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Updated · 2026 tax rules · Data: IRS, BLS, BEA, HUD · How we calculate

Industrial Truck and Tractor Operator Salary

Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators earn a median $46,420 a year nationally. Transportation and Material Moving Occupations

U.S. median
$46,420
$22.32 per hour
Range
$36,840 – $62,520
10th to 90th percentile
Employed
774,420
across the U.S.
▲0.1%
Pay trend: The median for industrial truck and tractor operators in the U.S. rose from $46,390 (May 2024) to $46,420 (May 2025). That trailed inflation (2.4%), so buying power slipped about 2.3%.

What industrial truck and tractor operators do

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)
Openings per year
64,700

Employment of industrial truck and tractor operators is projected to grow 1.5% from 2025 to 2035, slower than the 3.5% average for all occupations. About 64,700 openings are expected each year, on average, including jobs left by workers who retire or switch careers.

Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.

Industrial Truck and Tractor Operator take-home pay calculator

Starts at the national median. Pick your state to see your real paycheck.

Industrial Truck and Tractor Operator
Deductions, kids & local tax

2026 tax year. Federal brackets from IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-32.

Your take-home pay
$39,478
per year · effective tax rate 15.0%
$3,290Monthly
$1,645Twice a month
$1,518Every 2 weeks
$18.98Hourly
  • Federal income tax$3,390
  • Social Security (6.2%)$2,878
  • Medicare (1.45%)$673
  • Texas income tax$0
  • Take-home pay$39,478

Marginal rate: 12% federal + 0.00% state

Pay by experience

PercentileSalaryHourlyTake-home (no state tax)
10th percentile (entry level)$36,840$17.71$31,781
25th percentile$40,030$19.25$34,344
Median (50th)$46,420$22.32$39,478
75th percentile$54,770$26.33$46,188
90th percentile (top earners)$62,520$30.06$52,415

Best cities for industrial truck and tractor operators (after tax & cost of living)

#Metro areaMedianTake-homeReal value*Jobs
1Little Rock, AR$48,710$39,632$44,3483,150
2Modesto, CA$55,810$44,900$43,1282,350
3Jacksonville, FL$50,670$42,893$43,1164,950
4Cincinnati, OH$49,000$40,986$42,9766,920
5Scranton, PA$48,860$39,939$42,6904,240
6Birmingham, AL$48,570$39,042$42,6024,100
7Lakeland, FL$48,290$40,981$42,1874,370
8Seattle, WA$55,600$46,855$42,16110,110
9Kansas City, MO$47,350$38,938$42,0756,290
10Tampa, FL$49,850$42,234$41,8625,330
11Lancaster, PA$50,050$40,859$41,5832,380
12Oklahoma City, OK$45,960$37,586$41,5742,880
13Toledo, OH$45,100$37,960$41,5073,280
14Cleveland, OH$46,090$38,728$41,2345,480
15Memphis, TN$44,540$37,968$41,1897,950
16Columbus, OH$46,780$39,264$41,12711,910
17Akron, OH$45,590$38,340$41,0632,640
18San Francisco, CA$59,240$47,405$41,0037,530
19Dayton, OH$45,120$37,975$40,9693,440
20San Antonio, TX$45,340$38,611$40,7657,940
21Louisville, KY$46,190$37,795$40,6074,230
22Milwaukee, WI$47,780$39,250$40,4902,520
23Salt Lake City, UT$49,470$40,669$40,3193,640
24Austin, TX$46,430$39,487$40,2654,250
25Denver, CO$52,190$42,527$40,2025,410

*Take-home pay in U.S.-average dollars (BEA Regional Price Parities).

