Industrial Truck and Tractor Operator Salary in Denver, CO
Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators in the Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO metro area earn a median $52,190 a year — 12% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $42,527 take-home, or $3,544 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median industrial truck and tractor operator salary in Denver, CO. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$4,083
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,236
- Medicare (1.45%)$757
- Colorado income tax$1,588
- Take-home pay$42,527
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.40% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Industrial Truck and Tractor Operator pay by experience in Denver, CO
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $44,780 | $21.53 | $36,899 | $3,075 |
| 25th percentile | $47,440 | $22.81 | $38,919 | $3,243 |
| Median (50th) | $52,190 | $25.09 | $42,527 | $3,544 |
| 75th percentile | $61,940 | $29.78 | $49,932 | $4,161 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $66,350 | $31.90 | $53,281 | $4,440 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Colorado resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $52,190 buys in Denver, CO
Prices in Denver, CO are 5.8% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.47× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median industrial truck and tractor operator's $42,527 take-home pay has the buying power of $40,202 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 less concentrated in Denver, CO than nationally (location quotient 0.67), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for industrial truck and tractor operators, adjusted for cost of living
Denver, CO ranks #25 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 |
| 25 | Denver, CO | $52,190 | $42,527 | $40,202 |
*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 Denver, CO?
The median industrial truck and tractor operator salary in the Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO metro area is $52,190 a year, or about $25.09 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $47,440 and $61,940.
What is a industrial truck and tractor operator’s take-home pay in Denver, CO?
On the median $52,190 salary, a single filer living in Colorado takes home about $42,527 a year ($3,544 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,588 in Colorado taxes in 2026.
Is Denver, CO a good place to work as a industrial truck and tractor operator?
Pay here is 12% above the national median of $46,420. Local prices are 5.8% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $40,202 would in a typical U.S. city. Denver, CO ranks #25 of 65 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a industrial truck and tractor operator afford rent in Denver, CO?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Denver, CO is $1,754 a month ($2,089 for two bedrooms) — 49% 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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