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Lincoln, NE metro area · BLS May 2025 · Updated

How much does a forklift operator make in Lincoln, NE?

In the Lincoln, NE metropolitan area, forklift operators earned a median of $46,330 a year ($22.27 an hour) in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey for the metro. BLS counted 670 of these jobs there. That is 7% below the $49,800 median for all jobs in the metro. The middle 80% earned between $37,290 and $60,190; these percentiles do not measure years of experience. Applying 2026 federal and Nebraska tax rules to the median leaves an estimated $38,178 in take-home pay.

Forklift operator pay in Lincoln, NE at a glance

Median salary

$46,330$22.27 per hour · $3,861 monthly · BLS May 2025
10th percentile$37,290$17.93/hr
25th percentile$40,930$19.68/hr
75th percentile$50,200$24.14/hr
90th percentile$60,190$28.94/hr
Jobs in this metro670Location quotient 0.73 (U.S. = 1.00)
Against all jobs here7% belowAll-jobs median $49,800
Against Nebraska1% belowStatewide median $46,730
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 NebraskaFederal tax, FICA and Nebraska 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 Nebraska publishes a wage forThe biggest employers, the best paid, and what is distinctive about Nebraska.

Forklift operator salary in Lincoln, NE after taxes

$46,330
$15,000$95,000
Filing status:
Gross salary breakdown$46,330
Net 82%
Fed 7%
NE 3%
FICA 8%
Annual take-home$38,178After all taxes
Monthly deposit$3,181Estimated per month
Biweekly paycheck$1,468Every 2 weeks (26/yr)
Effective tax rate17.6%Total tax burden
Federal income tax$3,380 / yr
Nebraska state income tax$1,228 / yr
FICA (Social Security & Medicare)$3,544 / yr
Customize deductions in full Nebraska calculator

Forklift operators pay range in Lincoln, NE, hourly and yearly

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

What forklift operators earned in the Lincoln, NE metro area, May 2025
PercentileHourlyMonthlyYearlyAfter tax a year (NE)
10th percentile$17.93/hr$3,108$37,290$31,325
25th percentile$19.68/hr$3,411$40,930$34,084
MedianMedian$22.27/hr$3,861$46,330$38,178
75th percentile$24.14/hr$4,183$50,200$41,111
90th percentile$28.94/hr$5,016$60,190$48,684

Is $46,330 a good salary in Lincoln, NE?

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$75,049Census Bureau ACS
Local price level (U.S. = 100)91.68.4% below national average
One paycheck vs. a household61.7%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 Nebraska metros

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

Forklift operator pay in Lincoln, NE: common questions

What is the median salary for forklift operators in Lincoln, NE?

The BLS median annual wage for forklift operators in the Lincoln, NE metro area was $46,330 in May 2025, about $3,861 a month or $22.27 an hour. Statewide, the Nebraska median for this job is $46,730, so the metro pays 1% below the state.

What is the hourly pay for forklift operators in Lincoln, NE?

The median hourly wage for forklift operators in Lincoln, NE was $22.27 in the BLS survey. One in ten earned less than $17.93 an hour and one in ten earned more than $28.94.

How many forklift operators work in Lincoln, NE?

BLS estimated 670 jobs for forklift operators in the metro in May 2025, or 3.6 of every 1,000 jobs. Its location quotient of 0.73 means the job is less concentrated here than in the country as a whole.

What is the pay range for forklift operators in Lincoln, NE?

BLS wage estimates for forklift operators in Lincoln, NE run from $37,290 at the 10th percentile to $40,930 at the 25th, $50,200 at the 75th, and $60,190 at the 90th. These are points in the wage distribution, not experience levels.

How much do forklift operators take home after taxes in Lincoln, NE?

On a median gross salary of $46,330, an estimated $38,178 lands in net take-home pay per year ($1,468 biweekly) for a single filer claiming the standard deduction in Nebraska in 2026. Total tax withholding equals $8,152 (an effective rate of 17.6%).

How much do forklift operators make per month in Lincoln, NE?

On the median annual salary of $46,330, gross monthly income is $3,861. After federal, FICA, and Nebraska state income taxes, estimated net take-home pay is $3,181 per month (or $1,468 every two weeks).

Is $46,330 a good salary in Lincoln, NE?

At $46,330, the median salary for forklift operators is 61.7% of the Lincoln, NE median household income ($75,049). It is 7% below the $49,800 median for all jobs in the metro. The BEA regional price parity is 91.6, so prices here run 8.4% below the U.S. average.