Pay, demand and where to work, from BLS data with the year on every table.
low → high: location quotient
Click a state. States: Alabama · Alaska · Arizona · Arkansas · California · Colorado · Connecticut · Delaware · District of Columbia · Florida · Georgia · Hawaii · Idaho · Illinois · Indiana · Iowa · Kansas · Kentucky · Louisiana · Maine · Maryland · Massachusetts · Michigan · Minnesota · Mississippi · Missouri · Montana · Nebraska · Nevada · New Hampshire · New Jersey · New Mexico · New York · North Carolina · North Dakota · Ohio · Oklahoma · Oregon · Pennsylvania · Rhode Island · South Carolina · South Dakota · Tennessee · Texas · Utah · Vermont · Virginia · Washington · West Virginia · Wisconsin · Wyoming.
By AtiveSite · Published 07/11/2026 · Updated 07/11/2026 · Every figure is linked to its source below.
Industrial truck and tractor operators (SOC 53-7051) employed 774,420 people in May 2025. The median pay is $46,420 a year ($22.32 an hour); the lowest-paid 10% earn under $36,840 and the highest-paid 10% more than $62,520. BLS projects its employment to change by +1.5% between 2025 and 2035 (about 64,700 openings a year including replacements). The typical way in: No formal educational credential.
Highest median pay: New Mexico ($62,150), Delaware ($60,350), Wyoming ($59,820). Most jobs: California (89,620), Texas (88,780), Georgia (50,260).
| Measure ⇅ | Annual ⇅ | Hourly equivalent ⇅ |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $36,840 | $17.71 |
| 25th percentile | $40,030 | $19.25 |
| Median | $46,420 | $22.32 |
| Mean | $48,370 | $23.25 |
| 75th percentile | $54,770 | $26.33 |
| 90th percentile (experienced) | $62,520 | $30.06 |
Estimate for a wage earner: 2026 federal brackets and standard deduction (IRS), Social Security 6.2% up to $184,500, Medicare 1.45% (+0.9% above $200,000 single / $250,000 married), and a state rate you set. It ignores credits, pre-tax deductions, local taxes and benefits. Sources: IRS: tax year 2026 inflation adjustments · SSA wage base per Federal Register notice 2025-19763.
Hourly equivalents divide by 2,080 hours. Pay above $239,200 is shown as "≥ $239,200" (BLS top code).
| Measure ⇅ | Value ⇅ |
|---|---|
| Jobs 2025 | 765,200 |
| Jobs 2035 (projected) | 776,300 |
| Change in jobs | 11,100 |
| Percent change | +1.5% |
| Openings a year (growth + replacements) | 64,700 |
| Self-employed share | 0.5% |
| Typical entry education | No formal educational credential |
| Work experience in a related occupation | None |
| Typical on-the-job training | Short-term on-the-job training |
Licences and certifications are set by states and employers; the education shown is the usual entry requirement, not a legal one.
| State ⇅ | Jobs ⇅ | Location quotient ⇅ | Median pay ⇅ | Entry (10th pct.) ⇅ | Top (90th pct.) ⇅ | Median vs US ⇅ | Yearly rent as % of median pay ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 15,360 | 1.46 | $44,880 | $33,290 | $60,750 | -3% | 29% |
| Alaska | 410 | 0.25 | $54,190 | $37,650 | $72,720 | +17% | 32% |
| Arizona | 12,340 | 0.76 | $48,110 | $38,560 | $62,940 | +4% | 42% |
| Arkansas | 10,850 | 1.67 | $43,780 | $33,890 | $57,260 | -6% | 27% |
| California | 89,620 | 0.99 | $47,770 | $38,650 | $63,330 | +3% | 53% |
| Colorado | 8,570 | 0.60 | $50,570 | $40,560 | $65,630 | +9% | 43% |
| Connecticut | 3,780 | 0.45 | $47,190 | $38,790 | $71,860 | +2% | 39% |
