Forklift operator pay in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA at a glance
Median salary
$46,530$22.37 per hour · $3,878 monthly · BLS May 2025Run the numbers on your own pay
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Forklift operator salary in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA after taxes
Forklift operators pay range in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA, hourly and yearly
BLS May 2025 estimates for the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metropolitan statistical area. Monthly and take-home figures are ours, computed from the annual wage.
| Percentile | Hourly | Monthly | Yearly | After tax a year (CA) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $19.07/hr | $3,305 | $39,660 | $33,478 |
| 25th percentile | $19.37/hr | $3,358 | $40,290 | $33,959 |
| MedianMedian | $22.37/hr | $3,878 | $46,530 | $38,723 |
| 75th percentile | $24.10/hr | $4,177 | $50,120 | $41,405 |
| 90th percentile | $28.88/hr | $5,005 | $60,060 | $48,795 |
Is $46,530 a good salary in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA?
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 California and across the U.S.
The same job statewide and nationally, and a calculator for your own paycheck.
Forklift operator pay in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA: common questions
What is the median salary for forklift operators in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA?
The BLS median annual wage for forklift operators in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area was $46,530 in May 2025, about $3,878 a month or $22.37 an hour. Statewide, the California median for this job is $47,770, so the metro pays 3% below the state.
What is the hourly pay for forklift operators in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA?
The median hourly wage for forklift operators in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA was $22.37 in the BLS survey. One in ten earned less than $19.07 an hour and one in ten earned more than $28.88.
How many forklift operators work in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA?
BLS estimated 270 jobs for forklift operators in the metro in May 2025, or 2.8 of every 1,000 jobs. Its location quotient of 0.56 means the job is less concentrated here than in the country as a whole.
What is the pay range for forklift operators in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA?
BLS wage estimates for forklift operators in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA run from $39,660 at the 10th percentile to $40,290 at the 25th, $50,120 at the 75th, and $60,060 at the 90th. These are points in the wage distribution, not experience levels.
How much do forklift operators take home after taxes in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA?
On a median gross salary of $46,530, an estimated $38,723 lands in net take-home pay per year ($1,489 biweekly) for a single filer claiming the standard deduction in California in 2026. Total tax withholding equals $7,807 (an effective rate of 16.8%).
How much do forklift operators make per month in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA?
On the median annual salary of $46,530, gross monthly income is $3,878. After federal, FICA, and California state income taxes, estimated net take-home pay is $3,227 per month (or $1,489 every two weeks).
Is $46,530 a good salary in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA?
At $46,530, the median salary for forklift operators is 41.9% of the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA median household income ($111,093). It is 15% below the $54,730 median for all jobs in the metro. The BEA regional price parity is 109.9, so prices here run 9.9% above the U.S. average.