Tractor operator vs equipment operator

The differences between tractor operators and equipment operators can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a tractor operator and an equipment operator. Additionally, a tractor operator has an average salary of $33,058, which is higher than the $31,739 average annual salary of an equipment operator.

The top three skills for a tractor operator include GRASS, mowing and minor maintenance. The most important skills for an equipment operator are CDL, loaders, and asphalt.

Tractor operator vs equipment operator overview

	Tractor Operator	Equipment Operator
Yearly salary	$33,058	$31,739
Hourly rate	$15.89	$15.26
Growth rate	7%	5%
Number of jobs	49,115	62,473
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 51%	High School Diploma, 46%
Average age	43	45
Years of experience	4	4

Tractor operator vs equipment operator salary

Tractor operators and equipment operators have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Tractor Operator	Equipment Operator
Average salary	$33,058	$31,739
Salary range	Between $27,000 And $40,000	Between $24,000 And $40,000
Highest paying City	New York, NY	Indianapolis, IN
Highest paying state	Alaska	Connecticut
Best paying company	Walsh Electric	Nelsen Partners
Best paying industry	Government	Energy

Differences between tractor operator and equipment operator education

There are a few differences between a tractor operator and an equipment operator in terms of educational background:

	Tractor Operator	Equipment Operator
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 51%	High School Diploma, 46%
Most common major	Business	Business
Most common college	-	-

Tractor operator vs equipment operator demographics

Here are the differences between tractor operators' and equipment operators' demographics:

	Tractor Operator	Equipment Operator
Average age	43	45
Gender ratio	Male, 93.1% Female, 6.9%	Male, 93.0% Female, 7.0%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 15.8% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 22.3% Asian, 2.7% White, 53.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9%	Black or African American, 7.4% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 18.9% Asian, 0.9% White, 66.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.9%
LGBT Percentage	4%	2%

Differences between tractor operator and equipment operator duties and responsibilities

Tractor operator example 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
Read RF gun system WMOS and PKMS to locate products send off into waves.
Operate tractors and skid steer loaders to load trucks and make deliveries to customer's homes.

Equipment operator example responsibilities.

Manage and cross-train subordinates in several job-relate tasks while promoting leadership.
Operate track loader, dozer, excavator, track skid loader, rubber tire loader, and haul truck as assigned.
Operate heavy equipment including loaders and rollers.
Operate bulldozers, compactors, and scrapers for residential land development
Work include backhoe operation, equipment operation, landscaping and snow removal
Operate backhoes and trench diggers.

Tractor operator vs equipment operator skills

Common tractor operator skills

GRASS, 17%
Mowing, 14%
Minor Maintenance, 8%
Safety Procedures, 6%
Loaders, 5%
Harvest, 5%

Common equipment operator skills

CDL, 10%
Loaders, 7%
Asphalt, 5%
Backhoe, 5%
Hand Tools, 5%
Safety Rules, 4%

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Transportation Industry
Tractor Operator
Tractor Operator vs Equipment Operator

Updated January 8, 2025

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