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Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators in West Virginia
Want to work as an Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators in West Virginia? Here’s what you need to know. 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 West Virginia?
For industrial truck and tractor operators working in West Virginia, wages run about $40,930 per year (or roughly $19.68/hour).Pay can range from $28,070 at the 10th percentile to $55,640 at the 90th percentile.
| Wage Statistic | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $28,070 | $13.50 |
| 25th percentile | $34,490 | $16.58 |
| Median (50th) | $40,930 | $19.68 |
| 75th percentile | $45,860 | $22.05 |
| 90th percentile | $55,640 | $26.75 |
The job concentration index in West Virginia nationwide is 0.44, 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), above the West Virginia median.
Employment Outlook
National employment for 364,914 industrial truck and tractor operators in the U.S.. In West Virginia alone, about 1,620 people work in this role. That’s below the typical state, which employs around 8,910 industrial truck and tractor operators.
Top West Virginia Metros for Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators
These are the West Virginia metros with the most industrial truck and tractor operators in West Virginia.
| Metro Area | Number Employed | Annual Median Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Weirton-Steubenville, WV-OH | 460 | n/a |
| Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH | 250 | $37,290 |
| Wheeling, WV-OH | 210 | $38,680 |
| Charleston, WV | 110 | $42,790 |
| Morgantown, WV | 80 | $42,250 |
| Parkersburg-Vienna, WV | 50 | $34,820 |
| Beckley, WV | 40 | $38,040 |
Top States for Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators Employment
The table below shows the states where 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
Key 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
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
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?
Several college majors map to this occupation:
Related Careers
Careers similar 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