Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver Salary in Iowa City, IA
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers in the Iowa City, IA metro area earn a median $61,960 a year — 6% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $50,262 take-home, or $4,189 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median heavy and tractor-trailer truck driver salary in Iowa City, IA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$5,255
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,842
- Medicare (1.45%)$898
- Iowa income tax$1,703
- Take-home pay$50,262
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 3.80% 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 Iowa City, IA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $47,640 | $22.90 | $39,300 | $3,275 |
| 25th percentile | $48,740 | $23.43 | $40,142 | $3,345 |
| Median (50th) | $61,960 | $29.79 | $50,262 | $4,189 |
| 75th percentile | $92,560 | $44.50 | $71,080 | $5,923 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $126,110 | $60.63 | $93,322 | $7,777 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Iowa resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $61,960 buys in Iowa City, IA
Prices in Iowa City, IA are 8.5% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 16% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median heavy and tractor-trailer truck driver's $50,262 take-home pay has the buying power of $54,926 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Iowa City, IA has 1.9× the national concentration of heavy and tractor-trailer truck driver jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers, adjusted for cost of living
Iowa City, IA ranks #4 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 |
*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 Iowa
- Cedar Rapids, IA — $58,900
- Des Moines, IA — $60,720
- Davenport, IA — $58,280
- Sioux City, IA — $51,540
Frequently asked questions
How much does a heavy and tractor-trailer truck driver make in Iowa City, IA?
The median heavy and tractor-trailer truck driver salary in the Iowa City, IA metro area is $61,960 a year, or about $29.79 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $48,740 and $92,560.
What is a heavy and tractor-trailer truck driver’s take-home pay in Iowa City, IA?
On the median $61,960 salary, a single filer living in Iowa takes home about $50,262 a year ($4,189 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,703 in Iowa taxes in 2026.
Is Iowa City, IA 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 8.5% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $54,926 would in a typical U.S. city. Iowa City, IA ranks #4 of 134 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a heavy and tractor-trailer truck driver afford rent in Iowa City, IA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Iowa City, IA is $932 a month ($1,118 for two bedrooms) — 22% of a median heavy and tractor-trailer truck driver’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.