Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators salary in North Carolina
Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators in North Carolina earn a median of $43,420 a year ($20.88 an hour), based on BLS data for 26,830 workers.
Pay ranges from $35,940 for the lowest-paid 10% to $56,000 for the top 10%. That is 6% lower than the national median of $46,420. North Carolina ranks 48th of 51 states for industrial truck and tractor operators pay. There are 5.4 industrial truck and tractor operators per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $43,960, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for industrial truck and tractor operators in North Carolina
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $35,940 | $17.28 |
| 25th percentile | $38,080 | $18.31 |
| Median | $43,420 | $20.88 |
| 75th percentile | $47,510 | $22.84 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $56,000 | $26.92 |
| Average (mean) | $43,960 | $21.14 |
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 | $3,618.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,809.17 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,670 |
| Weekly | $835 |
| Hourly | $20.88 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $43,420 salary, see how much house you can afford in North Carolina at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators salary in cities in North Carolina
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Fayetteville, NC | $51,450 | 1,020 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $47,040 | 3,610 |
| Asheville, NC | $47,010 | 700 |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | $45,140 | 2,650 |
| Burlington, NC | $44,910 | 590 |
| Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | $44,090 | 710 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $43,880 | 8,330 |
| Winston-Salem, NC | $43,100 | 1,560 |
| Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC | $42,850 | 870 |
| Greenville, NC | $42,280 | 130 |
| Wilmington, NC | $42,210 | 350 |
| Greensboro-High Point, NC | $41,510 | 2,890 |
| Jacksonville, NC | $40,230 | 70 |
| Rocky Mount, NC | $39,430 | 410 |
| Goldsboro, NC | $38,420 | 350 |
| Pinehurst-Southern Pines, NC | $36,710 | 60 |
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 North Carolina
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | $38,230 | $18.38 |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | $35,950 | $17.29 |
| Packers and Packagers, Hand | $34,360 | $16.52 |
| Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment | $33,470 | $16.09 |
| Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors | $44,670 | $21.48 |
| Machine Feeders and Offbearers | $37,370 | $17.97 |
| Crane and Tower Operators | $64,480 | $31.00 |
| Conveyor Operators and Tenders | $39,160 | $18.83 |
| Material Moving Workers, All Other | $38,960 | $18.73 |
| Tank Car, Truck, and Ship Loaders | $44,910 | $21.59 |
| Pump Operators, Except Wellhead Pumpers | $45,890 | $22.06 |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $51,530 | $24.77 |
| Light Truck Driver | $39,910 | $19.19 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors | $60,070 | $28.88 |
More: Transportation and Material Moving Occupations · all salaries in North Carolina
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 North Carolina?
The median salary for industrial truck and tractor operators in North Carolina is $43,420 a year, or $20.88 an hour. Pay ranges from $35,940 for the lowest-paid 10% to $56,000 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid industrial truck and tractor operators make in North Carolina?
The top 10% of industrial truck and tractor operators in North Carolina earn at least $56,000 a year. The top 25% earn $47,510 or more.
What is the starting pay for industrial truck and tractor operators in North Carolina?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $35,940 a year, and a quarter of industrial truck and tractor operators earn $38,080 or less.
How many industrial truck and tractor operators work in North Carolina?
About 26,830 industrial truck and tractor operators are employed in North Carolina, not counting the self-employed.