What Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators do
The U.S. Department of Labor's O*NET database describes the work of Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators this way: "Operate industrial trucks or tractors equipped to move materials around a warehouse, storage yard, factory, construction site, or similar location."
The core tasks O*NET records for this occupation include: "Move controls to drive gasoline- or electric-powered trucks, cars, or tractors and transport materials between loading, processing, and storage areas"; "Move levers or controls that operate lifting devices, such as forklifts, lift beams with swivel-hooks, hoists, or elevating platforms, to load, unload, transport, or stack material"; "Position lifting devices under, over, or around loaded pallets, skids, or boxes and secure material or products for transport to designated areas"; "Inspect product load for accuracy and safely move it around the warehouse or facility to ensure timely and complete delivery"; "Manually or mechanically load or unload materials from pallets, skids, platforms, cars, lifting devices, or other transport vehicles".
Education, experience and training
According to the BLS Employment Projections, the typical education needed to enter this occupation is no formal educational credential. Typical on-the-job training to reach competency is short-term on-the-job training.
Job outlook for Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators
The Bureau of Labor Statistics counted 765,200 jobs in this occupation in 2025 and projects 776,300 in 2035, an increase of 11,100 jobs (+1.5%). That is slower than the 3.5% projected for all occupations.
About 64,700 openings a year are projected on average, counting both new positions and positions vacated by workers who retire or switch occupations. Relative to today's employment that is 8.5% a year, against 10.3% for all occupations. BLS lists a national median annual wage of $46,420, compared with $50,980 for all occupations.
Where Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators earn the most
Across the 20 states with published data, the employment-weighted average of local median wages for this occupation ranges from $42,799 in Mississippi to $51,804 in Washington, a gap of $9,005 (1.21 times). 12 of those 20 states average above the BLS national median of $46,420 and 8 average at or below it.
California employs the most people in this occupation among the states covered, 87,470, which is 11.8% of the 740,900 counted across them. Texas follows with 87,030.
Highest-paying states
Washington ($51,804), Delaware ($49,052) and California ($48,585) lead the ranking, while Mississippi ($42,799) and Georgia ($43,151) are at the bottom. The table below lists every state with a link to its county-level detail.
Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators: pay against the cost of living
We compare 26 labor markets, each represented by its most populous county. After federal, Social Security, Medicare and state taxes and the four basics (a one-bedroom rental, food, home energy and gasoline), the largest yearly margin is in Lake County, IN (Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN) at $18,352. The weakest market is Kings County, NY, where the basics cost $3,025 more than take-home pay.
The median wage for this occupation covers all four basics in 25 of the 26 markets and falls short in 1. A one-bedroom apartment takes between 36.0% and 86.5% of take-home pay, depending on the market.
Occupations related to Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators
Other occupations in the same SOC minor group (53-7000) include Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors, Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand, Stockers and Order Fillers and Packers and Packagers, Hand.
Frequently asked questions about Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators
How much do Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators earn in the United States?
BLS lists a national median annual wage of $46,420. Across the states covered here the average local median ranges from $42,799 to $51,804.
Which state pays Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators the most?
Washington, with an employment-weighted average local median wage of $51,804. Delaware is next at $49,052.
Is Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators a growing occupation?
BLS projects employment to grow by 1.5% between 2025 and 2035, compared with 3.5% for all occupations, with about 64,700 openings a year.
What education do Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators need?
The typical entry-level education is no formal educational credential and short-term on-the-job training, according to BLS.
Where can Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators afford to live best?
Among the markets covered, Lake County, IN leaves the largest yearly margin after taxes, rent, food, energy and gasoline: $18,352 on a median wage of $47,950.