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Dubuque, IA metro area · BLS May 2025 · Updated

How much does a forklift operator make in Dubuque, IA?

In the Dubuque, IA metropolitan area, forklift operators earned a median of $50,770 a year ($24.41 an hour) in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey for the metro. BLS counted 230 of these jobs there. That is 4% above the $48,750 median for all jobs in the metro. The middle 80% earned between $40,820 and $62,250; these percentiles do not measure years of experience. Applying 2026 federal and Iowa tax rules to the median leaves an estimated $41,696 in take-home pay.

Forklift operator pay in Dubuque, IA at a glance

Median salary

$50,770$24.41 per hour · $4,231 monthly · BLS May 2025
10th percentile$40,820$19.62/hr
25th percentile$45,980$22.11/hr
75th percentile$53,710$25.82/hr
90th percentile$62,250$29.93/hr
Jobs in this metro230Location quotient 0.78 (U.S. = 1.00)
Against all jobs here4% aboveAll-jobs median $48,750
Against Iowa7% aboveStatewide median $47,590
Against the U.S.9% 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 $51,000 a year leaves after tax in IowaFederal tax, FICA and Iowa withholding on that salary, with the other 49 states beside it.
By the hour$24 an hour is how much a yearWeekly, biweekly and monthly gross at 2,080 hours, plus time and a half.
HousingWhat a $51,000 salary buys at today's ratesPrice range, down payment and the monthly payment behind it, on current mortgage rates.
Local pricesWhat $51,000 is worth where you liveRent, groceries and the local price level against the national average.
Same stateEvery occupation Iowa publishes a wage forThe biggest employers, the best paid, and what is distinctive about Iowa.

Forklift operator salary in Dubuque, IA after taxes

$50,770
$20,000$105,000
Filing status:
Gross salary breakdown$50,770
Net 82%
Fed 8%
IA 3%
FICA 8%
Annual take-home$41,696After all taxes
Monthly deposit$3,475Estimated per month
Biweekly paycheck$1,604Every 2 weeks (26/yr)
Effective tax rate17.9%Total tax burden
Federal income tax$3,912 / yr
Iowa state income tax$1,277 / yr
FICA (Social Security & Medicare)$3,884 / yr
Customize deductions in full Iowa calculator

Forklift operators pay range in Dubuque, IA, hourly and yearly

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

What forklift operators earned in the Dubuque, IA metro area, May 2025
PercentileHourlyMonthlyYearlyAfter tax a year (IA)
10th percentile$19.62/hr$3,402$40,820$34,080
25th percentile$22.11/hr$3,832$45,980$38,029
MedianMedian$24.41/hr$4,231$50,770$41,696
75th percentile$25.82/hr$4,476$53,710$43,947
90th percentile$29.93/hr$5,188$62,250$50,484

Is $50,770 a good salary in Dubuque, IA?

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$77,630Census Bureau ACS
Local price level (U.S. = 100)87.312.7% below national average
One paycheck vs. a household65.4%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 Iowa metros

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

Forklift operator pay in Dubuque, IA: common questions

What is the median salary for forklift operators in Dubuque, IA?

The BLS median annual wage for forklift operators in the Dubuque, IA metro area was $50,770 in May 2025, about $4,231 a month or $24.41 an hour. Statewide, the Iowa median for this job is $47,590, so the metro pays 7% above the state.

What is the hourly pay for forklift operators in Dubuque, IA?

The median hourly wage for forklift operators in Dubuque, IA was $24.41 in the BLS survey. One in ten earned less than $19.62 an hour and one in ten earned more than $29.93.

How many forklift operators work in Dubuque, IA?

BLS estimated 230 jobs for forklift operators in the metro in May 2025, or 3.9 of every 1,000 jobs. Its location quotient of 0.78 means the job is less concentrated here than in the country as a whole.

What is the pay range for forklift operators in Dubuque, IA?

BLS wage estimates for forklift operators in Dubuque, IA run from $40,820 at the 10th percentile to $45,980 at the 25th, $53,710 at the 75th, and $62,250 at the 90th. These are points in the wage distribution, not experience levels.

How much do forklift operators take home after taxes in Dubuque, IA?

On a median gross salary of $50,770, an estimated $41,696 lands in net take-home pay per year ($1,604 biweekly) for a single filer claiming the standard deduction in Iowa in 2026. Total tax withholding equals $9,074 (an effective rate of 17.9%).

How much do forklift operators make per month in Dubuque, IA?

On the median annual salary of $50,770, gross monthly income is $4,231. After federal, FICA, and Iowa state income taxes, estimated net take-home pay is $3,475 per month (or $1,604 every two weeks).

Is $50,770 a good salary in Dubuque, IA?

At $50,770, the median salary for forklift operators is 65.4% of the Dubuque, IA median household income ($77,630). It is 4% above the $48,750 median for all jobs in the metro. The BEA regional price parity is 87.3, so prices here run 12.7% below the U.S. average.