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Yakima, WA metro area · BLS May 2025 · Updated

How much does a forklift operator make in Yakima, WA?

In the Yakima, WA metropolitan area, forklift operators earned a median of $44,330 a year ($21.31 an hour) in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey for the metro. BLS counted 1,400 of these jobs there. That is 7% below the $47,810 median for all jobs in the metro. The middle 80% earned between $36,840 and $64,280; these percentiles do not measure years of experience. Applying 2026 federal and Washington tax rules to the median leaves an estimated $37,799 in take-home pay.

Forklift operator pay in Yakima, WA at a glance

Median salary

$44,330$21.31 per hour · $3,694 monthly · BLS May 2025
10th percentile$36,840$17.71/hr
25th percentile$39,260$18.87/hr
75th percentile$56,480$27.16/hr
90th percentile$64,280$30.90/hr
Jobs in this metro1,400Location quotient 2.91 (U.S. = 1.00)
Against all jobs here7% belowAll-jobs median $47,810
Against Washington11% belowStatewide median $49,910
Against the U.S.5% belowNational median $46,420

Run the numbers on your own pay

Same U.S. tax tables as the rest of the site. Change the salary, state, or filing status.

Take-home payWhat $44,000 a year leaves after tax in WashingtonFederal tax, FICA and Washington withholding on that salary, with the other 49 states beside it.
By the hour$21 an hour is how much a yearWeekly, biweekly and monthly gross at 2,080 hours, plus time and a half.
HousingWhat a $44,000 salary buys at today's ratesPrice range, down payment and the monthly payment behind it, on current mortgage rates.
Local pricesWhat $44,000 is worth where you liveRent, groceries and the local price level against the national average.
Same stateEvery occupation Washington publishes a wage forThe biggest employers, the best paid, and what is distinctive about Washington.

Forklift operator salary in Yakima, WA after taxes

$44,330
$15,000$90,000
Filing status:
Gross salary breakdown$44,330
Net 85%
Fed 7%
FICA 8%
Annual take-home$37,799After all taxes
Monthly deposit$3,150Estimated per month
Biweekly paycheck$1,454Every 2 weeks (26/yr)
Effective tax rate14.7%Total tax burden
Federal income tax$3,140 / yr
Washington state income taxNo state wage tax$0
FICA (Social Security & Medicare)$3,391 / yr
Customize deductions in full Washington calculator

Forklift operators pay range in Yakima, WA, hourly and yearly

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

What forklift operators earned in the Yakima, WA metro area, May 2025
PercentileHourlyMonthlyYearlyAfter tax a year (WA)
10th percentile$17.71/hr$3,070$36,840$31,781
25th percentile$18.87/hr$3,272$39,260$33,725
MedianMedian$21.31/hr$3,694$44,330$37,799
75th percentile$27.16/hr$4,707$56,480$47,562
90th percentile$30.90/hr$5,357$64,280$53,829

Is $44,330 a good salary in Yakima, WA?

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$70,656Census Bureau ACS
Local price level (U.S. = 100)95.54.5% below national average
One paycheck vs. a household62.7%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 Washington metros

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

Forklift operator pay in Yakima, WA: common questions

What is the median salary for forklift operators in Yakima, WA?

The BLS median annual wage for forklift operators in the Yakima, WA metro area was $44,330 in May 2025, about $3,694 a month or $21.31 an hour. Statewide, the Washington median for this job is $49,910, so the metro pays 11% below the state.

What is the hourly pay for forklift operators in Yakima, WA?

The median hourly wage for forklift operators in Yakima, WA was $21.31 in the BLS survey. One in ten earned less than $17.71 an hour and one in ten earned more than $30.90.

How many forklift operators work in Yakima, WA?

BLS estimated 1,400 jobs for forklift operators in the metro in May 2025, or 14.5 of every 1,000 jobs. Its location quotient of 2.91 means the job is more concentrated here than in the country as a whole.

What is the pay range for forklift operators in Yakima, WA?

BLS wage estimates for forklift operators in Yakima, WA run from $36,840 at the 10th percentile to $39,260 at the 25th, $56,480 at the 75th, and $64,280 at the 90th. These are points in the wage distribution, not experience levels.

How much do forklift operators take home after taxes in Yakima, WA?

On a median gross salary of $44,330, an estimated $37,799 lands in net take-home pay per year ($1,454 biweekly) for a single filer claiming the standard deduction in Washington in 2026. Total tax withholding equals $6,531 (an effective rate of 14.7%).

How much do forklift operators make per month in Yakima, WA?

On the median annual salary of $44,330, gross monthly income is $3,694. After federal, FICA, and Washington state income taxes, estimated net take-home pay is $3,150 per month (or $1,454 every two weeks).

Is $44,330 a good salary in Yakima, WA?

At $44,330, the median salary for forklift operators is 62.7% of the Yakima, WA median household income ($70,656). It is 7% below the $47,810 median for all jobs in the metro. The BEA regional price parity is 95.5, so prices here run 4.5% below the U.S. average.