Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver Salary in Houston, TX
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers in the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX metro area earn a median $56,840 a year — 3% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $47,851 take-home, or $3,988 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median heavy and tractor-trailer truck driver salary in Houston, TX. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$4,641
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,524
- Medicare (1.45%)$824
- Texas income tax$0
- Take-home pay$47,851
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 Houston, TX
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $38,320 | $18.42 | $32,970 | $2,748 |
| 25th percentile | $46,830 | $22.51 | $39,808 | $3,317 |
| Median (50th) | $56,840 | $27.33 | $47,851 | $3,988 |
| 75th percentile | $64,410 | $30.97 | $53,933 | $4,494 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $79,490 | $38.22 | $64,751 | $5,396 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Texas resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $56,840 buys in Houston, TX
Prices in Houston, TX are 1.4% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.05× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median heavy and tractor-trailer truck driver's $47,851 take-home pay has the buying power of $48,516 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 Houston, TX as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.14).
Best-paying cities for heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers, adjusted for cost of living
Houston, TX ranks #66 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 |
| 66 | Houston, TX | $56,840 | $47,851 | $48,516 |
*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
- Dallas, TX — $59,530
- 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 Houston, TX?
The median heavy and tractor-trailer truck driver salary in the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX metro area is $56,840 a year, or about $27.33 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $46,830 and $64,410.
What is a heavy and tractor-trailer truck driver’s take-home pay in Houston, TX?
On the median $56,840 salary, a single filer living in Texas takes home about $47,851 a year ($3,988 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.
Is Houston, TX a good place to work as a heavy and tractor-trailer truck driver?
Pay here is 3% below the national median of $58,640. Local prices are 1.4% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $48,516 would in a typical U.S. city. Houston, TX ranks #66 of 134 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a heavy and tractor-trailer truck driver afford rent in Houston, TX?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Houston, TX is $1,316 a month ($1,558 for two bedrooms) — 33% 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 Houston, TX
- Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers — $239,200+
- Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels — $118,830
- Wellhead Pumper — $79,720
- First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors — $60,760
- Sailor and Marine Oiler — $55,610
- Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity — $50,430
- Industrial Truck and Tractor Operator — $45,990
- Light Truck Driver — $43,920
- Bus Drivers, School — $43,570
- Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand — $38,000
- Stocker and Order Filler — $36,890
- Shuttle Driver and Chauffeur — $33,920