Industrial Truck and Tractor Operator Salary in Chicago, IL
Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn a median $47,950 a year — 3% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $38,479 take-home, or $3,207 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median industrial truck and tractor operator salary in Chicago, IL. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$3,574
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,973
- Medicare (1.45%)$695
- Illinois income tax$2,229
- Take-home pay$38,479
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.95% state
The Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro spans Illinois, Indiana. 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 Chicago, IL
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $38,200 | $18.37 | $31,128 | $2,594 |
| 25th percentile | $43,100 | $20.72 | $34,822 | $2,902 |
| Median (50th) | $47,950 | $23.05 | $38,479 | $3,207 |
| 75th percentile | $57,660 | $27.72 | $45,800 | $3,817 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $63,520 | $30.54 | $50,219 | $4,185 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Illinois resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $47,950 buys in Chicago, IL
Prices in Chicago, IL are 3.6% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.12× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median industrial truck and tractor operator's $38,479 take-home pay has the buying power of $37,144 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Industrial Truck and Tractor Operator jobs are about as common in Chicago, IL as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.99).
Best-paying cities for industrial truck and tractor operators, adjusted for cost of living
Chicago, IL ranks #49 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 |
| 49 | Chicago, IL | $47,950 | $38,479 | $37,144 |
*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 Chicago, IL?
The median industrial truck and tractor operator salary in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $47,950 a year, or about $23.05 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $43,100 and $57,660.
What is a industrial truck and tractor operator’s take-home pay in Chicago, IL?
On the median $47,950 salary, a single filer living in Illinois takes home about $38,479 a year ($3,207 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $2,229 in Illinois taxes in 2026.
Is Chicago, IL a good place to work as a industrial truck and tractor operator?
Pay here is 3% above the national median of $46,420. Local prices are 3.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $37,144 would in a typical U.S. city. Chicago, IL ranks #49 of 65 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a industrial truck and tractor operator afford rent in Chicago, IL?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Chicago, IL is $1,534 a month ($1,743 for two bedrooms) — 48% 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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