Warehouse Pay Ladder: Stocker to Forklift Operator to Warehouse Supervisor
Warehouses are among the biggest employers of workers without degrees. Equipment certification and supervision are the two main ways up. Here is the ladder in May 2025 numbers.
The pay ladder at a glance
| Occupation | U.S. jobs | 10th pct. | Median | 90th pct. | Typical entry education | Projected growth 2025–35 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stocker / order filler | 2,833,810 | $30,110 | $37,330 | $49,260 | No formal educational credential | +8.9% |
| Laborer / freight mover | 2,950,280 | $31,270 | $40,240 | $55,140 | No formal educational credential | +1.8% |
| Forklift operator | 774,420 | $36,840 | $46,420 | $62,520 | No formal educational credential | +1.5% |
| Warehouse supervisor | 623,640 | $43,360 | $62,890 | $96,150 | High school diploma or equivalent | +3.0% |
Wages are May 2025 estimates from BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025; growth and education from BLS Employment Projections, 2025–35. The 10th and 90th percentiles show the range from entry-level or lower-paying employers to the most experienced or best-paid workers. For comparison, the median for all U.S. occupations was $50,980.
Entry roles
Stockers and order fillers earn a median of $37,330; hand laborers and freight, stock and material movers earn $40,240. The BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook says these jobs usually have no formal education requirement and train on the job in a month or less.
Forklift and equipment
Industrial truck and tractor operators earn $46,420, about 24% more than stockers. OSHA requires employers to train and certify their own forklift operators, so the credential usually comes with the job.
Into supervision
First-line supervisors of transportation and material-moving workers earn $62,890. Leads who know inventory systems, safety rules and scheduling are the usual candidates.
Where forklift operators earn the most
State medians for industrial truck and tractor operators vary widely. The five highest-paying states in the May 2025 survey:
| State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $83,720 | n/a |
| New Mexico | $62,150 | 2,620 |
| Delaware | $60,350 | 5,230 |
| Wyoming | $59,820 | 790 |
| New Hampshire | $54,460 | 1,450 |
Pay tips for warehouse workers
- Shift premiums. Night and weekend shifts often pay more; BLS wage figures exclude shift differentials.
- Peak-season pay. Ask whether holiday-season overtime and bonuses are guaranteed or discretionary.
Published October 27, 2026. Sources are linked in the text.
Header image: original chart by JobPayRaise.com using BLS OEWS May 2025 data.
Comments (1)
Forklift certification isn't one-and-done: OSHA requires employers to train and certify powered industrial truck operators and to evaluate each operator's performance at least once every three years, plus refresher training after an accident, a near miss or an unsafe-operation observation. Training time required by your employer is paid work time. Rule: OSHA 29 CFR 1910.178(l).