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Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA metro area · BLS May 2025 · Updated

How much does a forklift operator make in Scranton-, PA?

In the Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA metropolitan area, forklift operators earned a median of $48,860 a year ($23.49 an hour) in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey for the metro. BLS counted 4,240 of these jobs there. That is 5% above the $46,330 median for all jobs in the metro. The middle 80% earned between $37,610 and $61,140; these percentiles do not measure years of experience. Applying 2026 federal and Pennsylvania tax rules to the median leaves an estimated $39,939 in take-home pay.

Forklift operator pay in Scranton-, PA at a glance

Median salary

$48,860$23.49 per hour · $4,072 monthly · BLS May 2025
10th percentile$37,610$18.08/hr
25th percentile$44,140$21.22/hr
75th percentile$57,700$27.74/hr
90th percentile$61,140$29.39/hr
Jobs in this metro4,240Location quotient 3.33 (U.S. = 1.00)
Against all jobs here5% aboveAll-jobs median $46,330
Against Pennsylvania2% aboveStatewide median $47,730
Against the U.S.5% aboveNational 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 $49,000 a year leaves after tax in PennsylvaniaFederal tax, FICA and Pennsylvania withholding on that salary, with the other 49 states beside it.
By the hour$23 an hour is how much a yearWeekly, biweekly and monthly gross at 2,080 hours, plus time and a half.
HousingWhat a $49,000 salary buys at today's ratesPrice range, down payment and the monthly payment behind it, on current mortgage rates.
Local pricesWhat $49,000 is worth where you liveRent, groceries and the local price level against the national average.
Same stateEvery occupation Pennsylvania publishes a wage forThe biggest employers, the best paid, and what is distinctive about Pennsylvania.

Forklift operator salary in Scranton-, PA after taxes

$48,860
$15,000$100,000
Filing status:
Gross salary breakdown$48,860
Net 82%
Fed 8%
PA 3%
FICA 8%
Annual take-home$39,939After all taxes
Monthly deposit$3,328Estimated per month
Biweekly paycheck$1,536Every 2 weeks (26/yr)
Effective tax rate18.3%Total tax burden
Federal income tax$3,683 / yr
Pennsylvania state income tax$1,500 / yr
FICA (Social Security & Medicare)$3,738 / yr
Customize deductions in full Pennsylvania calculator

Forklift operators pay range in Scranton-, PA, hourly and yearly

BLS May 2025 estimates for the Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA metropolitan statistical area. Monthly and take-home figures are ours, computed from the annual wage.

What forklift operators earned in the Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA metro area, May 2025
PercentileHourlyMonthlyYearlyAfter tax a year (PA)
10th percentile$18.08/hr$3,134$37,610$31,245
25th percentile$21.22/hr$3,678$44,140$36,291
MedianMedian$23.49/hr$4,072$48,860$39,939
75th percentile$27.74/hr$4,808$57,700$46,771
90th percentile$29.39/hr$5,095$61,140$49,429

Is $48,860 a good salary in Scranton-, PA?

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$65,158Census Bureau ACS
Local price level (U.S. = 100)93.66.4% below national average
One paycheck vs. a household75%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 Pennsylvania metros

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

Forklift operator pay in Scranton-, PA: common questions

What is the median salary for forklift operators in Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA?

The BLS median annual wage for forklift operators in the Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA metro area was $48,860 in May 2025, about $4,072 a month or $23.49 an hour. Statewide, the Pennsylvania median for this job is $47,730, so the metro pays 2% above the state.

What is the hourly pay for forklift operators in Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA?

The median hourly wage for forklift operators in Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA was $23.49 in the BLS survey. One in ten earned less than $18.08 an hour and one in ten earned more than $29.39.

How many forklift operators work in Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA?

BLS estimated 4,240 jobs for forklift operators in the metro in May 2025, or 16.6 of every 1,000 jobs. Its location quotient of 3.33 means the job is more concentrated here than in the country as a whole.

What is the pay range for forklift operators in Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA?

BLS wage estimates for forklift operators in Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA run from $37,610 at the 10th percentile to $44,140 at the 25th, $57,700 at the 75th, and $61,140 at the 90th. These are points in the wage distribution, not experience levels.

How much do forklift operators take home after taxes in Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA?

On a median gross salary of $48,860, an estimated $39,939 lands in net take-home pay per year ($1,536 biweekly) for a single filer claiming the standard deduction in Pennsylvania in 2026. Total tax withholding equals $8,921 (an effective rate of 18.3%).

How much do forklift operators make per month in Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA?

On the median annual salary of $48,860, gross monthly income is $4,072. After federal, FICA, and Pennsylvania state income taxes, estimated net take-home pay is $3,328 per month (or $1,536 every two weeks).

Is $48,860 a good salary in Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA?

At $48,860, the median salary for forklift operators is 75% of the Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA median household income ($65,158). It is 5% above the $46,330 median for all jobs in the metro. The BEA regional price parity is 93.6, so prices here run 6.4% below the U.S. average.