Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA · BLS OEWS & BEA Regional Data

Forklift Operator Salary in Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA

In the Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA metropolitan area, forklift operators earned a median annual wage of $39,600 ($19.04/hour) in the BLS May 2025 OEWS survey. The 10th percentile was $33,400/year and the 90th was $51,400/year; these percentiles do not measure years of experience. Applying 2026 federal and Tennessee tax rules to the survey median leaves an estimated $33,999 in take-home pay. The metro price index is 86.4 against a national baseline of 100.

Wage Benchmark Overview

Median Annual Salary

$39,600$19.04 per hour · $3,300 monthly
10th Percentile$33,400$16.06/hr base
25th Percentile$35,500$17.07/hr base
75th Percentile$44,800$21.54/hr base
90th Percentile$51,400$24.71/hr base

Run the numbers on your own pay

Same U.S. tax tables as the rest of the site. Change the salary, state, or filing status.

Take-Home Pay Explorer

$39,600
$15,000$80,000
Filing status:
Gross salary breakdown$39,600
Net 86%
Fed 6%
FICA 8%
Annual take-home$33,999After all taxes
Monthly deposit$2,833Estimated per month
Biweekly paycheck$1,308Every 2 weeks (26/yr)
Effective tax rate14.1%Total tax burden
Federal income tax$2,572 / yr
Tennessee state income taxNo state wage tax$0
FICA (Social Security & Medicare)$3,029 / yr

Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators Wage Percentiles in Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA

Official survey estimates from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Full-time calculations assume standard 2,080 annual working hours.

Wage Distribution for Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators in the Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA Metropolitan Area
Earning TierHourly WageMonthly GrossAnnual GrossEst. Annual Net (TN)
10th Percentile$16.06/hr$2,783$33,400$29,017
25th Percentile$17.07/hr$2,958$35,500$30,704
Median (50th Percentile)Metro Benchmark$19.04/hr$3,300$39,600$33,999
75th Percentile$21.54/hr$3,733$44,800$38,177
90th Percentile$24.71/hr$4,283$51,400$43,480

Cost of Living & Purchasing Power in Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA

A dollar does not buy the same basket of goods everywhere. Compare how $$39,600 measures up against local economic conditions:

Metro Median Household Income$57,792Census Bureau ACS
BEA Price Parity Index86.413.6% below national average
Individual vs Household Ratio68.5%of area median income

Compare forklift operators salaries statewide and examine overall earnings in Tennessee:

Frequently Asked Questions About Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators Pay in Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA

What is the median salary for forklift operators in Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA?

The official BLS median annual wage for forklift operators in Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA is $39,600, which equates to approximately $3,300 per month or $19.04 per hour for a 2,080-hour work year.

What is the hourly pay for forklift operators in Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA?

The median hourly wage for forklift operators in Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA is $19.04 per hour based on the BLS survey. One in ten earned less than $16.06/hour and one in ten earned more than $24.71/hour.

What is the pay range for forklift operators in Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA?

BLS wage estimates for forklift operators in Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA span from $33,400 at the 10th percentile to $35,500 at the 25th, $44,800 at the 75th, and $51,400 at the 90th. These are wage distribution points, not experience levels.

How much do forklift operators take home after taxes in Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA?

On a median gross salary of $39,600, an estimated $33,999 lands in net take-home pay per year ($1,308 biweekly) for a single filer claiming the standard deduction in Tennessee in 2026. Total tax withholding equals $5,601 (an effective rate of 14.1%).

How much do forklift operators make per month in Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA?

On the median annual salary of $39,600, gross monthly income is $3,300. After federal, FICA, and Tennessee state income taxes, estimated net take-home pay is $2,833 per month (or $1,308 every two weeks).

Is $39,600 a good salary in Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA?

At $39,600, the median salary for forklift operators is 68.5% of the Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA median household income ($57,792). According to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), the metropolitan price parity index is 86.4, making regional consumer goods and services 13.6% cheaper than the U.S. average.