Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver Salary in Cincinnati, OH
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers in the Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN metro area earn a median $60,590 a year — 3% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $49,980 take-home, or $4,165 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median heavy and tractor-trailer truck driver salary in Cincinnati, OH. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$5,091
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,757
- Medicare (1.45%)$879
- Ohio income tax$884
- Take-home pay$49,980
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 2.75% state
Living in Cincinnati? City residents also pay Cincinnati’s city income tax — about $1,091 a year on this salary — which lowers take-home pay to $48,890 ($4,074 a month). Choose “Cincinnati” under City income tax in the calculator. Suburban residents usually don’t pay it.
The Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN metro spans Ohio, Kentucky, 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 Cincinnati, OH
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $45,920 | $22.08 | $38,596 | $3,216 |
| 25th percentile | $51,000 | $24.52 | $42,538 | $3,545 |
| Median (50th) | $60,590 | $29.13 | $49,980 | $4,165 |
| 75th percentile | $73,780 | $35.47 | $59,488 | $4,957 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $81,620 | $39.24 | $64,787 | $5,399 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Ohio resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $60,590 buys in Cincinnati, OH
Prices in Cincinnati, OH are 4.6% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 12% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median heavy and tractor-trailer truck driver's $49,980 take-home pay has the buying power of $52,407 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 Cincinnati, OH as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.95).
Best-paying cities for heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers, adjusted for cost of living
Cincinnati, OH ranks #26 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 |
| 26 | Cincinnati, OH | $60,590 | $49,980 | $52,407 |
*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 Ohio
- Toledo, OH — $60,410
- Youngstown, OH — $56,810
- Columbus, OH — $61,720
- Akron, OH — $60,210
- Dayton, OH — $59,490
- Cleveland, OH — $58,970
Frequently asked questions
How much does a heavy and tractor-trailer truck driver make in Cincinnati, OH?
The median heavy and tractor-trailer truck driver salary in the Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN metro area is $60,590 a year, or about $29.13 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $51,000 and $73,780.
What is a heavy and tractor-trailer truck driver’s take-home pay in Cincinnati, OH?
On the median $60,590 salary, a single filer living in Ohio takes home about $49,980 a year ($4,165 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $884 in Ohio taxes in 2026.
Is Cincinnati, OH a good place to work as a heavy and tractor-trailer truck driver?
Pay here is 3% above the national median of $58,640. Local prices are 4.6% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $52,407 would in a typical U.S. city. Cincinnati, OH ranks #26 of 134 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a heavy and tractor-trailer truck driver afford rent in Cincinnati, OH?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Cincinnati, OH is $1,043 a month ($1,342 for two bedrooms) — 25% 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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