Industrial Truck and Tractor Operator Salary in Charleston, SC
Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators in the Charleston-North Charleston, SC metro area earn a median $46,890 a year — 1% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $38,200 take-home, or $3,183 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median industrial truck and tractor operator salary in Charleston, SC. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$3,447
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,907
- Medicare (1.45%)$680
- South Carolina income tax$1,656
- Take-home pay$38,200
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 6.00% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Industrial Truck and Tractor Operator pay by experience in Charleston, SC
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $37,750 | $18.15 | $31,404 | $2,617 |
| 25th percentile | $40,560 | $19.50 | $33,493 | $2,791 |
| Median (50th) | $46,890 | $22.54 | $38,200 | $3,183 |
| 75th percentile | $50,970 | $24.50 | $41,233 | $3,436 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $81,360 | $39.12 | $62,342 | $5,195 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, South Carolina resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $46,890 buys in Charleston, SC
Prices in Charleston, SC are 1.0% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.20× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median industrial truck and tractor operator's $38,200 take-home pay has the buying power of $37,836 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Charleston, SC has 1.2× the national concentration of industrial truck and tractor operator jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for industrial truck and tractor operators, adjusted for cost of living
Charleston, SC ranks #45 of 65 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Little Rock, AR | $48,710 | $39,632 | $44,348 |
| 2 | Modesto, CA | $55,810 | $44,900 | $43,128 |
| 3 | Jacksonville, FL | $50,670 | $42,893 | $43,116 |
| 4 | Cincinnati, OH | $49,000 | $40,986 | $42,976 |
| 5 | Scranton, PA | $48,860 | $39,939 | $42,690 |
| 6 | Birmingham, AL | $48,570 | $39,042 | $42,602 |
| 7 | Lakeland, FL | $48,290 | $40,981 | $42,187 |
| 8 | Seattle, WA | $55,600 | $46,855 | $42,161 |
| 45 | Charleston, SC | $46,890 | $38,200 | $37,836 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 65 metros →
About the job: industrial truck and tractor operators
Operate industrial trucks or tractors equipped to move materials around a warehouse, storage yard, factory, construction site, or similar location.
- Typical education
- No formal educational credential
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- Short-term on-the-job training
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +1.5% (slower than average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a industrial truck and tractor operator make in Charleston, SC?
The median industrial truck and tractor operator salary in the Charleston-North Charleston, SC metro area is $46,890 a year, or about $22.54 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $40,560 and $50,970.
What is a industrial truck and tractor operator’s take-home pay in Charleston, SC?
On the median $46,890 salary, a single filer living in South Carolina takes home about $38,200 a year ($3,183 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,656 in South Carolina taxes in 2026.
Is Charleston, SC a good place to work as a industrial truck and tractor operator?
Pay here is 1% above the national median of $46,420. Local prices are 1.0% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $37,836 would in a typical U.S. city. Charleston, SC ranks #45 of 65 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a industrial truck and tractor operator afford rent in Charleston, SC?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Charleston, SC is $1,630 a month ($1,787 for two bedrooms) — 51% of a median industrial truck and tractor operator’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Charleston, SC
- Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver — $55,150
- Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand — $38,090
- Stocker and Order Filler — $36,620