Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver Salary in New Orleans, LA
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers in the New Orleans-Metairie, LA metro area earn a median $51,540 a year — 12% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $42,432 take-home, or $3,536 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median heavy and tractor-trailer truck driver salary in New Orleans, LA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$4,005
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,195
- Medicare (1.45%)$747
- Louisiana income tax$1,160
- Take-home pay$42,432
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 New Orleans, LA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $37,960 | $18.25 | $31,928 | $2,661 |
| 25th percentile | $44,130 | $21.22 | $36,701 | $3,058 |
| Median (50th) | $51,540 | $24.78 | $42,432 | $3,536 |
| 75th percentile | $60,600 | $29.13 | $49,440 | $4,120 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $73,880 | $35.52 | $58,974 | $4,915 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Louisiana resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $51,540 buys in New Orleans, LA
Prices in New Orleans, LA are 7.4% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 14% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median heavy and tractor-trailer truck driver's $42,432 take-home pay has the buying power of $45,825 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 New Orleans, LA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.93).
Best-paying cities for heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers, adjusted for cost of living
New Orleans, LA ranks #105 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 |
| 105 | New Orleans, LA | $51,540 | $42,432 | $45,825 |
*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
- Lafayette, LA — $49,450
Frequently asked questions
How much does a heavy and tractor-trailer truck driver make in New Orleans, LA?
The median heavy and tractor-trailer truck driver salary in the New Orleans-Metairie, LA metro area is $51,540 a year, or about $24.78 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $44,130 and $60,600.
What is a heavy and tractor-trailer truck driver’s take-home pay in New Orleans, LA?
On the median $51,540 salary, a single filer living in Louisiana takes home about $42,432 a year ($3,536 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,160 in Louisiana taxes in 2026.
Is New Orleans, LA a good place to work as a heavy and tractor-trailer truck driver?
Pay here is 12% below the national median of $58,640. Local prices are 7.4% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $45,825 would in a typical U.S. city. New Orleans, LA ranks #105 of 134 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a heavy and tractor-trailer truck driver afford rent in New Orleans, LA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in New Orleans, LA is $1,105 a month ($1,323 for two bedrooms) — 31% 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 New Orleans, LA
- Light Truck Driver — $43,940
- Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand — $36,380
- Stocker and Order Filler — $34,830