Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators
SOC 53-7051 • View wages by state
The median annual wage for Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators is $44,470, based on BLS OEWS 2023 data. The mean annual wage is $45,720, and an estimated 778,920 workers are employed in this occupation nationally. Between 2020 and 2023, pay rose +18.4% while consumer prices rose 17.7% — a real change of +0.6% after inflation. BLS projects employment will grow 1.1% between 2024 and 2034.
Wage Trend & Inflation Adjustment
How the national median wage for Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators has moved across BLS OEWS release years, and what each year's wage is worth in 2023 dollars after adjusting for CPI inflation. "Real" change strips out inflation — the truest measure of whether pay is actually rising.
| Year | Median (nominal) | In 2023 $ (real) | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $44,470 | $44,470 | 778,920 |
| 2022 | $41,230 | $42,927 | 780,890 |
| 2021 | $38,380 | $43,158 | 758,290 |
| 2020 | $37,560 | $44,220 | 640,950 |
Nominal change
+18.4%
Inflation (CPI)
+17.7%
Real change
+0.6%
Job Outlook (2024–2034 BLS projection)
The BLS Employment Projections program estimates how each occupation's employment will change over the coming decade, and how many job openings to expect each year (from both growth and the need to replace workers who leave).
Projected Growth
+1.1%
About average
Employment 2024
792,500
Projected 2034
801,600
Annual Openings
76,400
Typical entry-level education: No formal educational credential.
Highest-Paying Areas (2023)
Where Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators earn the most, and how each area's median compares to the national median of $44,470. A positive premium means the area pays above the national rate.
| Area | Median Annual | vs National | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hawaii / Kauai nonmetropolitan area | $61,820 | +39% | 80 |
| District of Columbia | $60,940 | +37% | 130 |
| Hawaii | $60,940 | +37% | 790 |
| Delaware | $57,200 | +28.6% | 6,880 |
| Massachusetts nonmetropolitan area | $56,630 | +27.3% | 50 |
| South Illinois nonmetropolitan area | $54,210 | +21.9% | 280 |
| South Florida nonmetropolitan area | $53,540 | +20.4% | 470 |
| Eastern Wyoming nonmetropolitan area | $53,360 | +20% | 140 |
| Western Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area | $53,280 | +19.8% | 1,420 |
| Capital/Northern New York nonmetropolitan area | $52,770 | +18.7% | 710 |
Wage Distribution (National, 2023)
10th, 25th, 50th (median), 75th, and 90th percentile annual wages from BLS OEWS — the full spread, not just an average.
10th Pct
$35,260
25th Pct
$38,270
Median
$44,470
75th Pct
$50,010
90th Pct
$59,860
Related Occupations in Transportation & Material Moving
Other occupations in the same SOC major group, ranked by national median wage.