The average salary for a fork lift operator in Washington is around $49,910 per year.
Avg Salary
Fork lift operators earn an average yearly salary of $49,910.
Wages typically start from $41,600 and go up to $62,920.
35% below national average Updated in 2025
Fork lift operator earnings by seniority
90th percentile
Top-level fork lift operator earnings begin at:
$30.25 per hour
$62,920 per year
75th percentile
Senior-level fork lift operator earnings begin at:
$27.29 per hour
$56,760 per year
50th percentile
Mid-level fork lift operator earnings begin at:
$24.00 per hour
$49,910 per year
25th percentile
Junior-level fork lift operator earnings begin at:
$22.34 per hour
$46,460 per year
10th percentile
Starting level fork lift operator earnings begin at:
$20.00 per hour
$41,600 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 Washington. On average, they make less than plasterers but more than sewing machine operators.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Plasterer salary | $52K |
| Stone cutter salary | $52K |
| Molding and casting worker salary | $52K |
| Cabinetmaker salary | $49K |
| Metal worker salary | $48K |
| Fork lift operator salary | $50K |
| Hand polishing worker salary | $47K |
| Furniture finisher salary | $43K |
| Machine feeder salary | $46K |
| Sewing machine operator salary | $43K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)