Forklift operator pay in Hickory-Lenoir, NC at a glance
Median salary
$42,850$20.60 per hour · $3,571 monthly · BLS May 2025Run the numbers on your own pay
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Forklift operator salary in Hickory-Lenoir, NC after taxes
Forklift operators pay range in Hickory-Lenoir, NC, hourly and yearly
BLS May 2025 estimates for the Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC metropolitan statistical area. Monthly and take-home figures are ours, computed from the annual wage.
| Percentile | Hourly | Monthly | Yearly | After tax a year (NC) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $17.06/hr | $2,958 | $35,490 | $29,789 |
| 25th percentile | $18.09/hr | $3,135 | $37,620 | $31,415 |
| MedianMedian | $20.60/hr | $3,571 | $42,850 | $35,409 |
| 75th percentile | $22.77/hr | $3,947 | $47,360 | $38,853 |
| 90th percentile | $24.10/hr | $4,178 | $50,140 | $40,976 |
Is $42,850 a good salary in Hickory-Lenoir, NC?
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 North Carolina and across the U.S.
The same job statewide and nationally, and a calculator for your own paycheck.
Forklift operator pay in Hickory-Lenoir, NC: common questions
What is the median salary for forklift operators in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC?
The BLS median annual wage for forklift operators in the Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC metro area was $42,850 in May 2025, about $3,571 a month or $20.60 an hour. Statewide, the North Carolina median for this job is $43,420, so the metro pays 1% below the state.
What is the hourly pay for forklift operators in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC?
The median hourly wage for forklift operators in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC was $20.60 in the BLS survey. One in ten earned less than $17.06 an hour and one in ten earned more than $24.10.
How many forklift operators work in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC?
BLS estimated 870 jobs for forklift operators in the metro in May 2025, or 5.6 of every 1,000 jobs. Its location quotient of 1.13 means the job is more concentrated here than in the country as a whole.
What is the pay range for forklift operators in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC?
BLS wage estimates for forklift operators in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC run from $35,490 at the 10th percentile to $37,620 at the 25th, $47,360 at the 75th, and $50,140 at the 90th. These are points in the wage distribution, not experience levels.
How much do forklift operators take home after taxes in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC?
On a median gross salary of $42,850, an estimated $35,409 lands in net take-home pay per year ($1,362 biweekly) for a single filer claiming the standard deduction in North Carolina in 2026. Total tax withholding equals $7,441 (an effective rate of 17.4%).
How much do forklift operators make per month in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC?
On the median annual salary of $42,850, gross monthly income is $3,571. After federal, FICA, and North Carolina state income taxes, estimated net take-home pay is $2,951 per month (or $1,362 every two weeks).
Is $42,850 a good salary in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC?
At $42,850, the median salary for forklift operators is 68.2% of the Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC median household income ($62,787). It is 5% below the $45,220 median for all jobs in the metro. The BEA regional price parity is 88.5, so prices here run 11.5% below the U.S. average.