St. Louis, MO-IL · BLS OEWS & BEA Regional Data

Forklift Operator Salary in St. Louis, MO-IL

In the St. Louis, MO-IL metropolitan area, forklift operators earned a median annual wage of $45,400 ($21.83/hour) in the BLS May 2025 OEWS survey. The 10th percentile was $36,100/year and the 90th was $60,100/year; these percentiles do not measure years of experience. Applying 2026 federal and Illinois tax rules to the survey median leaves an estimated $36,556 in take-home pay. The metro price index is 95.1 against a national baseline of 100.

Wage Benchmark Overview

Median Annual Salary

$45,400$21.83 per hour · $3,783 monthly
10th Percentile$36,100$17.36/hr base
25th Percentile$40,800$19.62/hr base
75th Percentile$54,700$26.30/hr base
90th Percentile$60,100$28.89/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

$45,400
$15,000$95,000
Filing status:
Gross salary breakdown$45,400
Net 81%
Fed 7%
IL 5%
FICA 8%
Annual take-home$36,556After all taxes
Monthly deposit$3,046Estimated per month
Biweekly paycheck$1,406Every 2 weeks (26/yr)
Effective tax rate19.5%Total tax burden
Federal income tax$3,268 / yr
Illinois state income tax$2,103 / yr
FICA (Social Security & Medicare)$3,473 / yr

Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators Wage Percentiles in St. Louis, MO-IL

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 St. Louis, MO-IL Metropolitan Area
Earning TierHourly WageMonthly GrossAnnual GrossEst. Annual Net (IL)
10th Percentile$17.36/hr$3,008$36,100$29,544
25th Percentile$19.62/hr$3,400$40,800$33,088
Median (50th Percentile)Metro Benchmark$21.83/hr$3,783$45,400$36,556
75th Percentile$26.30/hr$4,558$54,700$43,569
90th Percentile$28.89/hr$5,008$60,100$47,640

Cost of Living & Purchasing Power in St. Louis, MO-IL

A dollar does not buy the same basket of goods everywhere. Compare how $$45,400 measures up against local economic conditions:

Metro Median Household Income$80,196Census Bureau ACS
BEA Price Parity Index95.14.9% below national average
Individual vs Household Ratio56.6%of area median income

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

Frequently Asked Questions About Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators Pay in St. Louis, MO-IL

What is the median salary for forklift operators in St. Louis, MO-IL?

The official BLS median annual wage for forklift operators in St. Louis, MO-IL is $45,400, which equates to approximately $3,783 per month or $21.83 per hour for a 2,080-hour work year.

What is the hourly pay for forklift operators in St. Louis, MO-IL?

The median hourly wage for forklift operators in St. Louis, MO-IL is $21.83 per hour based on the BLS survey. One in ten earned less than $17.36/hour and one in ten earned more than $28.89/hour.

What is the pay range for forklift operators in St. Louis, MO-IL?

BLS wage estimates for forklift operators in St. Louis, MO-IL span from $36,100 at the 10th percentile to $40,800 at the 25th, $54,700 at the 75th, and $60,100 at the 90th. These are wage distribution points, not experience levels.

How much do forklift operators take home after taxes in St. Louis, MO-IL?

On a median gross salary of $45,400, an estimated $36,556 lands in net take-home pay per year ($1,406 biweekly) for a single filer claiming the standard deduction in Illinois in 2026. Total tax withholding equals $8,844 (an effective rate of 19.5%).

How much do forklift operators make per month in St. Louis, MO-IL?

On the median annual salary of $45,400, gross monthly income is $3,783. After federal, FICA, and Illinois state income taxes, estimated net take-home pay is $3,046 per month (or $1,406 every two weeks).

Is $45,400 a good salary in St. Louis, MO-IL?

At $45,400, the median salary for forklift operators is 56.6% of the St. Louis, MO-IL median household income ($80,196). According to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), the metropolitan price parity index is 95.1, making regional consumer goods and services 4.9% cheaper than the U.S. average.