San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA · BLS OEWS & BEA Regional Data

Forklift Operator Salary in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA

In the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metropolitan area, forklift operators earned a median annual wage of $49,900 ($23.99/hour) in the BLS May 2025 OEWS survey. The 10th percentile was $40,400/year and the 90th was $66,100/year; these percentiles do not measure years of experience. Applying 2026 federal and California tax rules to the survey median leaves an estimated $41,241 in take-home pay. The metro price index is 115.6 against a national baseline of 100.

Wage Benchmark Overview

Median Annual Salary

$49,900$23.99 per hour · $4,158 monthly
10th Percentile$40,400$19.42/hr base
25th Percentile$45,100$21.68/hr base
75th Percentile$60,900$29.28/hr base
90th Percentile$66,100$31.78/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

$49,900
$15,000$100,000
Filing status:
Gross salary breakdown$49,900
Net 83%
Fed 8%
CA 2%
FICA 8%
Annual take-home$41,241After all taxes
Monthly deposit$3,437Estimated per month
Biweekly paycheck$1,586Every 2 weeks (26/yr)
Effective tax rate17.4%Total tax burden
Federal income tax$3,808 / yr
California state income tax$1,034 / yr
FICA (Social Security & Medicare)$3,817 / yr

Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators Wage Percentiles in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA

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 San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA Metropolitan Area
Earning TierHourly WageMonthly GrossAnnual GrossEst. Annual Net (CA)
10th Percentile$19.42/hr$3,367$40,400$34,043
25th Percentile$21.68/hr$3,758$45,100$37,631
Median (50th Percentile)Metro Benchmark$23.99/hr$4,158$49,900$41,241
75th Percentile$29.28/hr$5,075$60,900$49,420
90th Percentile$31.78/hr$5,508$66,100$53,229

Cost of Living & Purchasing Power in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA

A dollar does not buy the same basket of goods everywhere. Compare how $$49,900 measures up against local economic conditions:

Metro Median Household Income$136,027Census Bureau ACS
BEA Price Parity Index115.615.6% above national average
Individual vs Household Ratio36.7%of area median income

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

Frequently Asked Questions About Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators Pay in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA

What is the median salary for forklift operators in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA?

The official BLS median annual wage for forklift operators in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA is $49,900, which equates to approximately $4,158 per month or $23.99 per hour for a 2,080-hour work year.

What is the hourly pay for forklift operators in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA?

The median hourly wage for forklift operators in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA is $23.99 per hour based on the BLS survey. One in ten earned less than $19.42/hour and one in ten earned more than $31.78/hour.

What is the pay range for forklift operators in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA?

BLS wage estimates for forklift operators in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA span from $40,400 at the 10th percentile to $45,100 at the 25th, $60,900 at the 75th, and $66,100 at the 90th. These are wage distribution points, not experience levels.

How much do forklift operators take home after taxes in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA?

On a median gross salary of $49,900, an estimated $41,241 lands in net take-home pay per year ($1,586 biweekly) for a single filer claiming the standard deduction in California in 2026. Total tax withholding equals $8,659 (an effective rate of 17.4%).

How much do forklift operators make per month in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA?

On the median annual salary of $49,900, gross monthly income is $4,158. After federal, FICA, and California state income taxes, estimated net take-home pay is $3,437 per month (or $1,586 every two weeks).

Is $49,900 a good salary in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA?

At $49,900, the median salary for forklift operators is 36.7% of the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA median household income ($136,027). According to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), the metropolitan price parity index is 115.6, making regional consumer goods and services 15.6% more expensive than the U.S. average.