The average salary for a fork lift operator in South Dakota is around $47,410 per year.
Avg Salary
Fork lift operators earn an average yearly salary of $47,410.
Wages typically start from $37,780 and go up to $61,080.
25% below national average Updated in 2025
Fork lift operator earnings by seniority
Top-level fork lift operator earnings begin at:
$29.36 per hour
$61,080 per year
Senior-level fork lift operator earnings begin at:
$26.33 per hour
$54,770 per year
Mid-level fork lift operator earnings begin at:
$22.79 per hour
$47,410 per year
Junior-level fork lift operator earnings begin at:
$20.83 per hour
$43,320 per year
Starting level fork lift operator earnings begin at:
$18.17 per hour
$37,780 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 South Dakota. On average, they make less than drywall and ceiling tile installers but more than construction painters.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Drywall and ceiling tile installer salary | $49K |
| Pipelayer salary | $51K |
| Maintenance worker salary | $48K |
| Chemical technician salary | $49K |
| Cement mason salary | $47K |
| Fork lift operator salary | $47K |
| Gem worker salary | $45K |
| Precious metal worker salary | $45K |
| Glazier salary | $47K |
| Construction painter salary | $48K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)