Tugger operator vs lift truck operator

The differences between tugger 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 tugger operator and a lift truck operator. Additionally, a lift truck operator has an average salary of $36,973, which is higher than the $32,478 average annual salary of a tugger operator.

The top three skills for a tugger operator include tuggers, OSHA and warehouse environment. The most important skills for a lift truck operator are pallets, safety procedures, and load trailers.

Tugger operator vs lift truck operator overview

	Tugger Operator	Lift Truck Operator
Yearly salary	$32,478	$36,973
Hourly rate	$15.61	$17.78
Growth rate	7%	7%
Number of jobs	42,294	103,337
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 65%	High School Diploma, 53%
Average age	43	43
Years of experience	4	4

Tugger operator vs lift truck operator salary

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

	Tugger Operator	Lift Truck Operator
Average salary	$32,478	$36,973
Salary range	Between $28,000 And $37,000	Between $29,000 And $46,000
Highest paying City	Findlay, OH	Springfield, OR
Highest paying state	Alaska	Alaska
Best paying company	VisionCorp Rep	Nestlé
Best paying industry	Automotive	Finance

Differences between tugger operator and lift truck operator education

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

	Tugger Operator	Lift Truck Operator
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 65%	High School Diploma, 53%
Most common major	Business	Business
Most common college	-	-

Tugger operator vs lift truck operator demographics

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

	Tugger Operator	Lift Truck Operator
Average age	43	43
Gender ratio	Male, 77.3% Female, 22.7%	Male, 89.7% Female, 10.3%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 17.0% Unknown, 4.0% Hispanic or Latino, 15.3% Asian, 2.3% White, 60.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%	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 tugger operator and lift truck operator duties and responsibilities

Tugger operator example responsibilities.

Operate or tend hoists or winches to lift and pull loads using power-operate cable equipment.
Start engines of hoists or winches and used levers and pedals to wind or unwind cable on drums.
Pull dollies of materia safely to the line in a timely manner as to not shut down automotive industry line.
Deliver automotive parts to Toyota lineside
Operate heavy machinery such as bobcat equipment and also operate and pave asphalt perform demolition work.
Operate a tugger for storage and removal of car parts and supplies to be transport to the Mercedes-Benz plant.

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.

Tugger operator vs lift truck operator skills

Common tugger operator skills

Tuggers, 34%
OSHA, 26%
Warehouse Environment, 10%
Honda, 5%
Assembly Line, 5%
RF Scanner, 4%

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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Transportation Industry
Tugger Operator
Tugger Operator vs Lift Truck Operator

Updated January 8, 2025

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