Forklift operator pay in Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA at a glance
Median salary
$43,670$20.99 per hour · $3,639 monthly · BLS May 2025Run the numbers on your own pay
Same U.S. tax tables as the rest of the site. Change the salary, state, or filing status.
Forklift operator salary in Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA after taxes
Forklift operators pay range in Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA, hourly and yearly
BLS May 2025 estimates for the Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA metropolitan statistical area. Monthly and take-home figures are ours, computed from the annual wage.
| Percentile | Hourly | Monthly | Yearly | After tax a year (IA) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $17.77/hr | $3,081 | $36,970 | $31,132 |
| 25th percentile | $19.63/hr | $3,403 | $40,830 | $34,087 |
| MedianMedian | $20.99/hr | $3,639 | $43,670 | $36,261 |
| 75th percentile | $23.73/hr | $4,114 | $49,370 | $40,625 |
| 90th percentile | $27.07/hr | $4,693 | $56,310 | $45,937 |
Is $43,670 a good salary in Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA?
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 Iowa and across the U.S.
The same job statewide and nationally, and a calculator for your own paycheck.
Forklift operator pay in Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA: common questions
What is the median salary for forklift operators in Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA?
The BLS median annual wage for forklift operators in the Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA metro area was $43,670 in May 2025, about $3,639 a month or $20.99 an hour. Statewide, the Iowa median for this job is $47,590, so the metro pays 8% below the state.
What is the hourly pay for forklift operators in Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA?
The median hourly wage for forklift operators in Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA was $20.99 in the BLS survey. One in ten earned less than $17.77 an hour and one in ten earned more than $27.07.
How many forklift operators work in Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA?
BLS estimated 480 jobs for forklift operators in the metro in May 2025, or 5.7 of every 1,000 jobs. Its location quotient of 1.14 means the job is more concentrated here than in the country as a whole.
What is the pay range for forklift operators in Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA?
BLS wage estimates for forklift operators in Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA run from $36,970 at the 10th percentile to $40,830 at the 25th, $49,370 at the 75th, and $56,310 at the 90th. These are points in the wage distribution, not experience levels.
How much do forklift operators take home after taxes in Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA?
On a median gross salary of $43,670, an estimated $36,261 lands in net take-home pay per year ($1,395 biweekly) for a single filer claiming the standard deduction in Iowa in 2026. Total tax withholding equals $7,409 (an effective rate of 17%).
How much do forklift operators make per month in Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA?
On the median annual salary of $43,670, gross monthly income is $3,639. After federal, FICA, and Iowa state income taxes, estimated net take-home pay is $3,022 per month (or $1,395 every two weeks).
Is $43,670 a good salary in Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA?
At $43,670, the median salary for forklift operators is 61.7% of the Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA median household income ($70,811). It is 8% below the $47,430 median for all jobs in the metro. The BEA regional price parity is 87.1, so prices here run 12.9% below the U.S. average.