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Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators in Washington
Want to work as an Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators in Washington? 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 Washington?
The industrial truck and tractor operators working in Washington, wages run about $48,270 per year (or about $23.21/hour).Annual wages span from $38,470 at the 10th percentile to $63,410 at the 90th percentile.
| Wage Statistic | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $38,470 | $18.50 |
| 25th percentile | $44,320 | $21.31 |
| Median (50th) | $48,270 | $23.21 |
| 75th percentile | $59,130 | $28.43 |
| 90th percentile | $63,410 | $30.49 |
The location quotient — a measure of how concentrated this occupation is in Washington compared to the national average — is 0.88, indicating fewer industrial truck and tractor operators per worker than the national average.
National Wage Comparison
Nationally, industrial truck and tractor operators earn a median of $36,138 per year ($17.37/hour), exceeding the Washington median.
Employment Outlook
Nationally, total employment in this occupation is 364,914 industrial truck and tractor operators nationwide. In Washington alone, about 16,310 people work in this role. That’s higher than the typical state, which employs around 8,910 industrial truck and tractor operators.
Top Washington Metros for Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators
The metro areas below employ the most industrial truck and tractor operators in Washington.
| Metro Area | Number Employed | Annual Median Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | 8,130 | $52,450 |
| Yakima, WA | 1,660 | $42,340 |
| Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA | 1,260 | $47,600 |
| Kennewick-Richland, WA | 1,120 | $47,020 |
| Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA | 660 | $49,380 |
| Wenatchee-East Wenatchee, WA | 510 | $38,490 |
| Longview-Kelso, WA | 310 | $51,650 |
| Bellingham, WA | 240 | $49,230 |
| Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA | 160 | $49,420 |
| Walla Walla, WA | 80 | $45,260 |
| Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA | 70 | $58,800 |
Top States for Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators Employment
View the states that employ the most 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
Where industrial truck and tractor operators earn the most: 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
Important knowledge areas for this occupation, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Abilities
Key abilities for industrial truck and tractor operators, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Daily Tasks
Common tasks include:
- 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
Common tools and software used in this occupation include: 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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