Industrial Truck and Tractor Operator Salary in Raleigh, NC
Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators in the Raleigh-Cary, NC metro area earn a median $45,140 a year — 3% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $37,158 take-home, or $3,096 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median industrial truck and tractor operator salary in Raleigh, NC. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$3,237
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,799
- Medicare (1.45%)$655
- North Carolina income tax$1,292
- Take-home pay$37,158
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 3.99% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Industrial Truck and Tractor Operator pay by experience in Raleigh, NC
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $37,050 | $17.81 | $30,980 | $2,582 |
| 25th percentile | $38,650 | $18.58 | $32,202 | $2,683 |
| Median (50th) | $45,140 | $21.70 | $37,158 | $3,096 |
| 75th percentile | $49,470 | $23.78 | $40,464 | $3,372 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $57,200 | $27.50 | $46,367 | $3,864 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, North Carolina resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $45,140 buys in Raleigh, NC
Prices in Raleigh, NC are 1.8% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.03× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median industrial truck and tractor operator's $37,158 take-home pay has the buying power of $37,855 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 Raleigh, NC than nationally (location quotient 0.72), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for industrial truck and tractor operators, adjusted for cost of living
Raleigh, NC ranks #44 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 |
| 44 | Raleigh, NC | $45,140 | $37,158 | $37,855 |
*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 North Carolina
- Charlotte, NC — $43,880
- Greensboro, NC — $41,510
Frequently asked questions
How much does a industrial truck and tractor operator make in Raleigh, NC?
The median industrial truck and tractor operator salary in the Raleigh-Cary, NC metro area is $45,140 a year, or about $21.70 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $38,650 and $49,470.
What is a industrial truck and tractor operator’s take-home pay in Raleigh, NC?
On the median $45,140 salary, a single filer living in North Carolina takes home about $37,158 a year ($3,096 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,292 in North Carolina taxes in 2026.
Is Raleigh, NC a good place to work as a industrial truck and tractor operator?
Pay here is 3% below the national median of $46,420. Local prices are 1.8% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $37,855 would in a typical U.S. city. Raleigh, NC ranks #44 of 65 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a industrial truck and tractor operator afford rent in Raleigh, NC?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Raleigh, NC is $1,596 a month ($1,750 for two bedrooms) — 52% of a median industrial truck and tractor operator’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.