Industrial Truck and Tractor Operator Salary in Milwaukee, WI
Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators in the Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI metro area earn a median $47,780 a year — 3% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $39,250 take-home, or $3,271 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median industrial truck and tractor operator salary in Milwaukee, WI. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$3,554
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,962
- Medicare (1.45%)$693
- Wisconsin income tax$1,321
- Take-home pay$39,250
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 Milwaukee, WI
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $39,040 | $18.77 | $32,612 | $2,718 |
| 25th percentile | $42,350 | $20.36 | $35,126 | $2,927 |
| Median (50th) | $47,780 | $22.97 | $39,250 | $3,271 |
| 75th percentile | $58,020 | $27.89 | $47,027 | $3,919 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $63,160 | $30.37 | $50,931 | $4,244 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Wisconsin resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $47,780 buys in Milwaukee, WI
Prices in Milwaukee, WI are 3.1% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 3% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median industrial truck and tractor operator's $39,250 take-home pay has the buying power of $40,490 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 Milwaukee, WI than nationally (location quotient 0.62), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for industrial truck and tractor operators, adjusted for cost of living
Milwaukee, WI ranks #22 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 |
| 22 | Milwaukee, WI | $47,780 | $39,250 | $40,490 |
*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 Milwaukee, WI?
The median industrial truck and tractor operator salary in the Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI metro area is $47,780 a year, or about $22.97 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $42,350 and $58,020.
What is a industrial truck and tractor operator’s take-home pay in Milwaukee, WI?
On the median $47,780 salary, a single filer living in Wisconsin takes home about $39,250 a year ($3,271 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,321 in Wisconsin taxes in 2026.
Is Milwaukee, WI 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 3.1% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $40,490 would in a typical U.S. city. Milwaukee, WI ranks #22 of 65 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a industrial truck and tractor operator afford rent in Milwaukee, WI?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Milwaukee, WI is $1,119 a month ($1,338 for two bedrooms) — 34% 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 Milwaukee, WI
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- Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver — $59,580
- Light Truck Driver — $45,790
- Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand — $44,840
- Packers and Packagers, Hand — $35,070
- Stocker and Order Filler — $34,470
- Driver/Sales Worker — $22,350