Forklift Operator Salary in Canada | By Province

In Canada, the median wage for forklift operators is $22/hr.

Forklift Operators in Canada: job prospects, employment requirements, licensing.

Forklift operators in Canada, classified under NOC 75101 as material handlers, load, unload, move and handle materials and products using forklift trucks and other material handling equipment in warehouses, distribution centres, manufacturing plants, and storage yards. Approximately tens of thousands work in this role nationally as part of the larger material handlers group. Job prospects are balanced nationally through 2033, with labour demand and supply expected to remain broadly in line, supported by steady needs in logistics, e-commerce growth, manufacturing, and replacement demand from turnover. Median hourly wages stand at about 22.00 Canadian dollars nationally, with typical ranges from 16.55 to 30.29 dollars per hour depending on experience, location, industry, and shift type. Most positions require a high school diploma, forklift operator certification or licence, and short-term on-the-job training, with work conditions often involving full-time or part-time shifts including evenings, nights and weekends, physically demanding tasks such as lifting, prolonged sitting or standing, exposure to varying temperatures, and strict adherence to safety protocols in fast-paced warehouse environments.

Licensing

Forklift operator may be regulated in the province or territory you wish to settle in. Contact the regulatory authority and/or apprenticeship office in that province or territory.

FORKLIFT TRUCK OPERATOR (NOC 75101)
2025	Wages/hr
Community/Area	Low	Median	High
Canada	16.55	22.00	30.29
Newfoundland and Labrador	16.35	19.00	31.94
Prince Edward Island	17.00	19.00	24.00
Nova Scotia	16.75	20.00	26.20
New Brunswick	15.90	20.65	26.50
Quebec	16.94	22.00	31.32
Ontario	17.60	21.50	29.96
Manitoba	16.00	21.12	29.69
Saskatchewan	15.35	20.00	30.00
Alberta	16.50	22.00	31.95
British Columbia	18.25	22.00	33.99
Yukon Territory	18.51	23.66	31.92
Northwest Territories	N/A	N/A	N/A
Nunavut	19.75	19.75	26.10
Source: Job Bank. 2026

In 2022, Forklift Operators reported higher wages in the Northwest Territories

FORKLIFT TRUCK OPERATOR (NOC 75101)
2022	Wages ($/hour)
Province/Territory	Low	Median	High
Canada	14.5	19	29
Newfoundland and Labrador	14.5	15	23.56
Prince Edward Island	14.5	16	21
Nova Scotia	14.5	17	25.08
New Brunswick	14.75	16	24
Quebec	14.25	19.5	28
Ontario	15.5	18.75	28
Manitoba	14.15	19	27.16
Saskatchewan	13	20	30.28
Alberta	15.75	20	30
British Columbia	15.65	20	31.25
Yukon Territory	17	22	32
Northwest Territories	17	25	35
Nunavut	N/A	N/A	N/A
Source: Job Bank. 2023

In 2020, forklift operators reported higher wages in British Columbia.

MATERIAL HANDLERS (NOC 7452)
2020	Wages ($/hour)
Province/Territory	Low	Median	High
Canada	13.55	18	28
Newfoundland and Labrador	12.15	16.25	25
Prince Edward Island	12.85	15	23.08
Nova Scotia	12.55	16.5	26
New Brunswick	11.75	16	23.92
Quebec	13.1	17.42	26.86
Ontario	14.25	17.55	26.3
Manitoba	12	17.5	27
Saskatchewan	13.46	19	28.09
Alberta	15	21	32
British Columbia	14.6	18	33
Yukon Territory	N/A	N/A	N/A
Northwest Territories	16	22	32.92
Nunavut	N/A	N/A	N/A
Source: Job Bank. Dec 2020

Job Prospects in Canada (2019-2021)

Labour demand and labour supply projections (2019-2021)
Newfoundland and Labrador	Fair
Prince Edward Island	Fair
Nova Scotia	Fair
New Brunswick	Fair
Québec	Good
Ontario	Fair
Manitoba	Fair
Saskatchewan	Fair
Alberta	Fair
British Columbia	Fair
Yukon	Fair
Northwest Territories	Limited
Nunavut	Fair
Source: Job Bank. Dec 2020

In 2017, forklift operators reported higher wages in the Northwest Territories

MATERIAL HANDLERS (NOC 7452-C)
2017	Wages ($/hr)
Province/Territory	Low	Median	High
Canada	11.25	16.4	26.5
Northwest Territories	12.5	23.31	43.33
Newfoundland and Labrador	11	15	34
Alberta	13.6	18.97	31
British Columbia	11.35	17	31
Saskatchewan	12	18	30
Yukon	15	20.87	29.5
Manitoba	12	18	26
Nova Scotia	11	15	25
Ontario	14	16	25
Québec	11.25	16	25
New Brunswick	11	15	22.18
Prince Edward Island	11.25	15	21.63
Nunavut	N/A	N/A	N/A
Source: Job Bank. September 2017*

In 2016, a forklift operator earns a medium wage of $16.49/hr. in Canada.

Salaries for forklift operators vary by province. For example, in 2016, forklift operators had the highest wages in the Northwest Territories.

MATERIAL HANDLERS (NOC 7452-C)
2016	Wages ($/hr)
Province/Territory	Low	Median	High
Canada	11	16.49	26.6
Northwest Territories	12.5	23.31	43.33
Alberta	13	19	30.29
British Columbia	11	17	29.9
Newfoundland and Labrador	10.8	15	29.6
Yukon	15	20	28.43
Saskatchewan	12	18	28
Manitoba	11.7	17.98	25
Ontario	11.4	16	25
Québec	10.75	16	25
Nova Scotia	10.85	15	23.5
Prince Edward Island	11	15	21.63
New Brunswick	10.65	15	21.45
Nunavut	N/A	N/A	N/A
Source: Job Bank. November 2016*

*Wages are reviewed and updated on the Job Bank Web site on an annual basis.