Forklift Operator Jobs in Los Angeles, CA
Forklift operators in Los Angeles commonly earn $22 to $27 an hour, and night dock work at freight terminals posts above $30. The jobs cluster in the industrial belt around Vernon, South Gate and Santa Fe Springs. Here are the current openings, followed by who is hiring and how to get certified.
Current forklift operator Openings in Los Angeles, CA
Listings marked External are sponsored openings provided by the Jobs2Careers network.
Forklift Operator Work in Los Angeles
Forklift work in Los Angeles follows the freight. Containers from the Port of Los Angeles in San Pedro and Wilmington move north on the Alameda Corridor rail line toward downtown, and the plants and warehouses that handle that cargo fill the industrial zone around Vernon and the 90058 ZIP code, then spread east and south into South Gate, Santa Fe Springs and Gardena. Here an operator is as likely to load steel racking or corrugated boxes at a plant as to stack pallets in a distribution center.
Less-than-truckload freight terminals are the best-paying corner of the trade, because dock crews cross-load trailers on tight evening schedules. Inside city limits the City of Los Angeles minimum wage is $18.42 an hour from July 1, 2026, but certified operators here post well above it.
Top Los Angeles Employers Hiring Forklift Operators
These employers have forklift and dock openings posted on their own career sites:
- Nucor Warehouse Systems - the steel racking maker hires shipping forklift operators at its Los Angeles plant in the 90058 industrial zone, with a weekly production bonus.
- Crate & Barrel - its Los Angeles Home Delivery Center on Lakeland Road runs first and second shift operators on forklifts, reach trucks and stock pickers.
- XPO - the LTL freight carrier hires part-time night forklift operators at its Santa Fe Springs terminal.
- Saia - the LTL carrier staffs full and part-time dockworkers who load and unload trailers by forklift at its Gardena terminal.
- Packaging Corporation of America - the corrugated box maker hires forklift operators at its South Gate plant.
Forklift Operator Salaries in Los Angeles
- Entry level: about $20 to $23 an hour; Crate & Barrel posts $20.40 to $25.50 and Nucor $22.31 plus bonus.
- Experienced: roughly $23 to $27 an hour at plants and distribution centers, such as $24.30 at the PCA box plant in South Gate.
- Senior / top progression: $27 to $32 an hour at freight terminals; XPO posts $26.05 to $32.04 and Saia $26.85 to $30.80.
These are estimates from current employer postings and 2025 federal wage data for the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim metro, where industrial truck operators earned a median of $22.41 an hour and the top 10 percent earned above $30.45. Equipment type, shift and employer type move pay most: reach truck and clamp operators, night crews and LTL dock workers earn more than daytime sit-down operators.
How to Become a Forklift Operator in Los Angeles
You need to be at least 18, since federal child labor rules bar younger workers from driving forklifts, and most employers want a high school diploma or GED. California has no state forklift license. Instead, Cal/OSHA's Title 8, Section 3668 makes your employer responsible for training you, evaluating you on the actual truck and certifying you, with a new evaluation at least once every three years. To arrive already trained, the LAUSD Division of Adult and Career Education offers a 25-hour Warehouse Operations - Forklift course at Harbor Occupational Center, 740 N Pacific Ave in San Pedro, covering electric and gas forklifts, pallet jacks, narrow-aisle reach trucks and order selectors.
What the Job Involves
Forklift operators load and unload trucks and containers, move pallets to and from racking, stage outbound orders and keep the dock clear. Each shift starts with a pre-use safety inspection of the truck. Operators scan moves into a warehouse system, wrap and secure loads, and work around pedestrians, tight aisles and high racking, so steady, careful driving matters more than speed.
Skills Employers Look For
- Forklift training and certification under Cal/OSHA rules
- Sit-down, stand-up reach and clamp truck experience
- Trailer and container loading and unloading
- RF scanner and warehouse management system use
- A clean safety record and daily equipment inspections
- Willingness to work evening, night and weekend shifts
Career Path and Advancement
Many Los Angeles operators start as warehouse associates or loaders, get certified on the job, and step up to forklift work for a raise. From there the path runs to specialized equipment such as reach and clamp trucks, LTL dockworker at terminals in Santa Fe Springs or Gardena, lead operator, inventory control and shift supervisor. Learning several truck types is the fastest way to raise pay in the Vernon and Alameda Corridor plants.
Related Careers in Los Angeles
If forklift work interests you, these related Los Angeles roles are close matches:
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you need a license to drive a forklift in Los Angeles?
No. California has no state forklift license. Cal/OSHA requires your employer to train, evaluate and certify you on the equipment you will use, and to re-evaluate you at least every three years.
How much do forklift operators make in Los Angeles?
Most postings fall between about $20 and $27 an hour, and the 2025 metro median for industrial truck operators was $22.41. Freight terminal dock jobs at carriers such as XPO and Saia post $26 to $32.
Where can I get forklift training in Los Angeles?
Many employers train new hires themselves. LAUSD's Harbor Occupational Center in San Pedro runs a 25-hour Warehouse Operations - Forklift course with no prerequisites, though outside vendors may charge for books or exams.
Which forklift jobs pay the most in Los Angeles?
LTL freight terminals pay the most, with XPO's Santa Fe Springs night operators posting up to $32.04 an hour. Reach truck, clamp truck and night shift work also pays more than daytime sit-down driving.
How old do you have to be to drive a forklift in California?
You must be 18. Federal child labor rules prohibit workers under 18 from operating forklifts, so every operator job in Los Angeles requires you to be at least 18.
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