Akron, OH labor market
Is your site paying the market — or paying for turnover?
We benchmark Akron-area wages for warehouse, forklift, production, and lead roles — and we’ll walk your site, shift by shift, for free. The data below is the proof; the analysis is the offer.
The free site analysis: a Akron workforce specialist reviews your roles, shifts, pay positioning, and fill history against the local market — and leaves you the numbers whether or not you ever use us.
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No pitch deck, no obligation — a Akron workforce specialist, your site, and the local numbers. We'll reach out to set a time that fits your shift schedule.
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2026 hourly wage benchmarks — Akron, OH.
What light-industrial roles are commanding in this market right now. If your rates sit below the median, that gap is usually where the no-shows and early quits come from.
| Role | Low | Median | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| General warehouse / picker-packer | $13 | $18 | $18 |
| Production / assembly | $12 | $13.50 | $17.15 |
| Machine operator | $12.50 | $13.50 | $18 |
| General labor | $13 | $15 | $17 |
| Forklift / reach truck | $17 | $18.50 | $20.50 |
| Shift lead / line lead | $21 | $24 | $27 |
Source: 842 actual Lingo Staffing placements in the Akron, OH area, drawn from our own placement records. These are the hourly rates employers in this market are really paying — not survey estimates. Rates move with shift, certification, and volume; confirm current rates with our local team before contracting. Rows not covered by our own placement sample (Forklift / reach truck, Shift lead / line lead) remain BLS-benchmarked estimates.
What’s moving the Akron market.
“Polymer Valley” — plastics, rubber & advanced-materials plants anchor year-round production demand across Summit County.
Manufacturers, the big healthcare systems, and Northeast Ohio distribution centers all recruit from one hourly labor pool.
Distribution feeding the Akron–Canton–Cleveland triangle keeps warehouse demand steady in every season.
Dependable machine-operator and warehouse candidates come off this market within days of surfacing.
The 8-Hour Guarantee
If an associate isn’t working out in their first 8 hours, you are not billed for that time — we still pay them, and we put a replacement on your next shift.
Get the analysis. Keep the numbers.
Or skip straight to staffing: tell us the roles and shifts, and we’ll build the crew.