Forklift Operator Jobs in Arlington, TX
Forklift operators in Arlington typically start around $18 to $20 an hour, and high-reach operators are posted at up to $23. Most of the work sits in Arlington's manufacturing plants and next door in Grand Prairie. Here are the current openings, followed by who is hiring and how to get certified.
Current forklift operator Openings in Arlington, TX
Listings marked External are sponsored openings provided by the Jobs2Careers network.
Forklift Operator Work in Arlington
Arlington's industrial east side anchors the market. The Great Southwest Industrial District, founded in 1956 and stretching along I-30 and SH 360 across the Grand Prairie line, holds more than 82 million square feet of plants and warehouses, and GM Arlington Assembly sits at its edge on East Abram Street. Auto parts suppliers in Arlington run forklifts and cherry pickers on all three shifts, and manufacturers on the Grand Prairie side staff drivers for their shipping and receiving docks.
That mix means much of the work is in manufacturing rather than pure warehousing: moving parts to a production line, loading finished goods and running trailers at the dock. Night and overnight shifts are common, and operators who can run reach trucks and cherry pickers as well as a sit-down forklift have the most choices.
Top Arlington Employers Hiring Forklift Operators
These employers list forklift operator openings in Arlington or next door in Grand Prairie on their own careers sites:
- International Automotive Components - the auto parts supplier hires Material Handler - Forklift and cherry picker operators in Arlington on 1st, 2nd and 3rd shifts, posted at $18 to $20.50 an hour.
- Poly-America - the Grand Prairie plastics manufacturer hires forklift drivers for its shipping and receiving departments.
- Kelly Services - the staffing firm places high-reach forklift operators in Arlington on a Monday to Friday day shift at $21 to $23 an hour.
Forklift Operator Salaries in Arlington
- Entry level: about $17 to $19 per hour for newly certified operators.
- Experienced: roughly $19 to $23 per hour, including cherry picker and high-reach roles.
- Senior or lead: about $24 to $30 per hour for leads and specialized equipment.
These are estimates drawn from Arlington postings and Bureau of Labor Statistics May 2025 data, which puts the national median for material moving machine operators at $22.44 an hour and the DFW mean for transportation and material moving work at $24.17. Shift premiums, overtime and the type of truck you run move pay the most.
How to Become a Forklift Operator in Arlington
Texas has no state license for forklift operators. Instead, OSHA rule 29 CFR 1910.178 requires your employer to train you with formal instruction and hands-on practice, evaluate you on the equipment you will drive, certify that training, and re-evaluate you at least every three years. Employers commonly train new hires on site. For a head start, Tarrant County College runs a Logistics and Supply Chain Management program at the Hadley Center on its Northwest Campus, including a 15-hour Level 1 Warehouse Management certificate, and Arlington ISD's Dan Dipert Career and Technical Center on Browning Drive offers a Transportation, Distribution and Logistics pathway for high school students.
What the Job Involves
Forklift operators load and unload trucks and containers, move pallets to racking or a production line, stage and scan outbound shipments, and keep inventory counts accurate in the warehouse system. Every shift starts with a pre-operation safety check of the truck. Operators work around pedestrians, tall racks and dock doors, so steady, careful driving matters more than speed.
Skills Employers Look For
- Forklift experience and a current employer certification
- Reach truck, high-reach or cherry picker experience
- RF scanner and inventory system skills
- Strong safety habits and pre-shift inspections
- Accuracy when picking, staging and loading
- Reliability on nights, weekends and overtime
Career Path and Advancement
Many Arlington operators start as material handlers or warehouse associates and earn certification on the job. From there the path runs to specialized equipment, inventory control, shipping and receiving, team lead and shift supervisor. Learning several truck types and taking on inventory or dock responsibility are the fastest ways up in Arlington's plants and warehouses.
Related Careers in Arlington
If forklift operating interests you, these related Arlington roles are close matches:
- Material Handler Jobs
- Warehouse Associate Jobs
- Shipping and Receiving Clerk Jobs
- Inventory Specialist Jobs
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you need a license to drive a forklift in Arlington?
No. Texas has no state forklift license. OSHA requires your employer to train, evaluate and certify you on the specific truck you will run, and to re-evaluate you at least every three years.
How much do forklift operators make in Arlington?
Arlington postings currently show about $18 to $20.50 an hour for forklift and cherry picker material handlers and $21 to $23 for high-reach operators. Leads and operators on specialized equipment can earn more.
Are there night shift forklift jobs in Arlington?
Yes. Auto suppliers in Arlington post forklift and cherry picker roles on 1st, 2nd and 3rd shifts, and Poly-America in Grand Prairie hires for overnight material handling.
Where can I get forklift training near Arlington?
Most employers train and certify new operators on site, as OSHA requires. Tarrant County College's Logistics and Supply Chain Management program at its Northwest Campus adds warehouse management coursework, and Workforce Solutions for Tarrant County has an Arlington center at 2000 E Lamar Blvd.
How long does forklift certification take?
Not long. Employer training is usually done within your first days or weeks, but it must include hands-on practice and an evaluation on the actual equipment you will drive.
Ready to apply? Browse all Forklift Operator jobs in Arlington, TX on LocalJobPage and apply today.