Forklift operator pay in Denver-Aurora, CO at a glance
Median salary
$52,190$25.09 per hour · $4,349 monthly · BLS May 2025Run the numbers on your own pay
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Forklift operator salary in Denver-Aurora, CO after taxes
Forklift operators pay range in Denver-Aurora, CO, hourly and yearly
BLS May 2025 estimates for the Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO metropolitan statistical area. Monthly and take-home figures are ours, computed from the annual wage.
| Percentile | Hourly | Monthly | Yearly | After tax a year (CO) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $21.53/hr | $3,732 | $44,780 | $36,899 |
| 25th percentile | $22.81/hr | $3,953 | $47,440 | $38,919 |
| MedianMedian | $25.09/hr | $4,349 | $52,190 | $42,527 |
| 75th percentile | $29.78/hr | $5,162 | $61,940 | $49,932 |
| 90th percentile | $31.90/hr | $5,529 | $66,350 | $53,281 |
Is $52,190 a good salary in Denver-Aurora, CO?
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 Colorado and across the U.S.
The same job statewide and nationally, and a calculator for your own paycheck.
Forklift operator pay in Denver-Aurora, CO: common questions
What is the median salary for forklift operators in Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO?
The BLS median annual wage for forklift operators in the Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO metro area was $52,190 in May 2025, about $4,349 a month or $25.09 an hour. Statewide, the Colorado median for this job is $50,570, so the metro pays 3% above the state.
What is the hourly pay for forklift operators in Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO?
The median hourly wage for forklift operators in Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO was $25.09 in the BLS survey. One in ten earned less than $21.53 an hour and one in ten earned more than $31.90.
How many forklift operators work in Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO?
BLS estimated 5,410 jobs for forklift operators in the metro in May 2025, or 3.4 of every 1,000 jobs. Its location quotient of 0.67 means the job is less concentrated here than in the country as a whole.
What is the pay range for forklift operators in Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO?
BLS wage estimates for forklift operators in Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO run from $44,780 at the 10th percentile to $47,440 at the 25th, $61,940 at the 75th, and $66,350 at the 90th. These are points in the wage distribution, not experience levels.
How much do forklift operators take home after taxes in Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO?
On a median gross salary of $52,190, an estimated $42,527 lands in net take-home pay per year ($1,636 biweekly) for a single filer claiming the standard deduction in Colorado in 2026. Total tax withholding equals $9,663 (an effective rate of 18.5%).
How much do forklift operators make per month in Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO?
On the median annual salary of $52,190, gross monthly income is $4,349. After federal, FICA, and Colorado state income taxes, estimated net take-home pay is $3,544 per month (or $1,636 every two weeks).
Is $52,190 a good salary in Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO?
At $52,190, the median salary for forklift operators is 49.3% of the Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO median household income ($105,762). It is 16% below the $62,320 median for all jobs in the metro. The BEA regional price parity is 105.8, so prices here run 5.8% above the U.S. average.