Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver Salary in Chicago, IL
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn a median $62,300 a year — 6% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $49,299 take-home, or $4,108 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median heavy and tractor-trailer truck driver salary in Chicago, IL. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$5,296
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,863
- Medicare (1.45%)$903
- Illinois income tax$2,939
- Take-home pay$49,299
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.95% state
The Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro spans Illinois, Indiana. 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 Chicago, IL
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $41,300 | $19.86 | $33,465 | $2,789 |
| 25th percentile | $50,580 | $24.32 | $40,462 | $3,372 |
| Median (50th) | $62,300 | $29.95 | $49,299 | $4,108 |
| 75th percentile | $77,660 | $37.34 | $59,764 | $4,980 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $88,230 | $42.42 | $66,677 | $5,556 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Illinois resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $62,300 buys in Chicago, IL
Prices in Chicago, IL are 3.6% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.12× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median heavy and tractor-trailer truck driver's $49,299 take-home pay has the buying power of $47,588 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 Chicago, IL 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
Chicago, IL ranks #83 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 |
| 83 | Chicago, IL | $62,300 | $49,299 | $47,588 |
*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.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a heavy and tractor-trailer truck driver make in Chicago, IL?
The median heavy and tractor-trailer truck driver salary in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $62,300 a year, or about $29.95 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $50,580 and $77,660.
What is a heavy and tractor-trailer truck driver’s take-home pay in Chicago, IL?
On the median $62,300 salary, a single filer living in Illinois takes home about $49,299 a year ($4,108 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $2,939 in Illinois taxes in 2026.
Is Chicago, IL a good place to work as a heavy and tractor-trailer truck driver?
Pay here is 6% above the national median of $58,640. Local prices are 3.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $47,588 would in a typical U.S. city. Chicago, IL ranks #83 of 134 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a heavy and tractor-trailer truck driver afford rent in Chicago, IL?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Chicago, IL is $1,534 a month ($1,743 for two bedrooms) — 37% of a median heavy and tractor-trailer truck driver’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
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