Prevailing Wage for Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators
The prevailing wage for Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators under SOC 53-7051 is set by the DOL through regional surveys covering more than 500 U.S. metro areas. Whether your offer is for a Forklift Operator, Lift Truck Operator, or Fork Truck Driver role, DOL assigns four experience-based wage levels, and the floor differs significantly by worksite city.
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Level 1 covers entry-level forklift and industrial truck operators with limited experience, typically under two years, performing routine material-movement tasks under close supervision with little independent judgment expected.
Level 2 applies to qualified operators with two or more years of experience handling standard warehouse or factory duties with moderate independence. This is the most common LCA filing level for Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators.
Level 3 covers experienced operators who work with minimal supervision, may handle specialized equipment or complex logistics environments, and occasionally guide less experienced colleagues through non-routine tasks.
Level 4 applies to fully competent operators in senior or lead roles, exercising significant independent judgment, overseeing equipment-intensive operations, or acting as a resource for warehouse or distribution-floor teams.
Prevailing Wage for Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators by OES area
Each shape is a DOL OES area, the unit prevailing wage is published for.
What’s an OES area?
The Department of Labor publishes prevailing wages for geographic zones called OES areas. Every U.S. county belongs to exactly one, and the wage floor applies across the whole area. A worker in Oakland gets the San Francisco metro wage, not a separate Oakland wage.
Top 10 cities · Level 1
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See which U.S. employers are actively hiring for Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators and sponsoring H-1B, OPT, and green card visas at or above the prevailing wage.
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Confirm your worksite location before accepting
For forklift and industrial truck roles, the LCA must list the actual warehouse or facility address. A distribution-center reassignment mid-employment can require a new LCA filing if the new site falls in a lower-wage metro.
Watch for bonus exclusions in total compensation
Productivity bonuses and shift-differential pay common in warehouse operations do not count toward the DOL prevailing wage floor. Verify that the base wage alone meets the applicable level, not the all-in package.
Find employers who have sponsored this role before
Migrate Mate filters Industrial Truck and Tractor Operator listings by employers with verified H-1B or green card sponsorship history, so you can see which warehouse, logistics, and manufacturing companies have actually filed for this occupation.
Check whether your title matches SOC 53-7051
Titles like Checker Loader or Fork Lift Technician sometimes get misclassified under material-handling or maintenance SOC codes. A mismatched SOC sets the wrong wage floor, which can affect LCA certification and visa approval.
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Find Jobs for this rolePrevailing Wage by Reported Job Title
DOL classifies these titles under SOC 53-7051.00 alongside Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators, so the same four-tier wage schedule applies to each. Tap a title to see the full breakdown.
Checker Loader Prevailing Wage
Checker Loader Prevailing Wage
Checker Loader positions fall under SOC 53-7051.00 (Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Fork Lift Technician Prevailing Wage
Fork Lift Technician Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Fork Lift Technician for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 53-7051.00 (Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Fork Truck Driver Prevailing Wage
Fork Truck Driver Prevailing Wage
Fork Truck Driver is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 53-7051.00 (Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.
Forklift Driver Prevailing Wage
Forklift Driver Prevailing Wage
Forklift Driver positions fall under SOC 53-7051.00 (Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Forklift Operator Prevailing Wage
Forklift Operator Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Forklift Operator for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 53-7051.00 (Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Lift Truck Operator Prevailing Wage
Lift Truck Operator Prevailing Wage
Lift Truck Operator is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 53-7051.00 (Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.
Shag Truck Driver Prevailing Wage
Shag Truck Driver Prevailing Wage
Shag Truck Driver positions fall under SOC 53-7051.00 (Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Spotter Driver Prevailing Wage
Spotter Driver Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Spotter Driver for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 53-7051.00 (Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Tow Motor Operator Prevailing Wage
Tow Motor Operator Prevailing Wage
Tow Motor Operator is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 53-7051.00 (Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.
Truck Driver Prevailing Wage
Truck Driver Prevailing Wage
Truck Driver positions fall under SOC 53-7051.00 (Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does DOL set the prevailing wage for Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators?
DOL calculates the prevailing wage for Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators using Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics data collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics through employer surveys across U.S. metro areas. OFLC then maps those figures to four wage levels based on experience and responsibility. Employers must meet or exceed the applicable level when filing an LCA for a sponsored position.
What do the four wage levels mean and how do I know which one applies to me?
The four levels reflect increasing experience and independence: Level 1 is entry-level, Level 2 is qualified with moderate autonomy, Level 3 is experienced with minimal supervision, and Level 4 is fully competent or lead scope. Your level is determined by the job duties described in the LCA, not your personal history alone. Reviewing the employer's job description against DOL's level definitions helps confirm whether the filed level matches your actual role.
Why does the prevailing wage for the same forklift or industrial truck role vary so much by city?
OFLC derives wages from regional BLS surveys, so the floor reflects local labor market conditions in the specific metro area listed on the LCA. A dense logistics hub with high employer concentration and a higher cost of living will produce a higher wage floor than a smaller or lower-cost market. The worksite address on the LCA, not the employer's headquarters, controls which metro rate applies. Moving between facilities can trigger a new wage obligation if the new site is in a different OES area.
What happens if my job offer is below the prevailing wage for a sponsored Industrial Truck and Tractor Operator position?
If the offered wage falls below the DOL prevailing wage for the applicable level and metro, OFLC will not certify the LCA, blocking the H-1B or PERM process from proceeding. USCIS also reviews wage compliance when adjudicating the petition. An employer cannot pay below the certified wage during the employment period without risking liability and potential revocation of the sponsorship.
How do I find and verify the prevailing wage for an Industrial Truck and Tractor Operator role in a specific U.S. location?
Use the OFLC Wage Search tool to look up the current prevailing wage for SOC 53-7051 in the metro area matching your worksite. Enter the SOC code and select the correct OES area to see all four wage levels. For finding employers who have sponsored this occupation, Migrate Mate lists Industrial Truck and Tractor Operator jobs from companies with documented sponsorship history, helping you identify viable opportunities before evaluating wage compliance.
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