Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver Salary in Lexington, KY
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers in the Lexington-Fayette, KY metro area earn a median $56,950 a year — 3% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $46,064 take-home, or $3,839 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median heavy and tractor-trailer truck driver salary in Lexington, KY. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$4,654
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,531
- Medicare (1.45%)$826
- Kentucky income tax$1,876
- Take-home pay$46,064
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 3.50% 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 Lexington, KY
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $43,780 | $21.05 | $35,943 | $2,995 |
| 25th percentile | $49,170 | $23.64 | $40,085 | $3,340 |
| Median (50th) | $56,950 | $27.38 | $46,064 | $3,839 |
| 75th percentile | $75,450 | $36.27 | $59,386 | $4,949 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $94,090 | $45.24 | $71,847 | $5,987 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Kentucky resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $56,950 buys in Lexington, KY
Prices in Lexington, KY are 7.1% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 23% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median heavy and tractor-trailer truck driver's $46,064 take-home pay has the buying power of $49,590 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 Lexington, KY as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.17).
Best-paying cities for heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers, adjusted for cost of living
Lexington, KY ranks #48 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 |
| 48 | Lexington, KY | $56,950 | $46,064 | $49,590 |
*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 Kentucky
- Louisville, KY — $59,000
Frequently asked questions
How much does a heavy and tractor-trailer truck driver make in Lexington, KY?
The median heavy and tractor-trailer truck driver salary in the Lexington-Fayette, KY metro area is $56,950 a year, or about $27.38 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $49,170 and $75,450.
What is a heavy and tractor-trailer truck driver’s take-home pay in Lexington, KY?
On the median $56,950 salary, a single filer living in Kentucky takes home about $46,064 a year ($3,839 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,876 in Kentucky taxes in 2026.
Is Lexington, KY 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 7.1% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $49,590 would in a typical U.S. city. Lexington, KY ranks #48 of 134 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a heavy and tractor-trailer truck driver afford rent in Lexington, KY?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Lexington, KY is $1,079 a month ($1,272 for two bedrooms) — 28% 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 Lexington, KY
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- Stocker and Order Filler — $37,080