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Bozeman, MT metro area · BLS May 2025 · Updated

How much does a forklift operator make in Bozeman, MT?

In the Bozeman, MT metropolitan area, forklift operators earned a median of $48,360 a year ($23.25 an hour) in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey for the metro. BLS counted 80 of these jobs there. That is 12% below the $54,830 median for all jobs in the metro. The middle 80% earned between $43,830 and $63,330; these percentiles do not measure years of experience. Applying 2026 federal and Montana tax rules to the median leaves an estimated $39,521 in take-home pay.

Forklift operator pay in Bozeman, MT at a glance

Median salary

$48,360$23.25 per hour · $4,030 monthly · BLS May 2025
10th percentile$43,830$21.07/hr
25th percentile$46,600$22.40/hr
75th percentile$63,330$30.45/hr
90th percentile$63,330$30.45/hr
Jobs in this metro80Location quotient 0.21 (U.S. = 1.00)
Against all jobs here12% belowAll-jobs median $54,830
Against Montana1% aboveStatewide median $48,060
Against the U.S.4% aboveNational median $46,420

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 payWhat $48,000 a year leaves after tax in MontanaFederal tax, FICA and Montana withholding on that salary, with the other 49 states beside it.
By the hour$23 an hour is how much a yearWeekly, biweekly and monthly gross at 2,080 hours, plus time and a half.
HousingWhat a $48,000 salary buys at today's ratesPrice range, down payment and the monthly payment behind it, on current mortgage rates.
Local pricesWhat $48,000 is worth where you liveRent, groceries and the local price level against the national average.
Same stateEvery occupation Montana publishes a wage forThe biggest employers, the best paid, and what is distinctive about Montana.

Forklift operator salary in Bozeman, MT after taxes

$48,360
$15,000$100,000
Filing status:
Gross salary breakdown$48,360
Net 82%
Fed 7%
MT 3%
FICA 8%
Annual take-home$39,521After all taxes
Monthly deposit$3,293Estimated per month
Biweekly paycheck$1,520Every 2 weeks (26/yr)
Effective tax rate18.3%Total tax burden
Federal income tax$3,623 / yr
Montana state income tax$1,516 / yr
FICA (Social Security & Medicare)$3,700 / yr
Customize deductions in full Montana calculator

Forklift operators pay range in Bozeman, MT, hourly and yearly

BLS May 2025 estimates for the Bozeman, MT metropolitan statistical area. Monthly and take-home figures are ours, computed from the annual wage.

What forklift operators earned in the Bozeman, MT metro area, May 2025
PercentileHourlyMonthlyYearlyAfter tax a year (MT)
10th percentile$21.07/hr$3,653$43,830$36,094
25th percentile$22.40/hr$3,883$46,600$38,190
MedianMedian$23.25/hr$4,030$48,360$39,521
75th percentile$30.45/hr$5,278$63,330$50,846
90th percentile$30.45/hr$5,278$63,330$50,846

Is $48,360 a good salary in Bozeman, MT?

It depends on what else people there earn and what things cost. Here is the median for forklift operators next to both.

Median household income$93,528Census Bureau ACS
Local price level (U.S. = 100)102.52.5% above national average
One paycheck vs. a household51.7%of area median income

The same job statewide and nationally, and a calculator for your own paycheck.

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Forklift operators pay in other Montana metros

Metros in the same state that are closest in size to Bozeman, MT. A statewide average can hide differences this large.

Forklift operator pay in Bozeman, MT: common questions

What is the median salary for forklift operators in Bozeman, MT?

The BLS median annual wage for forklift operators in the Bozeman, MT metro area was $48,360 in May 2025, about $4,030 a month or $23.25 an hour. Statewide, the Montana median for this job is $48,060, so the metro pays 1% above the state.

What is the hourly pay for forklift operators in Bozeman, MT?

The median hourly wage for forklift operators in Bozeman, MT was $23.25 in the BLS survey. One in ten earned less than $21.07 an hour and one in ten earned more than $30.45.

How many forklift operators work in Bozeman, MT?

BLS estimated 80 jobs for forklift operators in the metro in May 2025, or 1.1 of every 1,000 jobs. Its location quotient of 0.21 means the job is less concentrated here than in the country as a whole.

What is the pay range for forklift operators in Bozeman, MT?

BLS wage estimates for forklift operators in Bozeman, MT run from $43,830 at the 10th percentile to $46,600 at the 25th, $63,330 at the 75th, and $63,330 at the 90th. These are points in the wage distribution, not experience levels.

How much do forklift operators take home after taxes in Bozeman, MT?

On a median gross salary of $48,360, an estimated $39,521 lands in net take-home pay per year ($1,520 biweekly) for a single filer claiming the standard deduction in Montana in 2026. Total tax withholding equals $8,839 (an effective rate of 18.3%).

How much do forklift operators make per month in Bozeman, MT?

On the median annual salary of $48,360, gross monthly income is $4,030. After federal, FICA, and Montana state income taxes, estimated net take-home pay is $3,293 per month (or $1,520 every two weeks).

Is $48,360 a good salary in Bozeman, MT?

At $48,360, the median salary for forklift operators is 51.7% of the Bozeman, MT median household income ($93,528). It is 12% below the $54,830 median for all jobs in the metro. The BEA regional price parity is 102.5, so prices here run 2.5% above the U.S. average.