Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver Salary in Boston, MA
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area earn a median $64,010 a year — 9% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $50,632 take-home, or $4,219 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median heavy and tractor-trailer truck driver salary in Boston, MA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$5,501
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,969
- Medicare (1.45%)$928
- Massachusetts income tax$2,981
- Take-home pay$50,632
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 5.00% state
The Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro spans Massachusetts, New Hampshire. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver pay by experience in Boston, MA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $47,950 | $23.05 | $38,530 | $3,211 |
| 25th percentile | $57,070 | $27.44 | $45,402 | $3,784 |
| Median (50th) | $64,010 | $30.77 | $50,632 | $4,219 |
| 75th percentile | $73,460 | $35.32 | $57,056 | $4,755 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $78,770 | $37.87 | $60,526 | $5,044 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Massachusetts resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $64,010 buys in Boston, MA
Prices in Boston, MA are 8.3% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.48× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median heavy and tractor-trailer truck driver's $50,632 take-home pay has the buying power of $46,766 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 Boston, MA than nationally (location quotient 0.56), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers, adjusted for cost of living
Boston, MA ranks #95 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 |
| 95 | Boston, MA | $64,010 | $50,632 | $46,766 |
*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 Massachusetts
- Springfield, MA — $61,420
- Worcester, MA — $61,610
Frequently asked questions
How much does a heavy and tractor-trailer truck driver make in Boston, MA?
The median heavy and tractor-trailer truck driver salary in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area is $64,010 a year, or about $30.77 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $57,070 and $73,460.
What is a heavy and tractor-trailer truck driver’s take-home pay in Boston, MA?
On the median $64,010 salary, a single filer living in Massachusetts takes home about $50,632 a year ($4,219 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $2,981 in Massachusetts taxes in 2026.
Is Boston, MA a good place to work as a heavy and tractor-trailer truck driver?
Pay here is 9% above the national median of $58,640. Local prices are 8.3% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $46,766 would in a typical U.S. city. Boston, MA ranks #95 of 134 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a heavy and tractor-trailer truck driver afford rent in Boston, MA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Boston, MA is $2,276 a month ($2,762 for two bedrooms) — 54% 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 Boston, MA
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