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Fork Lift Operator - Federal Salaries of 2021
Pay Rates for "Fork Lift Operator"
How much does a Fork Lift Operator in the federal government get paid? $59,338.38* *Based on the 2021 average.Fork Lift Operator was the 482nd most popular job in the U.S. Government in 2021, with 16 employed. The most common payscale was the government printing office negotiated rates for printing plant workers, 100% payscale.
In 2021, the Government Printing Office hired the most employees titled Fork Lift Operating, with an average salary of $59,537.
Government Fork Lift Operating jobs are classified under the Federal Wage Schedule, Wage Grade (FWS) payscale. The minimum paygrade for a Fork Lift Operating job is FWS-5, and the highest paygrade that can be attained within this job series is FWS-6. Remember that the starting and maximum yearly pay listed above reflect base pay only - your actual salary will be higher based on the Locality Pay Adjustment for the area in which you work.
This standard is to be used for grading nonsupervisory jobs which involve the operation of electric, diesel, or gasoline powered fork lift trucks to move, stack and unstack, and load and unload materials in and about warehouses, storage areas, loading docks, and on and off vehicles, etc. (See Digest Vol. 15 for guidance on proper grading of positions in which work covered by this occupation is combined with work typical of another occupation and grade level.)
Agencies that have hired a Fork Lift Operator
| Agency | Employees Hired | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Government Printing Office | 15 | $59,537.20 |
| Social Security Administration | 1 | $56,356.00 |
Fork Lift Operator Pay Distribution
The average pay for a Fork Lift Operator is $59,338.38. The highest paid Fork Lift Operator made $71,362 in 2021.
Common Fork Lift Operator Payscales
| Payscale | Number of Fork Lift Operating Employees |
|---|---|
| KX - Government Printing Office Negotiated Rates For Printing Plant Workers, 100% | 14 |
| KA - Kiess Act | 1 |
| WG - Nonsupervisory Pay Schedules - Federal Wage System | 1 |
| Starting Paygrade: | $22.47 to $9.25 / hour at paygrade FWS-5 |
| Maximum Paygrade: | $9.70 to $24.53 / hour at paygrade FWS-6 |
| Occupation Family: | TRANSPORTATION/MOBILE EQUIPMENT OPERATION FAMILY |
Other Jobs at the FWS-5 Paygrade
FWS-5 is the starting paygrade for Fork Lift Operating jobs. Here are some other Federal Government jobs that can be held by employees at the FWS-5 paygrade.
| Occupation | Starting Paygrade | Maximum Paygrade |
|---|---|---|
| Railroad Maintenance Vehicle Operating | FWS-5 | FWS-9 |
| Bearing Reconditioning | FWS-5 | FWS-8 |
| Sewing Machine Operating | FWS-3 | FWS-6 |
| Mobile Equipment Servicing | FWS-1 | FWS-6 |
| Wood Working | FWS-5 | FWS-8 |
Average Fork Lift Operating Pay Trend from 2004 to 2021
In 2004, the average pay for a Fork Lift Operator was $38,574. Since then, the average pay has increased to $59,338 in 2021.
Data Sources
The information provided on these pages is sourced from the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) 
Enterprise Human Resources Integration (EHRI) dataset. Postal Service data is managed exclusively by the USPS . All information is displayed unmodified and as provided by the source agency.
Federal employee salaries are public information under open government laws (5 U.S.C. § 552). FederalPay provides this data in the interest of government transparency — employee data may not be used for commercial soliciting or vending of any kind. Learn more about the FederalPay Employees Dataset here.
The series code of this occupation is 5704.