Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators Salary: How Much Do They Make? (2026)

Median pay, hourly rates, salary ranges, and best-paying states for Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators — from official U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data.

Official BLS wage data · Unknown vintage
Median Salary
$46,420
per year, national
Hourly Rate
$22.32
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
Top 10% Earn
$62,520
entry level starts ~$36,840
Pay Grade
C+
modest pay · 774,000 employed

How much do Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators make?

Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators earn a median annual salary of $46,420 in the United States, which works out to roughly $22.32 per hour for full-time work. Most earn between $36,840 at the entry level and $62,520 at the senior end, with the middle 50% taking home between $40,030 and $54,770 a year.

That is $14,970 less than the median across all occupations in BLS data ($61,390).

Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators salary range by percentile

Half of all Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators earn between $40,030 and $54,770 a year.

Pay levelAnnual salaryHourly rate
10th percentile (entry level)$36,840$17.71
25th percentile (early career)$40,030$19.25
50th percentile (median)$46,420$22.32
75th percentile (experienced)$54,770$26.33
90th percentile (top earners)$62,520$30.06

Highest-paying states for Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators

Where you work matters more than almost anything else. District of Columbia leads the country for Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators pay at $83,720 a year, followed by New Mexico ($62,150) and Delaware ($60,350). At the other end, West Virginia posts the lowest median at $41,670 — a gap of $42,050 for the same job, driven by local demand, industry mix, and cost of living.

#StateMedian salaryHourlyvs national
1District of Columbia$83,720$40.25+80%
2New Mexico$62,150$29.88+34%
3Delaware$60,350$29.01+30%
4Wyoming$59,820$28.76+29%
5New Hampshire$54,460$26.18+17%

Workforce and education

About 774,000 people work as Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators in the United States. The mean (average) wage is $48,370 — above the median, which means high earners pull the average up. On qualifications: a high school diploma is typically enough, with most skills learned on the job, per O*NET occupation data.

Frequently asked questions

How much do Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators make in the United States?
The median Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators salary in the United States is $46,420 per year, or about $22.32 per hour, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates. Entry-level pay (10th percentile) starts around $36,840, while the top 10% of earners make $62,520 or more.
How does Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators pay compare to other jobs?
With a pay grade of C+ (modest pay), the Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators median of $46,420 is below the national median across all occupations tracked in BLS data ($61,390).
Which state pays Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators the most?
District of Columbia is the highest-paying state for Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators, with a median salary of $83,720 per year, based on official state-level BLS wage estimates.
What education do Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators need?
For most positions, a high school diploma is typically enough, with most skills learned on the job, according to O*NET occupation data from the U.S. Department of Labor.
How many Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators work in the United States?
About 774,000 people were employed as Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators in the United States in the latest BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics estimates.

Related salaries

Other transportation roles with similar pay.

Dredge Operator

$49,640
median pay · 1,000 employed

Passenger Attendant

$37,720
median pay · 27,000 employed

Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment

$35,830
median pay · 380,000 employed

Automotive and Watercraft Service Attendants

$35,670
median pay · 102,000 employed

Bus Driver, School

$47,920
median pay · 403,000 employed
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Unknown vintage. Education requirements: O*NET (U.S. Department of Labor). Percentiles, employment, and state figures are official BLS estimates; hourly figures assume 2,080 hours/year. Individual pay varies by employer, experience, and location.