Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators salary in California
Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators in California earn a median of $47,770 a year ($22.97 an hour), based on BLS data for 89,620 workers.
Pay ranges from $38,650 for the lowest-paid 10% to $63,330 for the top 10%. That is 3% higher than the national median of $46,420. California ranks 19th of 51 states for industrial truck and tractor operators pay. There are 4.9 industrial truck and tractor operators per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $50,360, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for industrial truck and tractor operators in California
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $38,650 | $18.58 |
| 25th percentile | $43,210 | $20.77 |
| Median | $47,770 | $22.97 |
| 75th percentile | $58,360 | $28.06 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $63,330 | $30.45 |
| Average (mean) | $50,360 | $24.21 |
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 | $3,980.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,990.42 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,837.31 |
| Weekly | $918.65 |
| Hourly | $22.97 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $47,770 salary, see how much house you can afford in California at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators salary in cities in California
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Vallejo, CA | $62,460 | 1,070 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $59,240 | 7,530 |
| Modesto, CA | $55,810 | 2,350 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $54,440 | 2,130 |
| Napa, CA | $52,800 | 530 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $48,290 | 5,810 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $47,850 | 24,180 |
| Redding, CA | $47,740 | 160 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $47,570 | 3,150 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $46,970 | 670 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $46,600 | 22,170 |
| Visalia, CA | $46,590 | 1,730 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $46,530 | 270 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $46,370 | 3,890 |
| Hanford-Corcoran, CA | $46,050 | 270 |
| Chico, CA | $45,820 | 240 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $45,100 | 210 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $44,980 | 2,370 |
| Yuba City, CA | $44,720 | 280 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $44,540 | 1,200 |
| Merced, CA | $44,520 | 720 |
| Salinas, CA | $43,370 | 1,290 |
| Fresno, CA | $43,360 | 3,220 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $42,740 | 570 |
| El Centro, CA | $39,650 | 340 |
Highest-paying states for industrial truck and tractor operators
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $83,720 |
| New Mexico | $62,150 |
| Delaware | $60,350 |
| Wyoming | $59,820 |
| New Hampshire | $54,460 |
| Alaska | $54,190 |
| Hawaii | $53,640 |
| Oregon | $50,760 |
| Colorado | $50,570 |
| Washington | $49,910 |
See Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators pay in every state.
Related jobs in California
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | $44,710 | $21.50 |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | $42,870 | $20.61 |
| Packers and Packagers, Hand | $37,260 | $17.91 |
| Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment | $37,920 | $18.23 |
| Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors | $64,890 | $31.20 |
| Material Moving Workers, All Other | $38,410 | $18.46 |
| Machine Feeders and Offbearers | $40,380 | $19.41 |
| Conveyor Operators and Tenders | $43,150 | $20.74 |
| Crane and Tower Operators | $79,570 | $38.25 |
| Pump Operators, Except Wellhead Pumpers | $57,660 | $27.72 |
| Wellhead Pumper | $64,430 | $30.98 |
| Tank Car, Truck, and Ship Loaders | $68,600 | $32.98 |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $60,230 | $28.96 |
| Light Truck Driver | $46,790 | $22.50 |
More: Transportation and Material Moving Occupations · all salaries in California
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 California?
The median salary for industrial truck and tractor operators in California is $47,770 a year, or $22.97 an hour. Pay ranges from $38,650 for the lowest-paid 10% to $63,330 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid industrial truck and tractor operators make in California?
The top 10% of industrial truck and tractor operators in California earn at least $63,330 a year. The top 25% earn $58,360 or more.
What is the starting pay for industrial truck and tractor operators in California?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $38,650 a year, and a quarter of industrial truck and tractor operators earn $43,210 or less.
How many industrial truck and tractor operators work in California?
About 89,620 industrial truck and tractor operators are employed in California, not counting the self-employed.