# Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators

> Operate industrial trucks or tractors equipped to move materials around a warehouse, storage yard, factory, construction site, or similar location.

- Edition: Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Page: https://www.collegesref.com/careers/industrial-truck-and-tractor-operators
- SOC code: 53-7051.00
- Career family: Transportation
- Median annual pay: $46,420 (10th percentile $36,840, 90th percentile $62,520)
- Projected growth: Slower than average, +1.5%
- Openings a year: 64,700
- Typical entry education: No formal credential
- Bright outlook: no
- Data years: BLS 2025 wages · 2025–35 projections

## Interest profile (code RCI)

| Interest area | Score (0–100) |
| --- | ---: |
| Realistic (R) | 100 |
| Investigative (I) | 13 |
| Artistic (A) | 0 |
| Social (S) | 2 |
| Enterprising (E) | 4 |
| Conventional (C) | 45 |

## What you'd do

- Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment (importance 88/100)
- Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials (importance 86/100)
- Handling and Moving Objects (importance 85/100)
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events (importance 80/100)
- Performing General Physical Activities (importance 79/100)
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems (importance 76/100)
- Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work (importance 75/100)
- Getting Information (importance 71/100)
- Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings (importance 69/100)
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates (importance 69/100)

## Skills

Operation and Control, Operations Monitoring, Coordination, Equipment Maintenance, Time Management, Troubleshooting, Active Listening, Reading Comprehension, Critical Thinking, Judgment and Decision Making

## Knowledge

Mathematics, English Language, Production and Processing, Transportation, Customer and Personal Service, Administration and Management, Administrative, Public Safety and Security, Education and Training, Mechanical

## Also called

Carry All Driver, CAT Driver (Caterpillar Driver), CAT Operator (Caterpillar Operator), CAT Skinner (Caterpillar Skinner), CAT Tender (Caterpillar Tender), CAT Tractor Operator (Caterpillar Tractor Operator), Charging Car Operator, Checker Loader, Diesel Tractor Operator, Dolly Driver

## Majors that lead here (NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk, 4-digit CIP)

- [Ground Transportation](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/4902) (CIP 4902, 213 colleges)

## Colleges with strong outcomes (College Scorecard, 2025)

| College | Program | Earnings 1 yr | Earnings 4 yrs | Median debt |
| --- | --- | ---: | ---: | ---: |
| [Pennsylvania College of Technology](https://www.collegesref.com/college/pennsylvania-college-of-technology-2096) | Ground Transportation | $54,938 | $62,389 | $12,000 |

## Related careers

- [Hoist and Winch Operators](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/hoist-and-winch-operators): $56,450 median pay
- [Crane and Tower Operators](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/crane-and-tower-operators): $68,080 median pay
- [Tank Car, Truck, and Ship Loaders](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/tank-car-truck-and-ship-loaders): $58,870 median pay
- [Loading and Moving Machine Operators, Underground Mining](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/loading-and-moving-machine-operators-underground-mining): $74,500 median pay
- [Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/operating-engineers-and-other-construction-equipment-operators): $59,850 median pay
- [Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/laborers-and-freight-stock-and-material-movers-hand): $40,240 median pay

## Sources

- [O*NET Database](https://www.onetcenter.org/database.html), version 31.0 (CC BY 4.0)
- [BLS Employment Projections](https://www.bls.gov/emp/tables.htm), version 2025-35, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics](https://www.bls.gov/oes/tables.htm), version 2025, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk](https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cipcode/resources.aspx?y=56), version 2020, data year 2020 (Public domain (U.S. government work))

O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. CollegesRef has modified all or some of this information.