Industrial Truck and Tractor Operator Salary in Dayton, OH
Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators in the Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH metro area earn a median $45,120 a year — 3% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $37,975 take-home, or $3,165 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median industrial truck and tractor operator salary in Dayton, OH. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$3,234
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,797
- Medicare (1.45%)$654
- Ohio income tax$458
- Take-home pay$37,975
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 2.75% state
Living in Dayton? City residents also pay Dayton’s city income tax — about $1,128 a year on this salary — which lowers take-home pay to $36,847 ($3,071 a month). Choose “Dayton” under City income tax in the calculator. Suburban residents usually don’t pay it.
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Industrial Truck and Tractor Operator pay by experience in Dayton, OH
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $37,960 | $18.25 | $32,419 | $2,702 |
| 25th percentile | $42,220 | $20.30 | $35,725 | $2,977 |
| Median (50th) | $45,120 | $21.69 | $37,975 | $3,165 |
| 75th percentile | $61,130 | $29.39 | $50,399 | $4,200 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $62,430 | $30.01 | $51,408 | $4,284 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Ohio resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $45,120 buys in Dayton, OH
Prices in Dayton, OH are 7.3% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 27% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median industrial truck and tractor operator's $37,975 take-home pay has the buying power of $40,969 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Dayton, OH has 1.9× 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
Dayton, OH ranks #19 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 |
| 19 | Dayton, OH | $45,120 | $37,975 | $40,969 |
*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.
Industrial Truck and Tractor Operator salaries elsewhere in Ohio
- Cincinnati, OH — $49,000
- Toledo, OH — $45,100
- Cleveland, OH — $46,090
- Columbus, OH — $46,780
- Akron, OH — $45,590
Frequently asked questions
How much does a industrial truck and tractor operator make in Dayton, OH?
The median industrial truck and tractor operator salary in the Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH metro area is $45,120 a year, or about $21.69 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $42,220 and $61,130.
What is a industrial truck and tractor operator’s take-home pay in Dayton, OH?
On the median $45,120 salary, a single filer living in Ohio takes home about $37,975 a year ($3,165 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $458 in Ohio taxes in 2026.
Is Dayton, OH a good place to work as a industrial truck and tractor operator?
Pay here is 3% below the national median of $46,420. Local prices are 7.3% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $40,969 would in a typical U.S. city. Dayton, OH ranks #19 of 65 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a industrial truck and tractor operator afford rent in Dayton, OH?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Dayton, OH is $1,009 a month ($1,273 for two bedrooms) — 32% 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 Dayton, OH
- Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver — $59,490
- Light Truck Driver — $42,200
- Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand — $40,280
- Stocker and Order Filler — $36,750