Forklift operator pay in Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI at a glance
Median salary
$47,780$22.97 per hour · $3,982 monthly · BLS May 2025Run the numbers on your own pay
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Forklift operator salary in Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI after taxes
Forklift operators pay range in Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI, hourly and yearly
BLS May 2025 estimates for the Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI metropolitan statistical area. Monthly and take-home figures are ours, computed from the annual wage.
| Percentile | Hourly | Monthly | Yearly | After tax a year (WI) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $18.77/hr | $3,253 | $39,040 | $32,512 |
| 25th percentile | $20.36/hr | $3,529 | $42,350 | $35,008 |
| MedianMedian | $22.97/hr | $3,982 | $47,780 | $39,104 |
| 75th percentile | $27.90/hr | $4,835 | $58,020 | $46,827 |
| 90th percentile | $30.37/hr | $5,263 | $63,160 | $50,688 |
Is $47,780 a good salary in Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI?
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 Wisconsin and across the U.S.
The same job statewide and nationally, and a calculator for your own paycheck.
Forklift operator pay in Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI: common questions
What is the median salary for forklift operators in Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI?
The BLS median annual wage for forklift operators in the Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI metro area was $47,780 in May 2025, about $3,982 a month or $22.97 an hour. Statewide, the Wisconsin median for this job is $47,720, so the metro pays about the same as the state.
What is the hourly pay for forklift operators in Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI?
The median hourly wage for forklift operators in Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI was $22.97 in the BLS survey. One in ten earned less than $18.77 an hour and one in ten earned more than $30.37.
How many forklift operators work in Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI?
BLS estimated 2,520 jobs for forklift operators in the metro in May 2025, or 3.1 of every 1,000 jobs. Its location quotient of 0.62 means the job is less concentrated here than in the country as a whole.
What is the pay range for forklift operators in Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI?
BLS wage estimates for forklift operators in Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI run from $39,040 at the 10th percentile to $42,350 at the 25th, $58,020 at the 75th, and $63,160 at the 90th. These are points in the wage distribution, not experience levels.
How much do forklift operators take home after taxes in Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI?
On a median gross salary of $47,780, an estimated $39,104 lands in net take-home pay per year ($1,504 biweekly) for a single filer claiming the standard deduction in Wisconsin in 2026. Total tax withholding equals $8,676 (an effective rate of 18.2%).
How much do forklift operators make per month in Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI?
On the median annual salary of $47,780, gross monthly income is $3,982. After federal, FICA, and Wisconsin state income taxes, estimated net take-home pay is $3,259 per month (or $1,504 every two weeks).
Is $47,780 a good salary in Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI?
At $47,780, the median salary for forklift operators is 61.1% of the Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI median household income ($78,218). It is 7% below the $51,160 median for all jobs in the metro. The BEA regional price parity is 96.9, so prices here run 3.1% below the U.S. average.