What does a tractor operator do?
Tractor operator responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real tractor operator resumes:
- 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.
- Attach trailers and other equipment, operate front-end loaders and backhoe, dog and grade ditches and trenches.
- Confer with school administrators and area gardening personnel to schedule and coordinate the mowing of lawn and turf areas.
- Operate and service power equipment like weed eaters, lawnmowers, hedge trimmers, blowers, polesaw and chainsaw.
- Experience in operating tractors, bush hogs, mowers, and other equipment to maintain right-of-ways along city streets and highways.
- Collect and maintain precise accountability of freshly harvest tomatoes.
- Perform specialized production line and quality control duties in a professional production environment specializing in plastic extrusion.
- Operate and setup CNC machine for different tile.
- Operate, setup and light maintenance of CNC copper machines for quality product.
- Perform specialized production line and quality control duties in a professional production environment specializing in plastic extrusion.
Tractor operator skills and personality traits
We calculated that 17% of Tractor Operators are proficient in GRASS, Mowing, and Minor Maintenance. They’re also known for soft skills such as Alertness, Communication skills, and Coordination.
We break down the percentage of Tractor Operators that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- GRASS, 17%
Performed a variety of tasks in the Fort AP Hill grass cutting and tree removal operation.
- Mowing, 14%
Job duties include brush hogging, mowing, weed eating, and routine ground maintenance of McAlester Army Ammunition Plant.
- Minor Maintenance, 8%
Operate, adjust, and perform minor maintenance on power mowers, tractor attachments, and other power gardening equipment.
- Safety Procedures, 6%
Practice safety procedures for operating and maintaining of all types of farm equipment
- Loaders, 5%
Attached trailers and other equipment, operated front-end loaders and backhoe, dogged and graded ditches and trenches.
- Harvest, 5%
Harvest rice* Help with payroll/paychecks* Chop rice fields with tractor* Enter large amounts of new customers' information* E-mail/Chat with customers
Most tractor operators use their skills in "grass," "mowing," and "minor maintenance" to do their jobs. You can find more detail on essential tractor operator responsibilities here:
Communication skills. Another soft skill that's essential for fulfilling tractor operator duties is communication skills. The role rewards competence in this skill because "material moving machine operators signal and direct workers to load and unload material." According to a tractor operator resume, here's how tractor operators can utilize communication skills in their job responsibilities: "operate a variety of communications equipment, including radio consoles, telephone and computer systems. "
Coordination. Another skill that relates to the job responsibilities of tractor operators is coordination. This skill is critical to many everyday tractor operator duties, as "material moving machine operators must have steady hands and feet to guide and control heavy machinery precisely." This example from a resume shows how this skill is used: "maintained good communication with supervisors, managers, and co-workers for proper safety procedures and coordination of various shipments. "
Mechanical skills. For certain tractor operator responsibilities to be completed, the job requires competence in "mechanical skills." The day-to-day duties of a tractor operator rely on this skill, as "material moving machine operators make minor adjustments to their machines and perform basic maintenance on them." For example, this snippet was taken directly from a resume about how this skill applies to what tractor operators do: "operate auxiliary equipment and attachments requiring multiple connections such as mechanical drive shafts and hydraulic lines for power and control systems. "
Visual ability. Another common skill required for tractor operator responsibilities is "visual ability." This skill comes up in the duties of tractor operators all the time, as "material moving machine operators must be able to see clearly where they are driving or what they are moving." An excerpt from a real tractor operator resume shows how this skill is central to what a tractor operator does: "have experience with cat 966 and cat 980 front end loaders.scrap cuttervisually inspect oxygen and propane lines for damage or leaks. "
The three companies that hire the most tractor operators are:
- Crossroads Diversified Services3 tractor operators jobs
- Goodwill Industries of San Diego County2 tractor operators jobs
- The Walsh Group2 tractor operators jobs
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Compare different tractor operators
Tractor operator vs. Machine operator/forklift operator
A machine operator/forklift operator is responsible for operating industrial trucks to move merchandise around the warehouse facilities and other assigned areas. Machine operators/forklift operators also assist with inventory tasks by scanning orders and ensuring the correct merchandise for shipment. They manage the stability of the vehicles, ensuring its efficiency and optimization during operations, performing engine repairs for any inconsistencies to avoid delays on deliveries. A machine operator/forklift operator should strictly follow the safety protocols of the business, as well as have knowledge of the mechanical industry.
These skill sets are where the common ground ends though. The responsibilities of a tractor operator are more likely to require skills like "grass," "mowing," "minor maintenance," and "loaders." On the other hand, a job as a machine operator/forklift operator requires skills like "safety standards," "drive forklift," "load trucks," and "machine operation." As you can see, what employees do in each career varies considerably.
Machine operator/forklift operators tend to make the most money working in the automotive industry, where they earn an average salary of $36,711. In contrast, tractor operators make the biggest average salary, $38,305, in the government industry.On average, machine operator/forklift operators reach similar levels of education than tractor operators. Machine operator/forklift operators are 0.5% less likely to earn a Master's Degree and 0.1% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Tractor operator vs. Forklift operator and receiver
A material handler and forklift operator is responsible for transporting and storing various kinds of goods, even including fragile or hazardous shipments. The duties and location will vary depending on the line of work or industry involved. However, most of the tasks will require efficiency in operating machinery, communication skills, and great attention to detail. Furthermore, a material handler and forklift operator must monitor products and keep an accurate record of overall activities, transport materials within allotted time and schedule, and maintain communication and coordination with co-workers and supervisors.
In addition to the difference in salary, there are some other key differences worth noting. For example, tractor operator responsibilities are more likely to require skills like "grass," "mowing," "minor maintenance," and "loaders." Meanwhile, a forklift operator and receiver has duties that require skills in areas such as "pallets," "shipping receiving," "production lines," and "electric pallet jack." These differences highlight just how different the day-to-day in each role looks.
Forklift operators and receiver earn a higher average salary than tractor operators. But forklift operators and receiver earn the highest pay in the automotive industry, with an average salary of $37,086. Additionally, tractor operators earn the highest salaries in the government with average pay of $38,305 annually.forklift operators and receiver earn similar levels of education than tractor operators in general. They're 0.4% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.1% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Tractor operator vs. Material handler/forklift operator
There are many key differences between these two careers, including some of the skills required to perform responsibilities within each role. For example, a tractor operator is likely to be skilled in "grass," "mowing," "minor maintenance," and "loaders," while a typical material handler/forklift operator is skilled in "pallets," "electric pallet jack," "forklift operation," and "rf scanner."
Material handler/forklift operators make a very good living in the automotive industry with an average annual salary of $37,909. On the other hand, tractor operators are paid the highest salary in the government industry, with average annual pay of $38,305.When it comes to education, material handler/forklift operators tend to earn similar degree levels compared to tractor operators. In fact, they're 0.5% less likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 0.1% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Tractor operator vs. Dock worker/forklift operator
Types of tractor operator
Updated January 8, 2025
