Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators salary in the U.S.
Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators in the U.S. earn a median of $46,420 a year ($22.32 an hour), based on BLS data for 774,420 workers.
Pay ranges from $36,840 for the lowest-paid 10% to $62,520 for the top 10%. The average (mean) salary is $48,370, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for industrial truck and tractor operators in the U.S.
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $36,840 | $17.71 |
| 25th percentile | $40,030 | $19.24 |
| Median | $46,420 | $22.32 |
| 75th percentile | $54,770 | $26.33 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $62,520 | $30.06 |
| Average (mean) | $48,370 | $23.25 |
Half of industrial truck and tractor operators earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $3,868.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,934.17 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,785.38 |
| Weekly | $892.69 |
| Hourly | $22.32 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $46,420 salary, see how much house you can afford at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators salary by state
| State | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $83,720 | n/a |
| New Mexico | $62,150 | 2,620 |
| Delaware | $60,350 | 5,230 |
| Wyoming | $59,820 | 790 |
| New Hampshire | $54,460 | 1,450 |
| Alaska | $54,190 | 410 |
| Hawaii | $53,640 | 880 |
| Oregon | $50,760 | 8,560 |
| Colorado | $50,570 | 8,570 |
| Washington | $49,910 | 18,750 |
| Minnesota | $49,740 | 7,110 |
| North Dakota | $49,260 | 930 |
| Utah | $49,040 | 6,830 |
| New York | $49,030 | 18,420 |
| Louisiana | $48,950 | 7,680 |
| Florida | $48,370 | 38,400 |
| Arizona | $48,110 | 12,340 |
| Montana | $48,060 | 910 |
| California | $47,770 | 89,620 |
| Maine | $47,730 | 2,900 |
| Pennsylvania | $47,730 | 42,110 |
| Illinois | $47,720 | 29,450 |
| Wisconsin | $47,720 | 12,150 |
| Iowa | $47,590 | 7,770 |
| Kansas | $47,430 | 7,700 |
| South Dakota | $47,410 | 1,940 |
| Vermont | $47,380 | 950 |
| Connecticut | $47,190 | 3,780 |
| Virginia | $46,920 | 19,320 |
| Massachusetts | $46,850 | 8,390 |
| Nebraska | $46,730 | 5,020 |
| Kentucky | $46,630 | 11,270 |
| Idaho | $46,600 | 2,560 |
| Ohio | $46,450 | 42,360 |
| New Jersey | $46,100 | 21,790 |
| Indiana | $45,650 | 23,090 |
| Maryland | $45,630 | 13,740 |
| Texas | $45,450 | 88,780 |
| Nevada | $45,230 | 7,300 |
| Michigan | $45,220 | 23,470 |
| Missouri | $45,190 | 11,470 |
| Rhode Island | $45,010 | 780 |
| Alabama | $44,880 | 15,360 |
| Oklahoma | $44,700 | 7,850 |
| Arkansas | $43,780 | 10,850 |
| South Carolina | $43,680 | 14,210 |
| Mississippi | $43,420 | 9,640 |
| North Carolina | $43,420 | 26,830 |
| Georgia | $43,210 | 50,260 |
| Tennessee | $42,100 | 20,070 |
| West Virginia | $41,670 | 1,400 |
| Puerto Rico | $36,090 | 3,450 |
| Virgin Islands | $35,230 | 60 |
| Guam | $34,870 | 60 |
Best-paying metro areas for industrial truck and tractor operators
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Flint, MI | $78,530 | 1,020 |
| Kahului-Wailuku, HI | $66,350 | 40 |
| Cheyenne, WY | $62,520 | 360 |
| Vallejo, CA | $62,460 | 1,070 |
| Albuquerque, NM | $62,150 | 1,940 |
| Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL | $59,850 | 530 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $59,240 | 7,530 |
| Anchorage, AK | $58,910 | 230 |
| Kenosha, WI | $58,110 | 1,300 |
| Fort Collins-Loveland, CO | $57,140 | 670 |
| Lewiston-Auburn, ME | $57,000 | 410 |
| Modesto, CA | $55,810 | 2,350 |
| Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT | $55,680 | 480 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $55,600 | 10,110 |
| Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ | $54,700 | 270 |
Metro areas with the most industrial truck and tractor operators
| Metro area | Workers | Median salary |
|---|---|---|
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 34,650 | $47,230 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | 28,750 | $44,710 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 24,720 | $46,930 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | 24,180 | $47,850 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 22,320 | $47,950 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 22,170 | $46,600 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | 20,910 | $45,990 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 15,670 | $49,260 |
| Columbus, OH | 11,910 | $46,780 |
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | 10,370 | $46,550 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | 10,250 | $48,770 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | 10,110 | $55,600 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | 9,540 | $45,670 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | 9,290 | $47,810 |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | 8,680 | $43,850 |
Related jobs in the U.S.
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | $40,240 | $19.35 |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | $37,330 | $17.95 |
| Packers and Packagers, Hand | $36,280 | $17.44 |
| Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment | $35,830 | $17.23 |
| Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors | $49,690 | $23.89 |
| Crane and Tower Operators | $68,080 | $32.73 |
| Machine Feeders and Offbearers | $41,220 | $19.82 |
| Material Moving Workers, All Other | $41,800 | $20.10 |
| Conveyor Operators and Tenders | $42,420 | $20.39 |
| Wellhead Pumper | $69,960 | $33.63 |
| Tank Car, Truck, and Ship Loaders | $58,870 | $28.30 |
| Pump Operators, Except Wellhead Pumpers | $61,770 | $29.70 |
| Gas Compressor and Gas Pumping Station Operators | $77,320 | $37.17 |
| Hoist and Winch Operators | $56,450 | $27.14 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 53-7051. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a industrial truck and tractor operators make in the U.S.?
The median salary for industrial truck and tractor operators in the U.S. is $46,420 a year, or $22.32 an hour. Pay ranges from $36,840 for the lowest-paid 10% to $62,520 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid industrial truck and tractor operators make in the U.S.?
The top 10% of industrial truck and tractor operators in the U.S. earn at least $62,520 a year. The top 25% earn $54,770 or more.
What is the starting pay for industrial truck and tractor operators in the U.S.?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $36,840 a year, and a quarter of industrial truck and tractor operators earn $40,030 or less.
How many industrial truck and tractor operators work in the U.S.?
About 774,420 industrial truck and tractor operators are employed in the U.S., not counting the self-employed.