Tractor Operator

Explore This Path

Ideal for those who love hands-on work and operating heavy machinery.
Essential role in logistics, ensuring smooth material movement and storage.
Unique chance to drive powerful tractors in diverse industrial settings.

💰 Earn $40K-$56K

📚 NO DEGREE REQUIRED

⏱️ 6–12 MONTH TRAINING

📈 2.7% JOB GROWTH

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What You’ll Do

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

Move levers or controls that operate lifting devices, such as forklifts, lift beams with swivel-hooks, hoists, or elevating platforms, to load, unload, transport, or stack material.
Move controls to drive gasoline- or electric-powered trucks, cars, or tractors and transport materials between loading, processing, and storage areas.
Manually or mechanically load or unload materials from pallets, skids, platforms, cars, lifting devices, or other transport vehicles.
Position lifting devices under, over, or around loaded pallets, skids, or boxes and secure material or products for transport to designated areas.
Inspect product load for accuracy and safely move it around the warehouse or facility to ensure timely and complete delivery.

Scoop

Minimum Education

None

Career Prospects

Good (Increasing by 1-5%)

Training Time

6 months to 1 year

Job Openings

78,200 Annually

Median Earnings

$46,980 in California

$44,470 Nationally

$25K

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Real Talk Reel

Want to see what it's like to be a Tractor Operator? We've curated a playlist for you to get a glimpse into a day in the life.

@courtneyraee0

@asilver8670

@cfbeef

Best For You If...

YOU Like 💕

Using data or completing tasks
Working with my hands

You are skilled in 💫

You value 🙏

Having support
Having freedom
Personal relationships

Deep Dive

Tractor Operator

Explore career pathways, key skills, and what each role has to offer.

Pathways to this Career

Learn about the education and training paths that can lead to this career — and what to expect from each one.

Associate's Degree

An associate's degree typically provides graduates with foundational knowledge and skills for entry-level jobs in the graduate's industry, or serves as a stepping stone towards further education.

🎓 College

⏱️ FINISH IN 2-3 years

Vocational School

A vocational school typically equips students with specialized skills and practical training in specific trades or occupations, enhancing their employability and providing direct pathways to relevant careers.

🎓 Skills-Focused

⏱️ FINISH IN 6 months - 2 years

Bachelor's Degree

A bachelor's degree typically results in increased knowledge about a variety of academic subjects, specialized knowledge in a focused field of study, and is considered the foundational qualification for many careers.

🎓 College

⏱️ FINISH IN 4-5+ years