Industrial Truck and Tractor Operator Salary in Memphis, TN
Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators in the Memphis, TN-MS-AR metro area earn a median $44,540 a year — 4% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $37,968 take-home, or $3,164 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median industrial truck and tractor operator salary in Memphis, TN. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$3,165
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,761
- Medicare (1.45%)$646
- Tennessee income tax$0
- Take-home pay$37,968
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 0.00% state
The Memphis, TN-MS-AR metro spans Tennessee, Mississippi, Arkansas. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Industrial Truck and Tractor Operator pay by experience in Memphis, TN
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $36,810 | $17.70 | $31,757 | $2,646 |
| 25th percentile | $38,400 | $18.46 | $33,034 | $2,753 |
| Median (50th) | $44,540 | $21.41 | $37,968 | $3,164 |
| 75th percentile | $48,410 | $23.27 | $41,077 | $3,423 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $52,000 | $25.00 | $43,962 | $3,664 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Tennessee resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $44,540 buys in Memphis, TN
Prices in Memphis, TN are 7.8% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 20% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median industrial truck and tractor operator's $37,968 take-home pay has the buying power of $41,189 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Memphis, TN has 2.6× 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
Memphis, TN ranks #15 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 |
| 15 | Memphis, TN | $44,540 | $37,968 | $41,189 |
*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 Tennessee
- Nashville, TN — $44,600
Frequently asked questions
How much does a industrial truck and tractor operator make in Memphis, TN?
The median industrial truck and tractor operator salary in the Memphis, TN-MS-AR metro area is $44,540 a year, or about $21.41 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $38,400 and $48,410.
What is a industrial truck and tractor operator’s take-home pay in Memphis, TN?
On the median $44,540 salary, a single filer living in Tennessee takes home about $37,968 a year ($3,164 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.
Is Memphis, TN a good place to work as a industrial truck and tractor operator?
Pay here is 4% below the national median of $46,420. Local prices are 7.8% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $41,189 would in a typical U.S. city. Memphis, TN ranks #15 of 65 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a industrial truck and tractor operator afford rent in Memphis, TN?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Memphis, TN is $1,137 a month ($1,263 for two bedrooms) — 36% 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 Memphis, TN
- Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver — $63,070
- First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors — $62,350
- Light Truck Driver — $48,350
- Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand — $39,510
- Stocker and Order Filler — $37,280
- Packers and Packagers, Hand — $35,630