| Delaware | 5,230 | 2.17 | $60,350 | $38,210 | $60,350 | +30% | 30% |
| Florida | 38,400 | 0.78 | $48,370 | $37,050 | $62,960 | +4% | 45% |
| Georgia | 50,260 | 2.06 | $43,210 | $36,690 | $59,860 | -7% | 42% |
| Hawaii | 880 | 0.28 | $53,640 | $41,140 | $118,140 | +16% | 43% |
| Idaho | 2,560 | 0.60 | $46,600 | $36,400 | $59,840 | +0% | 36% |
| Illinois | 29,450 | 0.97 | $47,720 | $37,990 | $63,140 | +3% | 33% |
| Indiana | 23,090 | 1.45 | $45,650 | $37,250 | $61,630 | -2% | 29% |
| Iowa | 7,770 | 1.00 | $47,590 | $38,640 | $61,000 | +3% | 25% |
| Kansas | 7,700 | 1.08 | $47,430 | $37,910 | $58,640 | +2% | 27% |
| Kentucky | 11,270 | 1.13 | $46,630 | $35,540 | $70,840 | +0% | 26% |
| Louisiana | 7,680 | 0.80 | $48,950 | $35,980 | $61,230 | +5% | 26% |
| Maine | 2,900 | 0.91 | $47,730 | $40,440 | $64,490 | +3% | 30% |
| Maryland | 13,740 | 1.00 | $45,630 | $39,320 | $61,040 | -2% | 45% |
| Massachusetts | 8,390 | 0.46 | $46,850 | $39,850 | $57,410 | +1% | 47% |
| Michigan | 23,470 | 1.07 | $45,220 | $37,200 | $71,150 | -3% | 31% |
| Minnesota | 7,110 | 0.48 | $49,740 | $39,940 | $73,870 | +7% | 31% |
| Mississippi | 9,640 | 1.66 | $43,420 | $32,390 | $51,260 | -6% | 27% |
| Missouri | 11,470 | 0.78 | $45,190 | $36,240 | $64,620 | -3% | 28% |
| Montana | 910 | 0.36 | $48,060 | $36,450 | $64,970 | +4% | 29% |
| Nebraska | 5,020 | 0.98 | $46,730 | $37,020 | $59,100 | +1% | 28% |
| Nevada | 7,300 | 0.94 | $45,230 | $37,560 | $66,950 | -3% | 45% |
| New Hampshire | 1,450 | 0.43 | $54,460 | $40,600 | $62,750 | +17% | 34% |
| New Jersey | 21,790 | 1.02 | $46,100 | $36,680 | $65,820 | -1% | 47% |
| New Mexico | 2,620 | 0.60 | $62,150 | $35,900 | $65,090 | +34% | 22% |
| New York | 18,420 | 0.38 | $49,030 | $38,330 | $73,630 | +6% | 40% |
| North Carolina | 26,830 | 1.09 | $43,420 | $35,940 | $56,000 | -6% | 37% |
| North Dakota | 930 | 0.44 | $49,260 | $40,720 | $62,700 | +6% | 24% |
| Ohio | 42,360 | 1.53 | $46,450 | $37,960 | $63,660 | +0% | 28% |
| Oklahoma | 7,850 | 0.92 | $44,700 | $35,400 | $60,120 | -4% | 28% |
| Oregon | 8,560 | 0.87 | $50,760 | $40,410 | $63,150 | +9% | 38% |
| Pennsylvania | 42,110 | 1.39 | $47,730 | $38,160 | $62,510 | +3% | 31% |
| Rhode Island | 780 | 0.31 | $45,010 | $38,960 | $58,330 | -3% | 38% |
| South Carolina | 14,210 | 1.24 | $43,680 | $35,780 | $56,980 | -6% | 35% |
| South Dakota | 1,940 | 0.85 | $47,410 | $37,780 | $61,080 | +2% | 25% |
| Tennessee | 20,070 | 1.23 | $42,100 | $35,520 | $54,660 | -9% | 37% |
| Texas | 88,780 | 1.27 | $45,450 | $34,300 | $59,780 | -2% | 39% |
| Utah | 6,830 | 0.79 | $49,040 | $38,270 | $65,760 | +6% | 39% |
| Vermont | 950 | 0.63 | $47,380 | $39,040 | $61,290 | +2% | 33% |
| Virginia | 19,320 | 0.94 | $46,920 | $37,250 | $62,260 | +1% | 42% |
| Washington | 18,750 | 1.06 | $49,910 | $41,600 | $62,920 | +8% | 44% |
| West Virginia | 1,400 | 0.40 | $41,670 | $28,700 | $54,920 | -10% | 25% |
| Wisconsin | 12,150 | 0.83 | $47,720 | $38,960 | $62,940 | +3% | 29% |
| Wyoming | 790 | 0.57 | $59,820 | $38,220 | $74,160 | +29% | 20% |
Location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in the state than in the nation. "n/a" means BLS suppressed the figure. Rent uses the state median gross rent (ACS).
The 60 highest-paying metropolitan areas among those with at least 300 jobs in this occupation.
