Forklift operator pay in Charleston, SC at a glance
Median salary
$46,890$22.54 per hour · $3,908 monthly · BLS May 2025Run the numbers on your own pay
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Forklift operator salary in Charleston, SC after taxes
Forklift operators pay range in Charleston, SC, hourly and yearly
BLS May 2025 estimates for the Charleston-North Charleston, SC metropolitan statistical area. Monthly and take-home figures are ours, computed from the annual wage.
| Percentile | Hourly | Monthly | Yearly | After tax a year (SC) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $18.15/hr | $3,146 | $37,750 | $32,059 |
| 25th percentile | $19.50/hr | $3,380 | $40,560 | $34,258 |
| MedianMedian | $22.54/hr | $3,908 | $46,890 | $39,063 |
| 75th percentile | $24.51/hr | $4,248 | $50,970 | $42,071 |
| 90th percentile | $39.11/hr | $6,780 | $81,360 | $62,988 |
Is $46,890 a good salary in Charleston, SC?
It depends on what else people there earn and what things cost. Here is the median for forklift operators next to both.
Forklift operators pay in South Carolina and across the U.S.
The same job statewide and nationally, and a calculator for your own paycheck.
Forklift operator pay in Charleston, SC: common questions
What is the median salary for forklift operators in Charleston-North Charleston, SC?
The BLS median annual wage for forklift operators in the Charleston-North Charleston, SC metro area was $46,890 in May 2025, about $3,908 a month or $22.54 an hour. Statewide, the South Carolina median for this job is $43,680, so the metro pays 7% above the state.
What is the hourly pay for forklift operators in Charleston-North Charleston, SC?
The median hourly wage for forklift operators in Charleston-North Charleston, SC was $22.54 in the BLS survey. One in ten earned less than $18.15 an hour and one in ten earned more than $39.11.
How many forklift operators work in Charleston-North Charleston, SC?
BLS estimated 2,420 jobs for forklift operators in the metro in May 2025, or 6.1 of every 1,000 jobs. Its location quotient of 1.23 means the job is more concentrated here than in the country as a whole.
What is the pay range for forklift operators in Charleston-North Charleston, SC?
BLS wage estimates for forklift operators in Charleston-North Charleston, SC run from $37,750 at the 10th percentile to $40,560 at the 25th, $50,970 at the 75th, and $81,360 at the 90th. These are points in the wage distribution, not experience levels.
How much do forklift operators take home after taxes in Charleston-North Charleston, SC?
On a median gross salary of $46,890, an estimated $39,063 lands in net take-home pay per year ($1,502 biweekly) for a single filer claiming the standard deduction in South Carolina in 2026. Total tax withholding equals $7,827 (an effective rate of 16.7%).
How much do forklift operators make per month in Charleston-North Charleston, SC?
On the median annual salary of $46,890, gross monthly income is $3,908. After federal, FICA, and South Carolina state income taxes, estimated net take-home pay is $3,255 per month (or $1,502 every two weeks).
Is $46,890 a good salary in Charleston-North Charleston, SC?
At $46,890, the median salary for forklift operators is 55% of the Charleston-North Charleston, SC median household income ($85,254). It is 5% below the $49,150 median for all jobs in the metro. The BEA regional price parity is 101.0, so prices here run 1% above the U.S. average.