Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver Salary in Albuquerque, NM
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers in the Albuquerque, NM metro area earn a median $55,840 a year — 5% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $45,589 take-home, or $3,799 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median heavy and tractor-trailer truck driver salary in Albuquerque, NM. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$4,521
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,462
- Medicare (1.45%)$810
- New Mexico income tax$1,459
- Take-home pay$45,589
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.70% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver pay by experience in Albuquerque, NM
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $40,040 | $19.25 | $33,598 | $2,800 |
| 25th percentile | $47,590 | $22.88 | $39,339 | $3,278 |
| Median (50th) | $55,840 | $26.85 | $45,589 | $3,799 |
| 75th percentile | $63,360 | $30.46 | $51,278 | $4,273 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $71,560 | $34.40 | $56,975 | $4,748 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, New Mexico resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $55,840 buys in Albuquerque, NM
Prices in Albuquerque, NM are 4.5% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 11% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median heavy and tractor-trailer truck driver's $45,589 take-home pay has the buying power of $47,714 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver jobs are less concentrated in Albuquerque, NM than nationally (location quotient 0.78), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers, adjusted for cost of living
Albuquerque, NM ranks #81 of 134 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lincoln, NE | $81,790 | $63,527 | $69,367 |
| 2 | Memphis, TN | $63,070 | $52,857 | $57,341 |
| 3 | Sioux Falls, SD | $60,820 | $51,049 | $56,326 |
| 4 | Iowa City, IA | $61,960 | $50,262 | $54,926 |
| 5 | Toledo, OH | $60,410 | $49,841 | $54,497 |
| 6 | Fargo, ND | $58,900 | $49,506 | $54,480 |
| 7 | Cedar Rapids, IA | $58,900 | $47,920 | $53,865 |
| 8 | Youngstown, OH | $56,810 | $47,047 | $53,833 |
| 81 | Albuquerque, NM | $55,840 | $45,589 | $47,714 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 134 metros →
About the job: heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers
Drive a tractor-trailer combination or a truck with a capacity of at least 26,001 pounds Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW). May be required to unload truck. Requires commercial drivers’ license.
- Typical education
- Postsecondary nondegree award
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- Short-term on-the-job training
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +3.8% (about average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a heavy and tractor-trailer truck driver make in Albuquerque, NM?
The median heavy and tractor-trailer truck driver salary in the Albuquerque, NM metro area is $55,840 a year, or about $26.85 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $47,590 and $63,360.
What is a heavy and tractor-trailer truck driver’s take-home pay in Albuquerque, NM?
On the median $55,840 salary, a single filer living in New Mexico takes home about $45,589 a year ($3,799 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,459 in New Mexico taxes in 2026.
Is Albuquerque, NM a good place to work as a heavy and tractor-trailer truck driver?
Pay here is 5% below the national median of $58,640. Local prices are 4.5% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $47,714 would in a typical U.S. city. Albuquerque, NM ranks #81 of 134 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a heavy and tractor-trailer truck driver afford rent in Albuquerque, NM?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Albuquerque, NM is $1,185 a month ($1,464 for two bedrooms) — 31% of a median heavy and tractor-trailer truck driver’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
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