Highest-paying cities

Industrial Truck and Tractor Operator salary by state

StateMedian1-yr changeTake-homeRangeJobs
District of Columbia $83,720+2.8%$63,579 $57,050 – $83,720—
New Mexico $62,150+2.0%$50,362 $35,900 – $65,0902,620
Delaware $60,350+0.5%$47,999 $38,210 – $60,3505,230
Wyoming $59,820+6.5%$50,245 $38,220 – $74,160790
New Hampshire $54,460+7.9%$45,939 $40,600 – $62,7501,450
Alaska $54,190+7.0%$45,722 $37,650 – $72,720410
Hawaii $53,640−7.6%$42,733 $41,140 – $118,140880
Oregon $50,760+1.4%$39,354 $40,410 – $63,1508,560
Colorado $50,570+4.4%$41,296 $40,560 – $65,6308,570
Washington $49,910+3.4%$42,283 $41,600 – $62,92018,750
Minnesota $49,740+2.7%$40,287 $39,940 – $73,8707,110
North Dakota $49,260+5.3%$41,760 $40,720 – $62,700930
Utah $49,040+3.2%$40,343 $38,270 – $65,7606,830
New York $49,030−1.2%$39,525 $38,330 – $73,63018,420
Louisiana $48,950+3.7%$40,429 $35,980 – $61,2307,680
Florida $48,370+5.6%$41,045 $37,050 – $62,96038,400
Arizona $48,110+1.8%$39,842 $38,560 – $62,94012,340
Montana $48,060+1.8%$39,294 $36,450 – $64,970910
California $47,770−1.9%$39,026 $38,650 – $63,33089,620
Maine $47,730+1.4%$38,491 $40,440 – $64,4902,900
Pennsylvania $47,730−0.4%$39,066 $38,160 – $62,51042,110
Illinois $47,720+1.3%$38,306 $37,990 – $63,14029,450
Wisconsin $47,720+2.3%$39,204 $38,960 – $62,94012,150
Iowa $47,590+1.4%$39,262 $38,640 – $61,0007,770
Kansas $47,430−1.4%$38,443 $37,910 – $58,6407,700
South Dakota $47,410+4.0%$40,274 $37,780 – $61,0801,940
Vermont $47,380+3.0%$39,096 $39,040 – $61,290950
Connecticut $47,190−0.5%$38,899 $38,790 – $71,8603,780
Virginia $46,920−3.0%$37,996 $37,250 – $62,26019,320
Massachusetts $46,850−0.0%$37,701 $39,850 – $57,4108,390
Nebraska $46,730+1.3%$38,481 $37,020 – $59,1005,020
Kentucky $46,630+7.6%$38,133 $35,540 – $70,84011,270
Idaho $46,600−0.6%$38,262 $36,400 – $59,8402,560
Ohio $46,450+0.2%$39,008 $37,960 – $63,66042,360
New Jersey $46,100+1.1%$38,222 $36,680 – $65,82021,790
Indiana $45,650+0.8%$37,543 $37,250 – $61,63023,090
Maryland $45,630−2.2%$37,040 $39,320 – $61,04013,740
Texas $45,450−0.8%$38,699 $34,300 – $59,78088,780
Nevada $45,230−2.3%$38,522 $37,560 – $66,9507,300
Michigan $45,220+1.9%$36,843 $37,200 – $71,15023,470
Missouri $45,190+2.0%$37,304 $36,240 – $64,62011,470
Rhode Island $45,010+2.2%$37,275 $38,960 – $58,330780
Alabama $44,880+5.3%$36,262 $33,290 – $60,75015,360
Oklahoma $44,700−0.3%$36,630 $35,400 – $60,1207,850
Arkansas $43,780+2.7%$35,863 $33,890 – $57,26010,850
South Carolina $43,680+4.6%$35,813 $35,780 – $56,98014,210
Mississippi $43,420+2.3%$36,063 $32,390 – $51,2609,640
North Carolina $43,420+2.8%$35,844 $35,940 – $56,00026,830
Georgia $43,210−2.5%$35,279 $36,690 – $59,86050,260
Tennessee $42,100+3.3%$36,007 $35,520 – $54,66020,070
West Virginia $41,670+1.8%$34,507 $28,700 – $54,9201,400

Related jobs

JobMedian salaryEducationGrowth 2025–35
Dredge Operator$49,640High school diploma or equivalent+0.7%
Refuse and Recyclable Material Collector$49,690No formal educational credential+2.1%
Conveyor Operator and Tender$42,420No formal educational credential-2.6%
Material Moving Workers, All Other$41,800No formal educational credential+2.7%
Machine Feeder and Offbearer$41,220No formal educational credential-13.1%
Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand$40,240No formal educational credential+1.8%
Stocker and Order Filler$37,330No formal educational credential+8.9%
Hoist and Winch Operator$56,450No formal educational credential+0.2%
Packers and Packagers, Hand$36,280No formal educational credential-5.0%
Cleaner of Vehicles and Equipment$35,830No formal educational credential+3.9%

Frequently asked questions

How much does a industrial truck and tractor operator make?

The national median salary for industrial truck and tractor operators is $46,420 a year ($22.32 an hour). The lowest-paid 10% earn under $36,840 and the top 10% earn over $62,520. Source: BLS, May 2025.

Which state pays industrial truck and tractor operators the most?

District of Columbia has the highest median pay at $83,720. After taxes and local prices, Little Rock, AR offers the best real take-home pay of any metro area.

How many industrial truck and tractor operators are there in the U.S.?

About 774,420 people work as industrial truck and tractor operators nationwide.

All 65 cities