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Tractor operator salary
Average tractor operator salary
$15.89
Understanding Tractor Operator Salaries
As of October 2025, the average annual salary for a tractor operator in the United States is approximately $33,058, or about $16 per hour. Salaries can vary significantly based on factors such as location, experience, and industry. For instance, operators in California or Texas often earn higher wages, reflecting the demand for skilled labor in those areas.
Salary by Experience Level
Entry-level tractor operators typically start at lower salaries, around $28,000 annually, but experienced operators can earn upwards of $40,000 per year. This growth potential highlights the importance of gaining experience and possibly pursuing additional certifications.
Job Opportunities
Tractor operators can find employment in various sectors, including agriculture, landscaping, and construction. Each sector offers unique challenges and rewards, catering to diverse interests. Job seekers should consider local opportunities and industry demand, ensuring a fruitful career path.
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Where can a Tractor Operator earn more?
Tractor operator salaries by experience level
Tractor operator salary estimates from across the web
Average tractor operator salary by state
The average tractor operator salary in Alaska, North Dakota, and New York are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average tractor operator salary states are Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Pennsylvania.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for tractor operators
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alaska | $39,660 | $19.07 |
| 2 | Iowa | $35,766 | $17.20 |
| 3 | North Dakota | $39,044 | $18.77 |
| 4 | Nebraska | $37,533 | $18.04 |
| 5 | Rhode Island | $34,690 | $16.68 |
| 6 | Illinois | $36,440 | $17.52 |
| 7 | Idaho | $35,499 | $17.07 |
| 8 | Massachusetts | $35,309 | $16.98 |
| 9 | Wisconsin | $34,631 | $16.65 |
| 10 | Wyoming | $36,357 | $17.48 |
| 11 | Montana | $34,129 | $16.41 |
| 12 | Hawaii | $35,974 | $17.30 |
| 13 | Washington | $36,059 | $17.34 |
| 14 | Utah | $33,630 | $16.17 |
| 15 | New York | $38,440 | $18.48 |
| 16 | District of Columbia | $36,013 | $17.31 |
| 17 | Minnesota | $34,856 | $16.76 |
| 18 | South Dakota | $34,925 | $16.79 |
| 19 | Nevada | $34,162 | $16.42 |
| 20 | Maryland | $36,216 | $17.41 |
| 21 | Oregon | $35,105 | $16.88 |
| 22 | Kansas | $32,307 | $15.53 |
| 23 | Ohio | $31,951 | $15.36 |
| 24 | New Jersey | $33,241 | $15.98 |
| 25 | Maine | $33,232 | $15.98 |
| 26 | Indiana | $31,528 | $15.16 |
| 27 | Delaware | $32,781 | $15.76 |
| 28 | California | $34,741 | $16.70 |
| 29 | South Carolina | $30,701 | $14.76 |
| 30 | Michigan | $32,179 | $15.47 |
| 31 | Texas | $31,461 | $15.13 |
| 32 | Arizona | $32,715 | $15.73 |
| 33 | New Hampshire | $31,687 | $15.23 |
| 34 | Kentucky | $30,261 | $14.55 |
| 35 | Georgia | $30,478 | $14.65 |
| 36 | Colorado | $33,051 | $15.89 |
| 37 | New Mexico | $32,203 | $15.48 |
| 38 | Missouri | $31,495 | $15.14 |
| 39 | Connecticut | $33,184 | $15.95 |
| 40 | North Carolina | $30,261 | $14.55 |
| 41 | Virginia | $32,185 | $15.47 |
| 42 | Arkansas | $29,636 | $14.25 |
| 43 | Pennsylvania | $28,737 | $13.82 |
| 44 | West Virginia | $30,550 | $14.69 |
| 45 | Mississippi | $28,253 | $13.58 |
| 46 | Tennessee | $27,168 | $13.06 |
| 47 | Vermont | $30,594 | $14.71 |
| 48 | Florida | $30,185 | $14.51 |
| 49 | Alabama | $28,137 | $13.53 |
| 50 | Louisiana | $29,235 | $14.06 |
| 51 | Oklahoma | $29,029 | $13.96 |
Highest paying cities for tractor operators
The highest-paying cities for tractor operators are New York, NY, Plainfield, IL, and Glendale, AZ.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York, NY | $38,342 | $18.43 |
| 2 | Plainfield, IL | $36,334 | $17.47 |
| 3 | Glendale, AZ | $32,783 | $15.76 |
| 4 | Roswell, NM | $31,813 | $15.29 |
| 5 | Fort Hood, TX | $31,462 | $15.13 |
| 6 | Columbia, SC | $30,834 | $14.82 |
| 7 | Burlington, NC | $30,454 | $14.64 |
| 8 | Little Rock, AR | $29,477 | $14.17 |
| 9 | New Iberia, LA | $29,194 | $14.04 |
| 10 | Birmingham, AL | $28,183 | $13.55 |
Tractor operator salary details
A tractor operator's salary ranges from $27,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $40,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a tractor operator's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $40,000 | $3,333 | $19 |
| 75th Percentile | $36,000 | $3,000 | $17 |
| Average | $33,058 | $2,755 | $16 |
| 25th Percentile | $29,000 | $2,417 | $14 |
| 10th Percentile | $27,000 | $2,250 | $13 |
Highest paying tractor operator jobs
The highest paying types of tractor operators are dock worker/forklift operator, mechanical spreader operator, and terminal operator.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Machine Operator/Forklift Operator | $32,452 | $2,704 | $15.60 | 120,073 |
| Material Handler/Forklift Operator | $36,453 | $3,038 | $17.53 | 168,379 |
| Mechanical Spreader Operator | $42,262 | $3,522 | $20.32 | 60,297 |
| Warehouse Machine Operator | $33,796 | $2,816 | $16.25 | 229,051 |
| Equipment Operator | $31,739 | $2,645 | $15.26 | 62,473 |
| Mill Operator | $39,045 | $3,254 | $18.77 | 64,574 |
Top companies hiring tractor operators now:
Which companies pay tractor operators the most?
