Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver Salary in Birmingham, AL
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers in the Birmingham, AL metro area earn a median $54,460 a year — 7% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $43,481 take-home, or $3,623 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median heavy and tractor-trailer truck driver salary in Birmingham, AL. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$4,355
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,377
- Medicare (1.45%)$790
- Alabama income tax$2,458
- Take-home pay$43,481
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 5.00% state
Living in Birmingham? City residents also pay Birmingham’s Occupational Tax — about $545 a year on this salary — which lowers take-home pay to $42,936 ($3,578 a month). Choose “Birmingham” under City income tax in the calculator. Suburban residents usually don’t pay it.
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver pay by experience in Birmingham, AL
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $38,370 | $18.45 | $31,357 | $2,613 |
| 25th percentile | $44,580 | $21.43 | $36,036 | $3,003 |
| Median (50th) | $54,460 | $26.18 | $43,481 | $3,623 |
| 75th percentile | $66,700 | $32.07 | $52,683 | $4,390 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $77,460 | $37.24 | $59,715 | $4,976 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Alabama resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $54,460 buys in Birmingham, AL
Prices in Birmingham, AL are 8.4% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 28% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median heavy and tractor-trailer truck driver's $43,481 take-home pay has the buying power of $47,445 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Birmingham, AL has 1.3× the national concentration of heavy and tractor-trailer truck driver jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers, adjusted for cost of living
Birmingham, AL ranks #84 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 |
| 84 | Birmingham, AL | $54,460 | $43,481 | $47,445 |
*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 Alabama
- Montgomery, AL — $54,860
- Huntsville, AL — $56,690
- Mobile, AL — $51,010
Frequently asked questions
How much does a heavy and tractor-trailer truck driver make in Birmingham, AL?
The median heavy and tractor-trailer truck driver salary in the Birmingham, AL metro area is $54,460 a year, or about $26.18 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $44,580 and $66,700.
What is a heavy and tractor-trailer truck driver’s take-home pay in Birmingham, AL?
On the median $54,460 salary, a single filer living in Alabama takes home about $43,481 a year ($3,623 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $2,458 in Alabama taxes in 2026.
Is Birmingham, AL a good place to work as a heavy and tractor-trailer truck driver?
Pay here is 7% below the national median of $58,640. Local prices are 8.4% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $47,445 would in a typical U.S. city. Birmingham, AL ranks #84 of 134 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a heavy and tractor-trailer truck driver afford rent in Birmingham, AL?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Birmingham, AL is $1,115 a month ($1,234 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%.