Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver Salary in Lafayette, LA
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers in the Lafayette, LA metro area earn a median $49,450 a year — 16% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $40,816 take-home, or $3,401 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median heavy and tractor-trailer truck driver salary in Lafayette, LA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$3,754
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,066
- Medicare (1.45%)$717
- Louisiana income tax$1,097
- Take-home pay$40,816
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 3.00% 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 Lafayette, LA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $36,730 | $17.66 | $30,977 | $2,581 |
| 25th percentile | $43,960 | $21.13 | $36,569 | $3,047 |
| Median (50th) | $49,450 | $23.77 | $40,816 | $3,401 |
| 75th percentile | $58,600 | $28.17 | $47,893 | $3,991 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $70,570 | $33.93 | $56,745 | $4,729 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Louisiana resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $49,450 buys in Lafayette, LA
Prices in Lafayette, LA are 12.8% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 41% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median heavy and tractor-trailer truck driver's $40,816 take-home pay has the buying power of $46,802 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Lafayette, LA has 1.2× 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
Lafayette, LA ranks #93 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 |
| 93 | Lafayette, LA | $49,450 | $40,816 | $46,802 |
*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 Louisiana
- Baton Rouge, LA — $54,840
- Shreveport, LA — $49,360
- New Orleans, LA — $51,540
Frequently asked questions
How much does a heavy and tractor-trailer truck driver make in Lafayette, LA?
The median heavy and tractor-trailer truck driver salary in the Lafayette, LA metro area is $49,450 a year, or about $23.77 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $43,960 and $58,600.
What is a heavy and tractor-trailer truck driver’s take-home pay in Lafayette, LA?
On the median $49,450 salary, a single filer living in Louisiana takes home about $40,816 a year ($3,401 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,097 in Louisiana taxes in 2026.
Is Lafayette, LA a good place to work as a heavy and tractor-trailer truck driver?
Pay here is 16% below the national median of $58,640. Local prices are 12.8% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $46,802 would in a typical U.S. city. Lafayette, LA ranks #93 of 134 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a heavy and tractor-trailer truck driver afford rent in Lafayette, LA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Lafayette, LA is $847 a month ($974 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%.
Related jobs in Lafayette, LA
- Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand — $32,600
- Stocker and Order Filler — $31,310