Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver Salary in Austin, TX
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers in the Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX metro area earn a median $57,110 a year — 3% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $48,068 take-home, or $4,006 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median heavy and tractor-trailer truck driver salary in Austin, TX. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$4,673
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,541
- Medicare (1.45%)$828
- Texas income tax$0
- Take-home pay$48,068
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 0.00% 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 Austin, TX
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $42,300 | $20.34 | $36,168 | $3,014 |
| 25th percentile | $47,250 | $22.72 | $40,145 | $3,345 |
| Median (50th) | $57,110 | $27.46 | $48,068 | $4,006 |
| 75th percentile | $64,120 | $30.83 | $53,700 | $4,475 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $78,210 | $37.60 | $63,851 | $5,321 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Texas resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $57,110 buys in Austin, TX
Prices in Austin, TX are 1.9% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.20× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median heavy and tractor-trailer truck driver's $48,068 take-home pay has the buying power of $49,016 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 Austin, TX than nationally (location quotient 0.63), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers, adjusted for cost of living
Austin, TX ranks #56 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 |
| 56 | Austin, TX | $57,110 | $48,068 | $49,016 |
*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.
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver salaries elsewhere in Texas
- Odessa, TX — $58,370
- Midland, TX — $58,200
- Houston, TX — $56,840
- Dallas, TX — $59,530
- San Antonio, TX — $53,650
- Laredo, TX — $49,010
- McAllen, TX — $47,040
- El Paso, TX — $49,270
Frequently asked questions
How much does a heavy and tractor-trailer truck driver make in Austin, TX?
The median heavy and tractor-trailer truck driver salary in the Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX metro area is $57,110 a year, or about $27.46 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $47,250 and $64,120.
What is a heavy and tractor-trailer truck driver’s take-home pay in Austin, TX?
On the median $57,110 salary, a single filer living in Texas takes home about $48,068 a year ($4,006 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.
Is Austin, TX a good place to work as a heavy and tractor-trailer truck driver?
Pay here is 3% below the national median of $58,640. Local prices are 1.9% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $49,016 would in a typical U.S. city. Austin, TX ranks #56 of 134 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a heavy and tractor-trailer truck driver afford rent in Austin, TX?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Austin, TX is $1,562 a month ($1,852 for two bedrooms) — 39% of a median heavy and tractor-trailer truck driver’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Austin, TX
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- Bus Drivers, School — $46,910
- Industrial Truck and Tractor Operator — $46,430
- Light Truck Driver — $45,820
- Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand — $38,530
- Stocker and Order Filler — $37,720
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