Industrial Truck and Tractor Operator Salary in Houston, TX
Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators in the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX metro area earn a median $45,990 a year — 1% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $39,133 take-home, or $3,261 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median industrial truck and tractor operator salary in Houston, TX. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$3,339
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,851
- Medicare (1.45%)$667
- Texas income tax$0
- Take-home pay$39,133
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 0.00% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Industrial Truck and Tractor Operator pay by experience in Houston, TX
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $34,780 | $16.72 | $30,126 | $2,510 |
| 25th percentile | $37,570 | $18.06 | $32,367 | $2,697 |
| Median (50th) | $45,990 | $22.11 | $39,133 | $3,261 |
| 75th percentile | $49,690 | $23.89 | $42,106 | $3,509 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $58,540 | $28.14 | $49,217 | $4,101 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Texas resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $45,990 buys in Houston, TX
Prices in Houston, TX are 1.4% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.05× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median industrial truck and tractor operator's $39,133 take-home pay has the buying power of $39,677 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Houston, TX has 1.3× 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
Houston, TX ranks #28 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 |
| 28 | Houston, TX | $45,990 | $39,133 | $39,677 |
*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 Texas
- San Antonio, TX — $45,340
- Austin, TX — $46,430
- Dallas, TX — $47,230
- El Paso, TX — $38,520
Frequently asked questions
How much does a industrial truck and tractor operator make in Houston, TX?
The median industrial truck and tractor operator salary in the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX metro area is $45,990 a year, or about $22.11 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $37,570 and $49,690.
What is a industrial truck and tractor operator’s take-home pay in Houston, TX?
On the median $45,990 salary, a single filer living in Texas takes home about $39,133 a year ($3,261 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.
Is Houston, TX a good place to work as a industrial truck and tractor operator?
Pay here is 1% below the national median of $46,420. Local prices are 1.4% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $39,677 would in a typical U.S. city. Houston, TX ranks #28 of 65 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a industrial truck and tractor operator afford rent in Houston, TX?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Houston, TX is $1,316 a month ($1,558 for two bedrooms) — 40% of a median industrial truck and tractor operator’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
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