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Tucson, AZ metro area · BLS May 2025 · Updated

How much does a forklift operator make in Tucson, AZ?

In the Tucson, AZ metropolitan area, forklift operators earned a median of $45,630 a year ($21.94 an hour) in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey for the metro. BLS counted 1,200 of these jobs there. That is 4% below the $47,760 median for all jobs in the metro. The middle 80% earned between $38,390 and $57,130; these percentiles do not measure years of experience. Applying 2026 federal and Arizona tax rules to the median leaves an estimated $38,097 in take-home pay.

Forklift operator pay in Tucson, AZ at a glance

Median salary

$45,630$21.94 per hour · $3,803 monthly · BLS May 2025
10th percentile$38,390$18.46/hr
25th percentile$45,260$21.76/hr
75th percentile$51,160$24.60/hr
90th percentile$57,130$27.46/hr
Jobs in this metro1,200Location quotient 0.62 (U.S. = 1.00)
Against all jobs here4% belowAll-jobs median $47,760
Against Arizona5% belowStatewide median $48,110
Against the U.S.2% belowNational 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 ArizonaFederal tax, FICA and Arizona 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 Arizona publishes a wage forThe biggest employers, the best paid, and what is distinctive about Arizona.

Forklift operator salary in Tucson, AZ after taxes

$45,630
$15,000$95,000
Filing status:
Gross salary breakdown$45,630
Net 83%
Fed 7%
AZ 2%
FICA 8%
Annual take-home$38,097After all taxes
Monthly deposit$3,175Estimated per month
Biweekly paycheck$1,465Every 2 weeks (26/yr)
Effective tax rate16.5%Total tax burden
Federal income tax$3,296 / yr
Arizona state income tax$747 / yr
FICA (Social Security & Medicare)$3,491 / yr
Customize deductions in full Arizona calculator

Forklift operators pay range in Tucson, AZ, hourly and yearly

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

What forklift operators earned in the Tucson, AZ metro area, May 2025
PercentileHourlyMonthlyYearlyAfter tax a year (AZ)
10th percentile$18.46/hr$3,199$38,390$32,460
25th percentile$21.76/hr$3,772$45,260$37,809
MedianMedian$21.94/hr$3,803$45,630$38,097
75th percentile$24.60/hr$4,263$51,160$42,402
90th percentile$27.46/hr$4,761$57,130$47,049

Is $45,630 a good salary in Tucson, AZ?

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$70,315Census Bureau ACS
Local price level (U.S. = 100)96.93.1% below national average
One paycheck vs. a household64.9%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 Arizona metros

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

Forklift operator pay in Tucson, AZ: common questions

What is the median salary for forklift operators in Tucson, AZ?

The BLS median annual wage for forklift operators in the Tucson, AZ metro area was $45,630 in May 2025, about $3,803 a month or $21.94 an hour. Statewide, the Arizona median for this job is $48,110, so the metro pays 5% below the state.

What is the hourly pay for forklift operators in Tucson, AZ?

The median hourly wage for forklift operators in Tucson, AZ was $21.94 in the BLS survey. One in ten earned less than $18.46 an hour and one in ten earned more than $27.46.

How many forklift operators work in Tucson, AZ?

BLS estimated 1,200 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 Tucson, AZ?

BLS wage estimates for forklift operators in Tucson, AZ run from $38,390 at the 10th percentile to $45,260 at the 25th, $51,160 at the 75th, and $57,130 at the 90th. These are points in the wage distribution, not experience levels.

How much do forklift operators take home after taxes in Tucson, AZ?

On a median gross salary of $45,630, an estimated $38,097 lands in net take-home pay per year ($1,465 biweekly) for a single filer claiming the standard deduction in Arizona in 2026. Total tax withholding equals $7,533 (an effective rate of 16.5%).

How much do forklift operators make per month in Tucson, AZ?

On the median annual salary of $45,630, gross monthly income is $3,803. After federal, FICA, and Arizona state income taxes, estimated net take-home pay is $3,175 per month (or $1,465 every two weeks).

Is $45,630 a good salary in Tucson, AZ?

At $45,630, the median salary for forklift operators is 64.9% of the Tucson, AZ median household income ($70,315). It is 4% below the $47,760 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.