Best institutions to study Forklift Operation/Operator
A program that prepares individuals to operate forklifts in a variety of work environments.
3 U.S. institutions graduated 318 Forklift Operation/Operator students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 49.0209, a specialization of Ground Transportation (CIP 49.02), and leads most directly to the Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators occupation (BLS SOC 53-7051).
About Forklift Operation/Operator programs
A program that prepares individuals to operate forklifts in a variety of work environments. Includes instruction in accident prevention, forklift operation, materials handling, and worksite safety.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Forklift Operation/Operator program, part of the Ground Transportation field, prepares individuals to operate forklifts in various work environments. This program is ideal for those looking to enter the transportation and materials moving industry, focusing on essential skills for safe and efficient forklift operation.
Students will gain knowledge in accident prevention, materials handling, and worksite safety. Coursework emphasizes critical skills such as reading comprehension, active listening, and monitoring, ensuring graduates are well-equipped for the demands of the job.
Credentials awarded
What Forklift Operation/Operator graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Award of less than 12 weeks318 graduates / yr · 3 institutions100%
Graduates over time
Forklift Operation/Operator completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2023 | 79 |
| 2024 | 197 |
| 2025 | 318 |
CIP 49.0209 was introduced in CIP 2020, so the series starts when institutions began reporting under the new code.
Top 3 institutions for Forklift Operation/Operator, ranked by graduates
Graduates (IPEDS completions), 2024–25. Award levels show which credentials each institution confers in this specialization.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Field earnings* (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | City Colleges of Chicago - Olive - Harvey College Chicago, ILPublicAward of less than 12 weeks | 204 | 21% | — | $24,356 |
| 2 | Colby Community College Colby, KSPublicAward of less than 12 weeks | 110 | 55% | — | — |
| 3 | Polytech Adult Education Woodside, DEPublicAward of less than 12 weeks | 4 | 70% | — | — |
* Median earnings 1 year after graduation for the broader Ground Transportation field (CIP 49.02) at these institutions; College Scorecard does not publish earnings at the 6-digit level.
Offered in 3 states
Where Forklift Operation/Operator graduates come from. Each state links to all Ground Transportation programs offered there.
| State | Institutions | Graduates / yr | Top institution by graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Illinois | 1 | 204 | City Colleges of Chicago - Olive - Harvey College204 / yr |
| Kansas | 1 | 110 | Colby Community College110 / yr |
| Delaware | 1 | 4 | Polytech Adult Education4 / yr |
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 53-7051, Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the Forklift Operation/Operator program can pursue careers as Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators. With an annual opening of 76,400 positions and a median wage of $46,390, the job outlook shows little or no change, typically requiring no formal educational credential.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 49.0209
The occupations the NCES crosswalk maps this 6-digit code to, with BLS pay and 10-year outlook.
| Occupation | US median pay | Growth | Openings / yr | Typical entry education |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Industrial Truck and Tractor Operatorsprimary SOC 53-7051 | $46,420 | +1.1% Little or no change | ~76,400 | No formal educational credential |
Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed
- Education
- Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
- Experience
- Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training.
- Training
- Ranges from a few days to one year of on-the-job training.
Related careers
Skills & knowledge in Forklift Operation/Operator programs
From the U.S. Dept. of Labor for the occupation this specialization most leads to.
Skills you'll build
Knowledge areas
Abilities that matter most
Day-to-day work activities
What graduates do on the job
- Move levers or controls that operate lifting devices, such as forklifts, lift beams with swivel-hooks, hoists, or elevating platforms, to load, unload, transport, or stack material.
- Move controls to drive gasoline- or electric-powered trucks, cars, or tractors and transport materials between loading, processing, and storage areas.
- Manually or mechanically load or unload materials from pallets, skids, platforms, cars, lifting devices, or other transport vehicles.
- Position lifting devices under, over, or around loaded pallets, skids, or boxes and secure material or products for transport to designated areas.
- Inspect product load for accuracy and safely move it around the warehouse or facility to ensure timely and complete delivery.
- Weigh materials or products and record weight or other production data on tags or labels.
Tools and technology used
Other Ground Transportation specializations
The 6 other 6-digit CIP codes under Ground Transportation (CIP 49.02).
- Truck and Bus Driver/CIP 49.0205
Commercial Vehicle Operator and Instructor 17,965 graduates / yr232 institutions - Construction/CIP 49.0202
Heavy Equipment/ Earthmoving Equipment Operation 1,010 graduates / yr50 institutions - Ground TransportationCIP 49.0299partial data109 graduates / yr7 institutions
- Railroad and Railway TransportationCIP 49.0208limited data87 graduates / yr1 institutions
Show 2 more CIP codes with no U.S. programs reported+
- Mobil Crane Operator/
Operation49.0206 - Flagging and Traffic Control49.0207
No institution reported completions for these codes in the latest IPEDS year, so they have no page.
Common questions
What is the duration of the program?+
The program awards credentials in less than 12 weeks.
What skills will I learn?+
You will learn skills in accident prevention, materials handling, and worksite safety.
What career can I pursue after graduation?+
You can work as an Industrial Truck and Tractor Operator.
What is the job outlook for this field?+
The job outlook shows little or no change, with 76,400 annual openings.
What is the CIP code for Forklift Operation/Operator?+
Forklift Operation/Operator is CIP 49.0209 in the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020), a 6-digit specialization within Ground Transportation (CIP 49.02). NCES defines it as: A program that prepares individuals to operate forklifts in a variety of work environments. Includes instruction in accident prevention, forklift operation, materials handling, and worksite safety.
How many institutions offer Forklift Operation/Operator programs?+
3 U.S. institutions reported Forklift Operation/Operator graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 3 states, awarding 318 credentials in the year. That is 1.6% of all Ground Transportation graduates.
How much do Forklift Operation/Operator graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators occupation, which Forklift Operation/Operator most directly leads to, pays a median of $46,420 a year nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025), and graduates of the broader Ground Transportation field report median earnings of $24,356 one year after graduation (College Scorecard).
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
Program definitions are from the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020). Skills, knowledge, abilities, work activities, tools, and job zones are from the O*NET database by the U.S. Department of Labor, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
Explore every U.S. college in one conversation
Clema turns plain-language questions into sourced answers across every U.S. institution — earnings, aid, acceptance, graduation, safety, and athletics from IPEDS, College Scorecard, and 10+ federal datasets, built in.
Free for teams up to 3 · No credit card