehouse Material Handler/Forklift Operator positions in Hospitality & Leisure or Transportation typically offer lower base pay,
as these industries often view Warehouse Material Handler/Forklift Operator as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.
The top paying industries for a Warehouse Material Handler/Forklift Operator
Industry Sector
Average Annual Salary
Average Hourly Rate
Pay vs.Avg
Pharmaceuticals
$46,935
$23.0
28%
Energy & Utilities
$45,098
$22.0
23%
Biotechnology
$43,261
$21.0
18%
Financial Services
$41,424
$20.0
13%
Software & Networking
$41,424
$20.0
13%
How Education impacts a Warehouse Material Handler/Forklift Operator's Salary?
Your level of education can impact your salary potential.
While many Warehouse Material Handler/Forklift Operators enter the field with a No Diploma 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 Warehouse Material Handler/Forklift Operator with a No Diploma is between
$33,924
and $35,972).
Warehouse Material Handler/Forklift Operator Salaries by Degree Level
$39,000
$38,200
$37,500
$36,800
$36,100
$35,400
$34,700
$34,000
No Diploma
High School
Associates
Bachelors
Masters
Doctorate
Typical Education for Warehouse Material Handler/Forklift Operator
Degree Level
% of user with this level of education
No Diploma
3.7%
High School
67.3%
Associates
11.2%
Bachelors
16.8%
Masters
0.9%
Doctorate
0.0%
Typical Education for Warehouse Material Handler/Forklift Operator
Warehouse Material Handler/Forklift Operator Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay
Understanding how a Warehouse Material Handler/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
$34,259
Average$36,740/year
$39,214
$2,855
Average$3,062/month
$3,268
$659
Average$707/week
$754
$16
Average$18/hour
$19
Annual Salary
Monthly Pay
Weekly Pay
Hourly Wage
75th Percentile
$39,214
$3,268
$754
$19
Average
$36,740
$3,062
$707
$18
25th Percentile
$34,259
$2,855
$659
$16
Salaries of Jobs related to Warehouse Material Handler/Forklift Operator
Warehouse Material Handler III$46,663
Material Handler/Machine Operator$46,136
Warehouse Forklift Operator$42,803
Material Handler/Warehouse Associate$42,272
Warehouse Material Handler II$41,343
Material Operator$40,439
Warehouse Labor / Material Handler$37,231
Warehouse Material Handler$37,094
Warehouse Material Handler I$37,063
Material Receiving Operator$36,139
Operator, Warehouse$33,611
Salary Trends for Warehouse Material Handler/Forklift Operator
Salaries for a Warehouse Material Handler/Forklift Operator can change over time,
reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy.
The median salary decreased from $40,624 in 2023
to around $40,348 in 2025,
reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy.
For a detailed analysis of Warehouse Material Handler/Forklift Operator salary trends,
.
Average Annual Salary of Warehouse Material Handler/Forklift Operator Over Time
$???
$40,624
$40,640
$40,348
$???
$???
2022
2023
2024
2025
2026
2027
Year
Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023
$40,624
2024
$40,640
2025
$40,348
2026
View More
2027
View More
Most common benefits for Warehouse Material Handler/Forklift Operator
Social Security
401 (k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
Common company salaries for Warehouse Material Handler/Forklift Operator
Here are companies hiring for Warehouse Material Handler/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 Warehouse Material Handler/Forklift Operator
1. What industry pays the highest salary for Warehouse Material Handler/Forklift Operator?
The Pharmaceuticals industry offers the highest average compensation for Warehouse Material Handler/Forklift Operator roles,
with salaries approximately 28% 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.
