The average salary for a fork lift operator in Iowa is around $47,590 per year.
Avg Salary
Fork lift operators earn an average yearly salary of $47,590.
Wages typically start from $38,640 and go up to $61,000.
29% below national average Updated in 2025
Fork lift operator earnings by seniority
90th percentile
Top-level fork lift operator earnings begin at:
$29.33 per hour
$61,000 per year
75th percentile
Senior-level fork lift operator earnings begin at:
$25.46 per hour
$52,950 per year
50th percentile
Mid-level fork lift operator earnings begin at:
$22.88 per hour
$47,590 per year
25th percentile
Junior-level fork lift operator earnings begin at:
$20.90 per hour
$43,460 per year
10th percentile
Starting level fork lift operator earnings begin at:
$18.58 per hour
$38,640 per year
Approximate values based on highest and lowest earning segments.
Fork lift operator salary by state
| State Name | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $83,720 |
| New Mexico | $62,150 |
| Delaware | $60,350 |
| Wyoming | $59,820 |
| New Hampshire | $54,460 |
| Alaska | $54,190 |
| Hawaii | $53,640 |
| Oregon | $50,760 |
| Colorado | $50,570 |
| Washington | $49,910 |
| Minnesota | $49,740 |
| North Dakota | $49,260 |
| Utah | $49,040 |
| New York | $49,030 |
| Louisiana | $48,950 |
| Florida | $48,370 |
| Arizona | $48,110 |
| Montana | $48,060 |
| California | $47,770 |
| Maine | $47,730 |
| Pennsylvania | $47,730 |
| Illinois | $47,720 |
| Wisconsin | $47,720 |
| Iowa | $47,590 |
| Kansas | $47,430 |
| South Dakota | $47,410 |
| Vermont | $47,380 |
| Connecticut | $47,190 |
| Virginia | $46,920 |
| Massachusetts | $46,850 |
| Nebraska | $46,730 |
| Kentucky | $46,630 |
| Idaho | $46,600 |
| Ohio | $46,450 |
| New Jersey | $46,100 |
| Indiana | $45,650 |
| Maryland | $45,630 |
| Texas | $45,450 |
| Nevada | $45,230 |
| Michigan | $45,220 |
| Missouri | $45,190 |
| Rhode Island | $45,010 |
| Alabama | $44,880 |
| Oklahoma | $44,700 |
| Arkansas | $43,780 |
| South Carolina | $43,680 |
| Mississippi | $43,420 |
| North Carolina | $43,420 |
| Georgia | $43,210 |
| Tennessee | $42,100 |
| West Virginia | $41,670 |
| Guam | $27,680 |
| Virgin Islands, U.S. | $24,870 |
| Puerto Rico | $19,070 |
How do fork lift operator salaries compare to similar careers?
Fork lift operators earn about the same as related careers in Iowa. On average, they make less than roofers but more than metal workers.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Roofer salary | $49K |
| Construction worker salary | $48K |
| Metal caster salary | $49K |
| Machine assembler salary | $46K |
| Furniture finisher salary | $47K |
| Fork lift operator salary | $48K |
| Cabinetmaker salary | $47K |
| Drill press operator salary | $44K |
| Hand polishing worker salary | $47K |
| Metal worker salary | $45K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)