Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver Salary in Milwaukee, WI
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers in the Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI metro area earn a median $59,580 a year — 2% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $48,212 take-home, or $4,018 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median heavy and tractor-trailer truck driver salary in Milwaukee, WI. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$4,970
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,694
- Medicare (1.45%)$864
- Wisconsin income tax$1,840
- Take-home pay$48,212
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.40% 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 Milwaukee, WI
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $45,300 | $21.78 | $37,366 | $3,114 |
| 25th percentile | $49,620 | $23.86 | $40,647 | $3,387 |
| Median (50th) | $59,580 | $28.64 | $48,212 | $4,018 |
| 75th percentile | $65,810 | $31.64 | $52,944 | $4,412 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $77,940 | $37.47 | $60,910 | $5,076 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Wisconsin resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $59,580 buys in Milwaukee, WI
Prices in Milwaukee, WI are 3.1% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 3% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median heavy and tractor-trailer truck driver's $48,212 take-home pay has the buying power of $49,735 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 Milwaukee, WI as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.94).
Best-paying cities for heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers, adjusted for cost of living
Milwaukee, WI ranks #45 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 |
| 45 | Milwaukee, WI | $59,580 | $48,212 | $49,735 |
*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 Wisconsin
- Green Bay, WI — $59,810
- Madison, WI — $59,700
Frequently asked questions
How much does a heavy and tractor-trailer truck driver make in Milwaukee, WI?
The median heavy and tractor-trailer truck driver salary in the Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI metro area is $59,580 a year, or about $28.64 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $49,620 and $65,810.
What is a heavy and tractor-trailer truck driver’s take-home pay in Milwaukee, WI?
On the median $59,580 salary, a single filer living in Wisconsin takes home about $48,212 a year ($4,018 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,840 in Wisconsin taxes in 2026.
Is Milwaukee, WI 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% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $49,735 would in a typical U.S. city. Milwaukee, WI ranks #45 of 134 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a heavy and tractor-trailer truck driver afford rent in Milwaukee, WI?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Milwaukee, WI is $1,119 a month ($1,338 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 Milwaukee, WI
- First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors — $64,100
- Industrial Truck and Tractor Operator — $47,780
- Light Truck Driver — $45,790
- Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand — $44,840
- Packers and Packagers, Hand — $35,070
- Stocker and Order Filler — $34,470
- Driver/Sales Worker — $22,350