Median salary
$62,596
ANZSCO 7213 · Mobile plant operators
Forklift driver salary in Australia
Median salary for an Australian forklift driver is $62,596 per year (2022-23 tax return data), with $51,838 take-home after tax at current FY2025-26 rates.
After tax (yr)
$51,838
Fortnightly
$1,994
Tax returns
40,673
Income distribution
Source: ATO Taxation Statistics 2022-23, Table 15 (ANZSCO unit group 7213, based on 40,673 tax returns).
| Metric | Taxable income | Salary / wages | Total income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median | $62,073 | $62,596 | $64,225 |
| Average (mean) | $63,258 | $62,291 | $65,568 |
Taxable income = gross income minus allowable deductions. Salary / wages = PAYG-reported income only. Total income = all sources including investment, business, etc.
Take-home pay on the median $forklift driver salary
| Gross salary (median) | $62,596 |
| Income tax | −$9,506 |
| Medicare levy (2%) | −$1,252 |
| Low-income tax offset | +$61 |
| Take-home pay | $51,838 |
| + Employer super | $7,512 |
See the $65,000 salary page for full breakdown (monthly, fortnightly, weekly, daily and hourly), or
open the calculator prefilled with $62,596 to model salary sacrifice, HELP, or novated lease.
Related occupations · Mobile plant operators
Other occupations within the same ANZSCO sub-major group.
| Occupation | Tax returns | Median salary |
|---|---|---|
| Earthmoving plant operator | 50,665 | $91,311 |
| Agricultural, forestry or horticultural plant operator | 46,608 | $39,984 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a forklift driver earn in Australia?
The median salary or wage income for an Australian forklift driver in 2022-23 was $62,596, based on 40,673 lodged tax returns. The average (mean) was $62,291; the mean is pulled up by high earners so the median is a better guide for a typical forklift driver.
What is a forklift driver salary after tax?
On the median $62,596 salary for a forklift driver, take-home pay in FY2025-26 is about $51,838 per year after income tax and the 2% Medicare levy — roughly $1,994 per fortnight or $997 per week.
How much tax does a forklift driver pay?
On the median $62,596 salary, a forklift driver in FY2025-26 pays about $10,758 in total tax — $9,506 income tax plus $1,252 Medicare levy. Effective rate: 17.2%.
How many people work as a forklift driver in Australia?
40,673 Australians lodged a tax return as a forklift driver in 2022-23. This is the count of individuals who classified themselves under ANZSCO unit group 7213 on their return.
What is the average vs median forklift driver salary?
Average (mean): $62,291. Median: $62,596. The median is usually lower because a small number of very high earners pull the average up. For a realistic picture of what a typical forklift driver earns, use the median.
Data sources
Salary data: Australian Taxation Office — Taxation Statistics 2022-23, Table 15. Used under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 Australia licence.
Take-home pay calculated at paycalculator.page using ATO-published FY2025-26 brackets, 2% Medicare levy, and default settings (Australian resident, private hospital cover, tax-free threshold claimed).