Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver Salary in Dallas, TX
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers in the Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX metro area earn a median $59,530 a year — 2% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $50,012 take-home, or $4,168 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median heavy and tractor-trailer truck driver salary in Dallas, TX. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$4,964
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,691
- Medicare (1.45%)$863
- Texas income tax$0
- Take-home pay$50,012
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 0.00% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver pay by experience in Dallas, TX
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $42,810 | $20.58 | $36,578 | $3,048 |
| 25th percentile | $49,090 | $23.60 | $41,624 | $3,469 |
| Median (50th) | $59,530 | $28.62 | $50,012 | $4,168 |
| 75th percentile | $73,020 | $35.11 | $60,200 | $5,017 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $91,990 | $44.23 | $73,545 | $6,129 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Texas resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $59,530 buys in Dallas, TX
Prices in Dallas, TX are 3.1% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.18× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median heavy and tractor-trailer truck driver's $50,012 take-home pay has the buying power of $48,513 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 Dallas, TX 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
Dallas, TX ranks #67 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 |
| 67 | Dallas, TX | $59,530 | $50,012 | $48,513 |
*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 Texas
- Odessa, TX — $58,370
- Midland, TX — $58,200
- Austin, TX — $57,110
- Houston, TX — $56,840
- San Antonio, TX — $53,650
- Laredo, TX — $49,010
- McAllen, TX — $47,040
- El Paso, TX — $49,270
Frequently asked questions
How much does a heavy and tractor-trailer truck driver make in Dallas, TX?
The median heavy and tractor-trailer truck driver salary in the Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX metro area is $59,530 a year, or about $28.62 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $49,090 and $73,020.
What is a heavy and tractor-trailer truck driver’s take-home pay in Dallas, TX?
On the median $59,530 salary, a single filer living in Texas takes home about $50,012 a year ($4,168 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.
Is Dallas, TX a good place to work as a heavy and tractor-trailer truck driver?
Pay here is 2% above the national median of $58,640. Local prices are 3.1% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $48,513 would in a typical U.S. city. Dallas, TX ranks #67 of 134 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a heavy and tractor-trailer truck driver afford rent in Dallas, TX?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Dallas, TX is $1,586 a month ($1,858 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%.
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