Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver Salary in Charlotte, NC
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers in the Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC metro area earn a median $56,120 a year — 4% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $45,542 take-home, or $3,795 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median heavy and tractor-trailer truck driver salary in Charlotte, NC. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$4,554
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,479
- Medicare (1.45%)$814
- North Carolina income tax$1,730
- Take-home pay$45,542
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 3.99% state
The Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC metro spans North Carolina, South Carolina. 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 Charlotte, NC
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $44,240 | $21.27 | $36,470 | $3,039 |
| 25th percentile | $47,600 | $22.88 | $39,036 | $3,253 |
| Median (50th) | $56,120 | $26.98 | $45,542 | $3,795 |
| 75th percentile | $64,440 | $30.98 | $51,895 | $4,325 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $77,490 | $37.25 | $60,761 | $5,063 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, North Carolina resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $56,120 buys in Charlotte, NC
Prices in Charlotte, NC are 2.7% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 2% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median heavy and tractor-trailer truck driver's $45,542 take-home pay has the buying power of $46,783 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 Charlotte, NC as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.04).
Best-paying cities for heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers, adjusted for cost of living
Charlotte, NC ranks #94 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 |
| 94 | Charlotte, NC | $56,120 | $45,542 | $46,783 |
*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 North Carolina
- Hickory, NC — $57,460
- Greensboro, NC — $58,480
- Winston, NC — $51,320
- Raleigh, NC — $52,110
Frequently asked questions
How much does a heavy and tractor-trailer truck driver make in Charlotte, NC?
The median heavy and tractor-trailer truck driver salary in the Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC metro area is $56,120 a year, or about $26.98 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $47,600 and $64,440.
What is a heavy and tractor-trailer truck driver’s take-home pay in Charlotte, NC?
On the median $56,120 salary, a single filer living in North Carolina takes home about $45,542 a year ($3,795 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,730 in North Carolina taxes in 2026.
Is Charlotte, NC a good place to work as a heavy and tractor-trailer truck driver?
Pay here is 4% below the national median of $58,640. Local prices are 2.7% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $46,783 would in a typical U.S. city. Charlotte, NC ranks #94 of 134 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a heavy and tractor-trailer truck driver afford rent in Charlotte, NC?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Charlotte, NC is $1,428 a month ($1,577 for two bedrooms) — 38% 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 Charlotte, NC
- First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors — $63,470
- Bus Drivers, School — $46,020
- Industrial Truck and Tractor Operator — $43,880
- Light Truck Driver — $42,860
- Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand — $38,850
- Driver/Sales Worker — $37,830
- Stocker and Order Filler — $37,440
- Packers and Packagers, Hand — $37,030
- Cleaner of Vehicles and Equipment — $31,260