hourly wage amounts in different parts of the country are hard to compare, there are lots of other variables, what does health insurance, state tax, and a million other things that equal out to "standard of living".

You do know, there are guys like me (30+ years in this business) that look at the "topped out" in 5 years guys, and say , (best 'bugs bunny' voice) "what a maroon, just because he hasn't had a butt whipping from a forklift in a couple of years, he thinks he knows it all," and you know there is nothing that makes those of us (who know it all) madder than those who just -think- they know it all
;-)

At least how I see this business in the States, this industry requires tech skills of expert level in so many different trades there is no way someone can become "master level" within 5 years.
Maybe in a union shop/state where you are greatly limited in what you are authorized to do, someone could learn all about the limited number of types of units, but most places I see hire forklift dealerships to maintain the fleet, in part because the union employees can ONLY do but some specific task.
and I see dealership techs expected to know the whole ball of wax, from trouble shooting a light bulb or "no start", to how many man hours will be required for the quickest way to move a 5 high full container handler and spreader, that washed down a hill in a hurricane.