Tractor operator vs lift truck operator

The differences between tractor operators and lift truck 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 a lift truck operator. Additionally, a lift truck operator has an average salary of $36,973, which is higher than the $33,058 average annual salary of a tractor operator.

The top three skills for a tractor operator include GRASS, mowing and minor maintenance. The most important skills for a lift truck operator are pallets, safety procedures, and load trailers.

Tractor operator vs lift truck operator overview

	Tractor Operator	Lift Truck Operator
Yearly salary	$33,058	$36,973
Hourly rate	$15.89	$17.78
Growth rate	7%	7%
Number of jobs	49,115	103,337
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 51%	High School Diploma, 53%
Average age	43	43
Years of experience	4	4

Tractor operator vs lift truck operator salary

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

	Tractor Operator	Lift Truck Operator
Average salary	$33,058	$36,973
Salary range	Between $27,000 And $40,000	Between $29,000 And $46,000
Highest paying City	New York, NY	Springfield, OR
Highest paying state	Alaska	Alaska
Best paying company	Walsh Electric	Nestlé
Best paying industry	Government	Finance

Differences between tractor operator and lift truck operator education

There are a few differences between a tractor operator and a lift truck operator in terms of educational background:

	Tractor Operator	Lift Truck Operator
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 51%	High School Diploma, 53%
Most common major	Business	Business
Most common college	-	-

Tractor operator vs lift truck operator demographics

Here are the differences between tractor operators' and lift truck operators' demographics:

	Tractor Operator	Lift Truck Operator
Average age	43	43
Gender ratio	Male, 93.1% Female, 6.9%	Male, 89.7% Female, 10.3%
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, 16.6% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 18.5% Asian, 2.4% White, 57.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%
LGBT Percentage	4%	4%

Differences between tractor operator and lift truck 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.

Lift truck operator example responsibilities.

Certify on stand up/sit down forks, clamps, slip sheets and cherry picker
Used WMS system to adjust inventory, either in, out, or amounts.
Perform trailer inspections, loading and unloading inventory, RFT scanner experience, WMS.
Relocate pallets from receiving dock to desire location within warehouse.
Maintain accurate and timely documentation as is required by organization and OSHA.
Load and unload items from machines and dollies.

Tractor operator vs lift truck operator skills

Common tractor operator skills

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

Common lift truck operator skills

Pallets, 18%
Safety Procedures, 11%
Load Trailers, 6%
AS400, 5%
Electric Pallet Jack, 5%
Forks, 4%

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Tractor Operator
Tractor Operator vs Lift Truck Operator

Updated January 8, 2025

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