Tractor operator salaries at Walsh Electric and Chandon USA are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average tractor operator salary at companies like The Wonderful Company and Hunter Contracting are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Walsh Electric | $42,444 | $20.41 |
| 2 | Chandon USA | $40,321 | $19.39 |
| 3 | The Wonderful Company | $39,565 | $19.02 |
| 4 | Hunter Contracting | $38,565 | $18.54 |
| 5 | US Meat Animal Research Center | $38,249 | $18.39 |
| 6 | The Walsh Group | $38,132 | $18.33 |
| 7 | ASRC Federal | $36,465 | $17.53 |
| 8 | Precision Fabrics Group, Inc. | $35,406 | $17.02 |
| 9 | M.A.Patout & Son | $35,374 | $17.01 |
| 10 | Acres Group | $35,242 | $16.94 |
| 11 | Circle B Enterprises Holding Company Inc | $34,806 | $16.73 |
| 12 | To Design, LLC | $34,804 | $16.73 |
| 13 | Indian Health Service | $34,755 | $16.71 |
| 14 | Crossroads Diversified Services | $34,543 | $16.61 |
| 15 | Skookum | $33,361 | $16.04 |
| 16 | Down To Earth | $32,716 | $15.73 |
| 17 | My Florida Regional Mls | $32,660 | $15.70 |
| 18 | Aerotek | $32,124 | $15.44 |
| 19 | Express Employment Indy South | $31,560 | $15.17 |
| 20 | Russell Morin | $31,066 | $14.94 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Tractor Operator salary by industry
The average tractor operator salary varies across industries:
- The average tractor operator salary in the government industry is $38,305, the highest of any industry.
- The average tractor operator salary in the finance industry is $36,681.
- Tractor operators in the agriculture industry earn an average salary of $34,749, the lowest of any industry.
Highest paying industries for tractor operators
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Government | $38,305 | $18.42 |
| 2 | Manufacturing | $36,681 | $17.64 |
| 3 | Construction | $35,744 | $17.18 |
| 4 | Professional | $35,127 | $16.89 |
| 5 | Agriculture | $34,749 | $16.71 |
High paying tractor operator jobs
Tractor operator salary trends
The average tractor operator salary has risen by $6,645 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average tractor operator earned $26,413 annually, but today, they earn $33,058 a year. That works out to a 16% change in pay for tractor operators over the last decade.
Compare tractor operator salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average tractor operator salary over time
Compare tractor operator salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Tractor operator salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $33,100 | $15.89 | +3.6% |
| 2024 | $31,900 | $15.32 | +4.0% |
| 2023 | $30,600 | $14.70 | +3.2% |
| 2022 | $29,600 | $14.23 | +3.5% |
| 2021 | $28,600 | $13.74 | +1.1% |
Recently added tractor operator salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Skookum Contract Services | Tractor Operator | Fort Riley, KS | 06/30/2025 | $40,467 |
| Skookum Contract Services | Tractor Operator | Oak Ridge, TN | 06/30/2025 | $42,137 |
| Houston Independent School District | Tractor Operator-Extended Year | Houston, TX | 06/26/2025 | $37,566 |
| TRDI | Tractor Operator | San Antonio, TX | 06/26/2025 | $41,239 |
| Aptim | Cemetery Tractor Operator | Columbus, GA | 06/25/2025 | $45,476 |
| Gana-A'Yoo | Seasonal Tractor Operator | Sparta, WI | 06/25/2025 | $16,091 |
| Gana-A'Yoo, Limited | Seasonal Tractor Operator | Tony, WI | 06/24/2025 | $16,091 |
| Department of The Air Force | Tractor Operator (Gardener) | Enon, VA | 06/18/2025 | $44,370 |
| Carbon Robotics | Contract Autonomous Tractor Operator | Richland, WA | 05/27/2025 | $37,566 |
| Skookum Contract Services | Tractor Operator | Fort Riley, KS | 05/25/2025 | $40,467 |
Tractor operator salary FAQs
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