forklift technician pay

How Much Does a Forklift Technician Make?

 

We’ve covered how to become a forklift technician and the various benefits of being a forklift technician vs. an automotive mechanic, but how much money can you make as a forklift technician? Let’s take a look.

Hourly Rate vs. Flat Rate

One of the benefits of a career as a forklift technician vs. an automotive mechanic is that you are paid at an hourly rate vs. a flat rate. With an hourly rate, you will be compensated for the time you actually work instead of a set amount per job. In the material handling industry, this results in higher pay.

Overtime

There is no shortage of work in the material handling industry. Unlike the automotive industry, where people might pass on automotive repairs during tough times, forklifts and material handling equipment need to stay operational. As a forklift technician, you can work all the overtime you want, which will increase your pay.

Forklift Technician Compensation: Hourly Rates and Salary

According to ZipRecruiter.com, the average forklift technician in Colorado makes $39,880 per year, or about $19.17 per hour. However, in our Denver market, Welch technicians make more than these average numbers. We aim to provide an exceptional level of service to our customers and in order to attract the best talent and build the best service department, we compensate our technicians more than average. Welch Equipment field forklift technicians can expect to make around $24-$39 per hour, depending on their level of expertise and experience. This results in about $50,000-$80,000 per year. Pay is similar for forklift shop technicians, as well.

“If you are self-motivated, you can make better money than commercial aviation.” – Erik Ford, Welch Equipment Denver Service Manager

If you are a self-starter and work well independently, a career as a forklift technician could be perfect for you!

We are hiring for forklift technicians in Denver, CO, Salt Lake City, UT, and Albuquerque, NM. Apply today!

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