FederalPay.org
Tractor Operator - Federal Salaries of 2021
Pay Rates for "Tractor Operator"
How much does a Tractor Operator in the federal government get paid? $49,915.30* *Based on the 2021 average.Tractor Operator was the 280th most popular job in the U.S. Government in 2021, with 337 employed. The most common payscale was the nonsupervisory pay schedules - federal wage system payscale.
In 2021, the Veterans Health Administration hired the most employees titled Tractor Operating, with an average salary of $50,585.
Government Tractor Operating jobs are classified under the Federal Wage Schedule, Wage Grade (FWS) payscale. The minimum paygrade for a Tractor Operating job is FWS-5, and the highest paygrade that can be attained within this job series is FWS-9. Remember that the starting and maximum yearly pay listed above reflect base pay only - your actual salary will be higher based on the Locality Pay Adjustment for the area in which you work.
This standard is for use in grading nonsupervisory work involved in operating wheel-mounted tractors and towed or attached equipment. The work performed typically includes transporting materials and equipment, towing aircraft, digging, loading, planting, spraying, fertilizing, harvesting, clearing, or mowing. Examples of the towed and attached equipment include carts, sweepers, trailers, towbars, plows, brush hogs, planters, mowers, combines, spreaders, sprayers, backhoes, and front-end loading devices.
Agencies that have hired a Tractor Operator
| Agency | Employees Hired | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Veterans Health Administration | 171 | $50,584.50 |
| National Park Service | 56 | $50,205.07 |
| U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service | 35 | $46,347.60 |
| Agricultural Research Service | 35 | $48,673.83 |
| Forest Service | 12 | $48,676.25 |
| National Cemetery Administration | 10 | $55,516.80 |
| International Boundary & Water Commission: U.S. & Mexico | 10 | $51,870.30 |
| Indian Health Service | 4 | $44,875.50 |
| 2 | $51,361.00 | |
| Indian Affairs | 1 | $46,227.00 |
| U.S. Coast Guard | 1 | $47,834.00 |
Tractor Operator Pay Distribution
The average pay for a Tractor Operator is $49,915.30. The highest paid Tractor Operator made $86,451 in 2021.
Common Tractor Operator Payscales
| Payscale | Number of Tractor Operating Employees |
|---|---|
| WG - Nonsupervisory Pay Schedules - Federal Wage System | 301 |
| XA - Special Overlap Area Rate Schedule - Nonsupervisory - Federal Wage System | 18 |
| WL - Leader Pay Schedule - Federal Wage System | 14 |
| WS - Supervisory Pay Schedules - Federal Wage System | 4 |
| Starting Paygrade: | $22.47 to $9.25 / hour at paygrade FWS-5 |
| Maximum Paygrade: | $11.13 to $30.53 / hour at paygrade FWS-9 |
| Occupation Family: | TRANSPORTATION/MOBILE EQUIPMENT OPERATION FAMILY |
Other Jobs at the FWS-5 Paygrade
FWS-5 is the starting paygrade for Tractor Operating jobs. Here are some other Federal Government jobs that can be held by employees at the FWS-5 paygrade.
| Occupation | Starting Paygrade | Maximum Paygrade |
|---|---|---|
| Motion Picture Projection | FWS-5 | FWS-7 |
| Offset Platemaking | FWS-5 | FWS-8 |
| Bindery Working | FWS-5 | FWS-9 |
| Fabric Working | FWS-1 | FWS-9 |
| Motor Vehicle Operating | FWS-4 | FWS-8 |
Average Tractor Operating Pay Trend from 2004 to 2021
In 2004, the average pay for a Tractor Operator was $36,387. Since then, the average pay has increased to $49,915 in 2021.
Data Sources
The information provided on these pages is sourced from the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) 
Enterprise Human Resources Integration (EHRI) dataset. Postal Service data is managed exclusively by the USPS . All information is displayed unmodified and as provided by the source agency.
Federal employee salaries are public information under open government laws (5 U.S.C. § 552). FederalPay provides this data in the interest of government transparency — employee data may not be used for commercial soliciting or vending of any kind. Learn more about the FederalPay Employees Dataset here.
The series code of this occupation is 5705.