How Much Should a Balance Operator Make?
Counterbalance forklift operators are typically responsible for loading and unloading heavy products in warehouses, factories or on construction sites. They must be licensed to drive and operate forklifts, also known as industrial or lift trucks, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Compensation for balance operators vary based on the type of industry and location in which the operator is employed.
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Salary
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The average salary for balance operators in the United States was $31,500 as of May 2010, reports the BLS. Salaries began at less than $20,420 in the 10th percentile and exceeded $45,490 in the 90th percentile. The median income for balance operators was $29,780 a year.
Industry
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Balance operators working in warehouses and storage facilities earned an average of $31,150 a year as of 2010, according to the BLS. Those employed by building material and supplies dealers earned an average of $25,420 a year, and those working for grocery and related product merchant wholesalers earned an average of $32,660. In the industry of employment services the average income of a balance operator was $26,530 a year, and in the industry of general freight trucking the average was $33,190. The highest salary average for balance operators was in the industry of natural gas distribution at $56,810 a year.
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Location
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The BLS reports that the highest concentration of jobs for balance operators was found in Indiana as of 2010, where 7.66 operators were employed per every 1,000 jobs, earning an average of $31,990 a year. The District of Columbia was the top paying state for balance operators with a salary average of $41,780 annually, followed by Alaska with an average of $40,900 and Hawaii with an average of $37,940.
Outlook and Advancement
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The BLS expects the employment rate for all material moving occupations, including forklift balance operators, to decline by one percent between 2008 and 2018. This decline is attributed to the increasing productivity in warehouses and the outsourcing of some activities that previously required the skills of material movers. While most employers will hire balance operators with a minimum of a high school diploma, the bureau reports that 17 states and six cities in the United States require forklift operators to obtain licensure, which requires taking both a written and skills test. Balance operators wishing to advance may pursue extra training and certification from organizations such as All Terrain Training Ltd, which offers a course in counterbalance forklift operating that covers both theory and practical training.
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References
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