| Metropolitan area ⇅ | Jobs ⇅ | Median pay ⇅ | Entry (10th pct.) ⇅ | Top (90th pct.) ⇅ | Location quotient ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flint, MI | 1,020 | $78,530 | $37,640 | $78,530 | 1.52 |
| Cheyenne, WY | 360 | $62,520 | $42,400 | $73,880 | 1.51 |
| Vallejo, CA | 1,070 | $62,460 | $42,840 | $64,630 | 1.49 |
| Albuquerque, NM | 1,940 | $62,150 | $38,500 | $65,090 | 0.96 |
| Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL | 530 | $59,850 | $38,020 | $70,700 | 0.44 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | 7,530 | $59,240 | $44,890 | $76,510 | 0.64 |
| Kenosha, WI | 1,300 | $58,110 | $40,050 | $62,940 | 3.46 |
| Fort Collins-Loveland, CO | 670 | $57,140 | $41,140 | $57,620 | 0.80 |
| Lewiston-Auburn, ME | 410 | $57,000 | $40,240 | $62,100 | 1.71 |
| Modesto, CA | 2,350 | $55,810 | $38,870 | $63,330 | 2.42 |
| Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT | 480 | $55,680 | $39,710 | $76,190 | 0.24 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | 10,110 | $55,600 | $46,220 | $63,690 | 0.97 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | 2,130 | $54,440 | $45,040 | $73,860 | 0.38 |
| Hammond, LA | 550 | $53,780 | $35,410 | $59,590 | 2.32 |
| Harrisonburg, VA | 1,040 | $53,440 | $36,850 | $62,590 | 3.20 |
| Napa, CA | 530 | $52,800 | $43,950 | $76,610 | 1.36 |
| Utica-Rome, NY | 530 | $52,670 | $41,440 | $58,590 | 0.90 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | 5,410 | $52,190 | $44,780 | $66,350 | 0.67 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | 4,220 | $52,120 | $42,570 | $63,900 | 0.70 |
| Medford, OR | 380 | $51,930 | $43,920 | $57,880 | 0.85 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | 850 | $51,850 | $37,780 | $59,290 | 0.94 |
| Twin Falls, ID | 360 | $51,730 | $37,060 | $58,920 | 1.43 |
| Fayetteville, NC | 1,020 | $51,450 | $37,430 | $58,390 | 1.56 |
| Shreveport-Bossier City, LA | 730 | $51,260 | $37,170 | $62,280 | 0.90 |
| Urban Honolulu, HI | 750 | $51,260 | $41,140 | $118,140 | 0.34 |
| Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY | 1,050 | $50,770 | $33,080 | $64,070 | 0.47 |
| Jacksonville, FL | 4,950 | $50,670 | $38,310 | $66,350 | 1.30 |
| Portland-South Portland, ME | 1,390 | $50,310 | $44,180 | $64,490 | 0.97 |
| Lancaster, PA | 2,380 | $50,050 | $38,680 | $62,230 | 1.89 |
| Gainesville, FL | 890 | $49,980 | $38,380 | $58,120 | 1.17 |
| Greeley, CO | 800 | $49,960 | $39,710 | $61,330 | 1.35 |
| Oshkosh-Neenah, WI | 300 | $49,900 | $40,240 | $60,890 | 0.64 |
| Port St. Lucie, FL | 1,240 | $49,880 | $39,350 | $59,630 | 1.45 |
| Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | 5,330 | $49,850 | $37,470 | $60,520 | 0.74 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | 4,880 | $49,740 | $39,940 | $73,870 | 0.50 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 6,400 | $49,710 | $40,780 | $77,180 | 0.41 |
| Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL | 360 | $49,610 | $35,070 | $62,030 | 1.29 |
| New Haven, CT | 670 | $49,540 | $39,710 | $73,930 | 0.48 |
| Salt Lake City-Murray, UT | 3,640 | $49,470 | $38,120 | $78,950 | 0.88 |
| Topeka, KS | 900 | $49,440 | $41,610 | $56,060 | 1.55 |
| Bend, OR | 320 | $49,370 | $44,110 | $62,040 | 0.60 |
| Reading, PA | 1,820 | $49,280 | $39,610 | $62,550 | 2.09 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 15,670 | $49,260 | $38,210 | $61,340 | 1.09 |
| Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ | 5,980 | $49,140 | $39,370 | $63,750 | 3.18 |
| Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | 1,400 | $49,080 | $39,350 | $58,520 | 0.70 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | 6,920 | $49,000 | $37,920 | $73,440 | 1.26 |
| Eugene-Springfield, OR | 730 | $48,990 | $39,540 | $59,670 | 0.92 |
| Syracuse, NY | 860 | $48,970 | $38,340 | $63,140 | 0.58 |
| Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA | 4,240 | $48,860 | $37,610 | $61,140 | 3.33 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | 10,250 | $48,770 | $39,240 | $63,110 | 0.87 |
| St. George, UT | 340 | $48,720 | $37,660 | $59,730 | 0.76 |
| Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR | 3,150 | $48,710 | $37,400 | $61,790 | 1.77 |
| Albany, OR | 440 | $48,640 | $39,670 | $64,980 | 1.88 |
| Birmingham, AL | 4,100 | $48,570 | $35,850 | $62,130 | 1.58 |
| Burlington-South Burlington, VT | 390 | $48,530 | $40,230 | $64,630 | 0.65 |
| Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA | 840 | $48,520 | $41,880 | $63,330 | 1.29 |
| Tallahassee, FL | 470 | $48,420 | $36,940 | $58,940 | 0.51 |
| Mobile, AL | 1,510 | $48,410 | $37,400 | $59,700 | 1.75 |
| Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach, FL | 690 | $48,370 | $37,880 | $59,390 | 0.63 |
| Valdosta, GA | 620 | $48,360 | $37,010 | $48,360 | 2.30 |
The median is $46,420 a year ($22.32 an hour); the lowest-paid tenth earn under $36,840 and the highest-paid tenth over $62,520 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
774,420 in May 2025, and BLS projects +1.5% growth to 2035.
The typical entry education is: No formal educational credential (BLS).
New Mexico, with a median of $62,150 (among states with published figures).