How To Become A Tractor Operator: What It Is and Career Path

What is a tractor operator and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

3 min read

The average tractor operator salary is $33,058. The most common degree is a high school diploma degree with an business major. It usually takes 2-4 years of experience to become a tractor operator. Tractor operators with a Commercial Driver License (CDL) certification earn more money. Between 2018 and 2028, the career is expected to grow 7% and produce 56,900 job opportunities across the U.S.

ScoreTractor OperatorUS Average

Salary

2.6

Avg. Salary $33,058

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

8.3

Growth rate 7%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

8.8

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.87%

Asian 2.72%

Black or African American 15.79%

Hispanic or Latino 22.31%

Unknown 4.52%

White 53.79%

Gender

female 6.90%

male 93.10%

Age - 44

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 44

Stress level

8.3

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity level

8.8

Complexity level is advanced

7 - challenging

Work life balance

3.8

Work life balance is poor

6.4 - fair

Key steps to become a tractor operator

Explore tractor operator education requirements

Most common tractor operator degrees

High School Diploma

51.2 %

Associate

15.4 %

Bachelor's

13.9 %

Start to develop specific tractor operator skills

Skills	Percentages
GRASS	17.07%
Mowing	13.50%
Minor Maintenance	8.09%
Safety Procedures	5.75%
Loaders	5.41%

Complete relevant tractor operator training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 1-3 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New tractor operators learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a tractor operator based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real tractor operator resumes.

Research tractor operator duties and responsibilities

Used hand or power tools such as mowers, blowers, edgers and weed whackers.
Utilize disk and hay bine cutters, hay rakes and hay bailers to cultivate fields.
Operate and maintain tractor and brush hog used to mow property.
Help maintain the canal banks and spay the weeds and mow the canal banks

Prepare your tractor operator resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your tractor operator resume.

You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a tractor operator resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

Choose from 10+ customizable tractor operator resume templates

Build a professional tractor operator resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your tractor operator resume.