Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver Salary in Baton Rouge, LA
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers in the Baton Rouge, LA metro area earn a median $54,840 a year — 6% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $44,985 take-home, or $3,749 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median heavy and tractor-trailer truck driver salary in Baton Rouge, LA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$4,401
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,400
- Medicare (1.45%)$795
- Louisiana income tax$1,259
- Take-home pay$44,985
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 3.00% 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 Baton Rouge, LA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $39,400 | $18.94 | $33,042 | $2,754 |
| 25th percentile | $46,340 | $22.28 | $38,410 | $3,201 |
| Median (50th) | $54,840 | $26.37 | $44,985 | $3,749 |
| 75th percentile | $61,250 | $29.45 | $49,943 | $4,162 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $74,180 | $35.66 | $59,176 | $4,931 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Louisiana resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $54,840 buys in Baton Rouge, LA
Prices in Baton Rouge, LA are 9.2% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 26% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median heavy and tractor-trailer truck driver's $44,985 take-home pay has the buying power of $49,554 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 about as common in Baton Rouge, LA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.07).
Best-paying cities for heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers, adjusted for cost of living
Baton Rouge, LA ranks #49 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 |
| 49 | Baton Rouge, LA | $54,840 | $44,985 | $49,554 |
*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 Louisiana
- Shreveport, LA — $49,360
- Lafayette, LA — $49,450
- New Orleans, LA — $51,540
Frequently asked questions
How much does a heavy and tractor-trailer truck driver make in Baton Rouge, LA?
The median heavy and tractor-trailer truck driver salary in the Baton Rouge, LA metro area is $54,840 a year, or about $26.37 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $46,340 and $61,250.
What is a heavy and tractor-trailer truck driver’s take-home pay in Baton Rouge, LA?
On the median $54,840 salary, a single filer living in Louisiana takes home about $44,985 a year ($3,749 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,259 in Louisiana taxes in 2026.
Is Baton Rouge, LA a good place to work as a heavy and tractor-trailer truck driver?
Pay here is 6% below the national median of $58,640. Local prices are 9.2% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $49,554 would in a typical U.S. city. Baton Rouge, LA ranks #49 of 134 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a heavy and tractor-trailer truck driver afford rent in Baton Rouge, LA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Baton Rouge, LA is $1,048 a month ($1,187 for two bedrooms) — 28% 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 Baton Rouge, LA
- Light Truck Driver — $41,450
- Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand — $36,450
- Stocker and Order Filler — $34,840