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Helena, MT metro area · BLS May 2025 · Updated

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

In the Helena, MT metropolitan area, forklift operators earned a median of $46,450 a year ($22.33 an hour) in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey for the metro. BLS counted 40 of these jobs there. That is 16% below the $55,040 median for all jobs in the metro. The middle 80% earned between $38,510 and $60,510; these percentiles do not measure years of experience. Applying 2026 federal and Montana tax rules to the median leaves an estimated $38,076 in take-home pay.

Forklift operator pay in Helena, MT at a glance

Median salary

$46,450$22.33 per hour · $3,871 monthly · BLS May 2025
10th percentile$38,510$18.52/hr
25th percentile$41,940$20.17/hr
75th percentile$55,140$26.51/hr
90th percentile$60,510$29.09/hr
Jobs in this metro40Location quotient 0.17 (U.S. = 1.00)
Against all jobs here16% belowAll-jobs median $55,040
Against Montana3% belowStatewide median $48,060
Against the U.S.about the same asNational median $46,420

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Same U.S. tax tables as the rest of the site. Change the salary, state, or filing status.

Take-home payWhat $46,000 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$22 an hour is how much a yearWeekly, biweekly and monthly gross at 2,080 hours, plus time and a half.
HousingWhat a $46,000 salary buys at today's ratesPrice range, down payment and the monthly payment behind it, on current mortgage rates.
Local pricesWhat $46,000 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 Helena, MT after taxes

$46,450
$15,000$95,000
Filing status:
Gross salary breakdown$46,450
Net 82%
Fed 7%
MT 3%
FICA 8%
Annual take-home$38,076After all taxes
Monthly deposit$3,173Estimated per month
Biweekly paycheck$1,464Every 2 weeks (26/yr)
Effective tax rate18%Total tax burden
Federal income tax$3,394 / yr
Montana state income tax$1,426 / yr
FICA (Social Security & Medicare)$3,553 / yr
Customize deductions in full Montana calculator

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

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

What forklift operators earned in the Helena, MT metro area, May 2025
PercentileHourlyMonthlyYearlyAfter tax a year (MT)
10th percentile$18.52/hr$3,209$38,510$32,070
25th percentile$20.17/hr$3,495$41,940$34,664
MedianMedian$22.33/hr$3,871$46,450$38,076
75th percentile$26.51/hr$4,595$55,140$44,650
90th percentile$29.09/hr$5,043$60,510$48,713

Is $46,450 a good salary in Helena, 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$78,528Census Bureau ACS
Local price level (U.S. = 100)95.74.3% below national average
One paycheck vs. a household59.2%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 Helena, MT. A statewide average can hide differences this large.

Forklift operator pay in Helena, MT: common questions

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

The BLS median annual wage for forklift operators in the Helena, MT metro area was $46,450 in May 2025, about $3,871 a month or $22.33 an hour. Statewide, the Montana median for this job is $48,060, so the metro pays 3% below the state.

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

The median hourly wage for forklift operators in Helena, MT was $22.33 in the BLS survey. One in ten earned less than $18.52 an hour and one in ten earned more than $29.09.

How many forklift operators work in Helena, MT?

BLS estimated 40 jobs for forklift operators in the metro in May 2025, or 0.8 of every 1,000 jobs. Its location quotient of 0.17 means the job is less concentrated here than in the country as a whole.

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

BLS wage estimates for forklift operators in Helena, MT run from $38,510 at the 10th percentile to $41,940 at the 25th, $55,140 at the 75th, and $60,510 at the 90th. These are points in the wage distribution, not experience levels.

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

On a median gross salary of $46,450, an estimated $38,076 lands in net take-home pay per year ($1,464 biweekly) for a single filer claiming the standard deduction in Montana in 2026. Total tax withholding equals $8,374 (an effective rate of 18%).

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

On the median annual salary of $46,450, gross monthly income is $3,871. After federal, FICA, and Montana state income taxes, estimated net take-home pay is $3,173 per month (or $1,464 every two weeks).

Is $46,450 a good salary in Helena, MT?

At $46,450, the median salary for forklift operators is 59.2% of the Helena, MT median household income ($78,528). It is 16% below the $55,040 median for all jobs in the metro. The BEA regional price parity is 95.7, so prices here run 4.3% below the U.S. average.