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Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators in Michigan
Considering working as an Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators in Michigan? Below are the key facts. Operate industrial trucks or tractors equipped to move materials around a warehouse, storage yard, factory, construction site, or similar location. Excludes “Logging Equipment Operators” (45-4022).
What do Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators Make in Michigan?
For industrial truck and tractor operators working in Michigan, the median annual wage is $44,380 per year (or roughly $21.34/hour).Annual wages span from $36,610 at the 10th percentile to $67,210 at the 90th percentile.
| Wage Statistic | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $36,610 | $17.60 |
| 25th percentile | $38,640 | $18.58 |
| Median (50th) | $44,380 | $21.34 |
| 75th percentile | $59,310 | $28.51 |
| 90th percentile | $67,210 | $32.31 |
Location quotient — how concentrated this career is in Michigan nationwide is 1.09.
National Wage Comparison
Nationally, industrial truck and tractor operators earn a median of $36,138 per year ($17.37/hour), higher than the Michigan median.
Employment Outlook
Nationally, total employment in this occupation is 364,914 industrial truck and tractor operators in the U.S.. In Michigan alone, about 25,120 people work in this role. That’s more than the typical state, which employs around 8,910 industrial truck and tractor operators.
Top Michigan Metros for Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators
These are the Michigan metros with the most industrial truck and tractor operators in Michigan.
| Metro Area | Number Employed | Annual Median Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | 11,600 | $46,620 |
| Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI | 3,450 | $43,360 |
| Flint, MI | 920 | $76,430 |
| Lansing-East Lansing, MI | 830 | $44,620 |
| Kalamazoo-Portage, MI | 530 | $44,090 |
| Monroe, MI | 330 | $40,480 |
| Muskegon-Norton Shores, MI | 300 | $40,250 |
| Niles, MI | 300 | $41,880 |
| Ann Arbor, MI | 290 | $46,610 |
| Jackson, MI | 270 | $40,170 |
| Midland, MI | 260 | $48,290 |
| Battle Creek, MI | 240 | $43,850 |
| Saginaw, MI | 230 | $39,080 |
| Traverse City, MI | 210 | $45,600 |
| Bay City, MI | 160 | $44,630 |
Top States for Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators Employment
These states have the highest employment of industrial truck and tractor operators work.
| State | Number Employed |
|---|---|
| Texas | 106,350 |
| California | 103,090 |
| Georgia | 53,020 |
| Pennsylvania | 46,220 |
| Ohio | 37,440 |
| Florida | 32,390 |
| Illinois | 28,510 |
| Indiana | 27,890 |
| North Carolina | 25,640 |
| Michigan | 25,120 |
| New York | 19,630 |
| Virginia | 19,360 |
| Tennessee | 18,900 |
| New Jersey | 17,730 |
| Alabama | 16,870 |
| Washington | 16,310 |
| Wisconsin | 15,430 |
| Arizona | 14,760 |
| Missouri | 13,630 |
| South Carolina | 13,380 |
Highest-Paying States for Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators
The highest-paying states for industrial truck and tractor operators.
| State | Annual Median Salary |
|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $81,470 |
| New Mexico | $60,960 |
| Delaware | $60,030 |
| Hawaii | $58,070 |
| Wyoming | $56,170 |
| Alaska | $50,630 |
| New Hampshire | $50,490 |
| Oregon | $50,050 |
| New York | $49,610 |
| California | $48,720 |
Skills
The most important industrial truck and tractor operators skills, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Knowledge Areas
Key knowledge areas for this occupation, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Abilities
Top abilities for industrial truck and tractor operators, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Daily Tasks
Day-to-day, industrial truck and tractor operators typically:
- 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.
- Move controls to drive gasoline- or electric-powered trucks, cars, or tractors and transport materials between loading, processing, and storage areas.
- Manually or mechanically load or unload materials from pallets, skids, platforms, cars, lifting devices, or other transport vehicles.
- 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.
- Weigh materials or products and record weight or other production data on tags or labels.
- Perform routine maintenance on vehicles or auxiliary equipment, such as cleaning, lubricating, recharging batteries, fueling, or replacing liquefied-gas tank.
- Operate or tend automatic stacking, loading, packaging, or cutting machines.
- Turn valves and open chutes to dump, spray, or release materials from dump cars or storage bins into hoppers.
Work Activities
- Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment
- Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials
- Handling and Moving Objects
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
- Performing General Physical Activities
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems
- Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work
- Getting Information
- Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
- Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards
- Scheduling Work and Activities
Tools & Technology
Technologies frequently used: Hot technologies: Autodesk AutoCAD In-demand technologies: Warehouse management system WMS
What Major Will Prepare You For This Career?
Related college programs include:
Related Careers
Related occupations to industrial truck and tractor operators include:
- Agricultural Equipment Operators
- Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators
- Pile Driver Operators
- Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators
- Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining
- Continuous Mining Machine Operators
Also Known As
CAT Driver (Caterpillar Driver), CAT Operator (Caterpillar Operator), CAT Skinner (Caterpillar Skinner), CAT Tender (Caterpillar Tender), CAT Tractor Operator (Caterpillar Tractor Operator), Carry All Driver, Charging Car Operator, Checker Loader, Diesel Tractor Operator, Dolly Driver, Drier Transfer Car Operator, Electric Car Operator, Electric Dolly Operator, Electric Lift Truck Driver, Electric Mule Driver.
References
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — https://www.bls.gov/oes/
- O*NET Online — https://www.onetonline.org/
- BLS Employment Projections — https://www.bls.gov/emp/
- O*NET-SOC code: 53-7051.00
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