Forklift Operator Salary in New York, NY (2026)
Median in New York: $22.56/hour ($46,930/year) — $510 (1%) above the national median. Typical range: $42,730–$60,160.
BLS OEWS May 2025 · New York, NY metro · refreshed 2026-08-25 · Reviewed by Dalton Metzler · U.S. Forklift Operator salary overview
The median Forklift Operator salary in New York, NY is $22.56/hour ($46,930/year) ($510 (1%) above the national median), with a typical range of $42,730–$60,160. Data from BLS + Jobeezy ghost-filter (2026).
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Median | $22.56/hour ($46,930/year) | BLS OEWS May 2025 |
| 25th-75th pct | $42,730–$60,160 | BLS OEWS May 2025 |
| Metro employment | ~24,720 | BLS OEWS May 2025 |
Forklift Operator pay distribution in New York, NY
National median: $46,420/yr. New York is $510 (1%) above the national median.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025 — New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ metro area (SOC 53-7051, Forklift Operator).
What forklift operator pay in New York really looks like
New York tracks the national market almost exactly. The local forklift operator median of about $22.56 an hour ($46,930 a year) sits within 1% ($510) of the U.S. median of $46,420, so national salary benchmarks translate cleanly to this metro — the number you have seen quoted nationally is, give or take, what forklift operators actually earn in New York.
The local range is moderate — $42,730 at the 25th percentile to $60,160 at the 75th (BLS). Half of New York Forklift Operators earn inside that band, so it is a realistic target window: an offer near $60,160 is genuinely strong for the metro, while anything under $42,730 is worth pushing back on with the BLS figures in hand.
This is a substantial local market: BLS estimates roughly 24,720 forklift operator jobs across the New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ metro area (a count of metro employment, not a survey of reported salaries). A deep employer base is good news for pay — it means more openings to compare side by side, more turnover creating vacancies, and more leverage to hold out for an employer at the top of the local range instead of settling for the first offer that lands.
Right now, Jobeezy is tracking 24 open forklift operator jobs in New York against the BLS $46,930 benchmark — the live listings and the employers hiring are below, so you can see which openings actually clear the metro median before you apply.
Put it together and the picture for New York is concrete: a metro median of $46,930 with most forklift operators landing between $42,730 and $60,160. The practical move is to aim for the upper half of that band. Jobeezy fit-scores local forklift operator openings, surfaces the employers posting toward $60,160, and applies for you — so your time goes to the jobs that clear the New York median, not the ones that sit under it.
Forklift Operator pay by hour, week, month & year in New York
| Period | Typical Pay |
|---|---|
| Per hour | $22.56 |
| Per week (40 hrs) | $902 |
| Per month | $3,911 |
| Per year | $46,930 |
How we know this — New York sources
Wage figures for Forklift Operator in New York, NY are the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS May 2025 estimate for the New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ metro area (MSA code 35620) (SOC 53-7051), released 2026-08-25. Suppressed cells are shown as an em dash, never a zero.
Grow your forklift operator pay in New York
Advancing your pay in New York comes down to experience, credentials, and how you negotiate. We keep that guidance on the national Forklift Operator guide so it stays current in one place:
Compare Forklift Operator pay in nearby metros
Related roles in New York
Beyond Forklift Operator · same New York BLS datasetOther roles hiring in New York, NY alongside forklift operators, drawn from the same BLS OEWS May 2025 dataset:
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Forklift Operator pay in New York, NY — common questions
- How much does a Forklift Operator make in New York, NY?
- The median Forklift Operator salary in New York, NY is $22.56/hour ($46,930/year) ($510 (1%) above the national median), with a typical range of $42,730–$60,160 (25th–75th percentile). Figures are BLS OEWS May 2025, released 2026-08-25.
- Is New York a strong pay market for Forklift Operators?
- At a $46,930 median, New York is $510 (1%) above the national median. The U.S. median is $46,420. Jobeezy shows you which local employers actually pay at the top of that band before you apply.
- How can I earn more as a Forklift Operator in New York?
- Target employers paying toward the $60,160 (75th-percentile) mark and anchor your negotiation to the BLS band. Jobeezy fit-scores Forklift Operator openings in New York and auto-applies, so you reach more high-paying employers fast.
- How many Forklift Operators work in New York?
- BLS estimates roughly 24,720 forklift operator jobs across New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ (May 2025 metro employment — a count of jobs, not of salaries reported).