Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI · BLS OEWS & BEA Regional Data

Forklift Operator Salary in Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI

In the Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI metropolitan area, forklift operators earned a median annual wage of $52,900 ($25.43/hour) in the BLS May 2025 OEWS survey. The 10th percentile was $42,500/year and the 90th was $78,500/year; these percentiles do not measure years of experience. Applying 2026 federal and Minnesota tax rules to the survey median leaves an estimated $42,611 in take-home pay. The metro price index is 104.8 against a national baseline of 100.

Wage Benchmark Overview

Median Annual Salary

$52,900$25.43 per hour · $4,408 monthly
10th Percentile$42,500$20.43/hr base
25th Percentile$47,400$22.79/hr base
75th Percentile$63,400$30.48/hr base
90th Percentile$78,500$37.74/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

$52,900
$20,000$110,000
Filing status:
Gross salary breakdown$52,900
Net 81%
Fed 8%
MN 4%
FICA 8%
Annual take-home$42,611After all taxes
Monthly deposit$3,551Estimated per month
Biweekly paycheck$1,639Every 2 weeks (26/yr)
Effective tax rate19.5%Total tax burden
Federal income tax$4,168 / yr
Minnesota state income tax$2,074 / yr
FICA (Social Security & Medicare)$4,047 / yr

Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators Wage Percentiles in Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI

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 Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI Metropolitan Area
Earning TierHourly WageMonthly GrossAnnual GrossEst. Annual Net (MN)
10th Percentile$20.43/hr$3,542$42,500$34,874
25th Percentile$22.79/hr$3,950$47,400$38,549
Median (50th Percentile)Metro Benchmark$25.43/hr$4,408$52,900$42,611
75th Percentile$30.48/hr$5,283$63,400$50,334
90th Percentile$37.74/hr$6,542$78,500$60,240

Cost of Living & Purchasing Power in Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI

A dollar does not buy the same basket of goods everywhere. Compare how $$52,900 measures up against local economic conditions:

Metro Median Household Income$99,833Census Bureau ACS
BEA Price Parity Index104.84.8% above national average
Individual vs Household Ratio53%of area median income

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

Frequently Asked Questions About Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators Pay in Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI

What is the median salary for forklift operators in Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI?

The official BLS median annual wage for forklift operators in Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI is $52,900, which equates to approximately $4,408 per month or $25.43 per hour for a 2,080-hour work year.

What is the hourly pay for forklift operators in Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI?

The median hourly wage for forklift operators in Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI is $25.43 per hour based on the BLS survey. One in ten earned less than $20.43/hour and one in ten earned more than $37.74/hour.

What is the pay range for forklift operators in Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI?

BLS wage estimates for forklift operators in Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI span from $42,500 at the 10th percentile to $47,400 at the 25th, $63,400 at the 75th, and $78,500 at the 90th. These are wage distribution points, not experience levels.

How much do forklift operators take home after taxes in Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI?

On a median gross salary of $52,900, an estimated $42,611 lands in net take-home pay per year ($1,639 biweekly) for a single filer claiming the standard deduction in Minnesota in 2026. Total tax withholding equals $10,289 (an effective rate of 19.4%).

How much do forklift operators make per month in Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI?

On the median annual salary of $52,900, gross monthly income is $4,408. After federal, FICA, and Minnesota state income taxes, estimated net take-home pay is $3,551 per month (or $1,639 every two weeks).

Is $52,900 a good salary in Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI?

At $52,900, the median salary for forklift operators is 53% of the Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI median household income ($99,833). According to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), the metropolitan price parity index is 104.8, making regional consumer goods and services 4.8% more expensive than the U.S. average.