Industrial Truck and Tractor Operator Salary in Modesto, CA
Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators in the Modesto, CA metro area earn a median $55,810 a year — 20% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $44,900 take-home, or $3,742 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median industrial truck and tractor operator salary in Modesto, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$4,517
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,460
- Medicare (1.45%)$809
- California income tax$1,398
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$726
- Take-home pay$44,900
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 6.00% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Industrial Truck and Tractor Operator pay by experience in Modesto, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $38,870 | $18.69 | $32,363 | $2,697 |
| 25th percentile | $45,740 | $21.99 | $37,519 | $3,127 |
| Median (50th) | $55,810 | $26.83 | $44,900 | $3,742 |
| 75th percentile | $60,580 | $29.13 | $48,384 | $4,032 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $63,330 | $30.45 | $50,388 | $4,199 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $55,810 buys in Modesto, CA
Prices in Modesto, CA are 4.1% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.08× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median industrial truck and tractor operator's $44,900 take-home pay has the buying power of $43,128 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Modesto, CA has 2.4× 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
Modesto, CA ranks #2 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 |
*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 California
- San Francisco, CA — $59,240
- Stockton, CA — $48,290
- Riverside, CA — $47,850
- Bakersfield, CA — $44,980
- Sacramento, CA — $47,570
- Fresno, CA — $43,360
- San Diego, CA — $46,370
- Los Angeles, CA — $46,600
Frequently asked questions
How much does a industrial truck and tractor operator make in Modesto, CA?
The median industrial truck and tractor operator salary in the Modesto, CA metro area is $55,810 a year, or about $26.83 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $45,740 and $60,580.
What is a industrial truck and tractor operator’s take-home pay in Modesto, CA?
On the median $55,810 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $44,900 a year ($3,742 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $2,124 in California taxes in 2026.
Is Modesto, CA a good place to work as a industrial truck and tractor operator?
Pay here is 20% above the national median of $46,420. Local prices are 4.1% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $43,128 would in a typical U.S. city. Modesto, CA ranks #2 of 65 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a industrial truck and tractor operator afford rent in Modesto, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Modesto, CA is $1,356 a month ($1,758 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 Modesto, CA
- Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver — $58,330
- Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand — $46,630
- Stocker and Order Filler — $41,320