Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver Salary in Philadelphia, PA
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers in the Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD metro area earn a median $59,370 a year — 1% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $48,061 take-home, or $4,005 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median heavy and tractor-trailer truck driver salary in Philadelphia, PA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$4,944
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,681
- Medicare (1.45%)$861
- Pennsylvania income tax$1,823
- Take-home pay$48,061
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 3.07% state
Living in Philadelphia? City residents also pay Philadelphia’s Resident Wage Tax — about $2,220 a year on this salary — which lowers take-home pay to $45,841 ($3,820 a month). Choose “Philadelphia” under City income tax in the calculator. Suburban residents usually don’t pay it.
The Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD metro spans Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver pay by experience in Philadelphia, PA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $46,850 | $22.52 | $38,386 | $3,199 |
| 25th percentile | $54,310 | $26.11 | $44,151 | $3,679 |
| Median (50th) | $59,370 | $28.54 | $48,061 | $4,005 |
| 75th percentile | $70,740 | $34.01 | $56,424 | $4,702 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $79,590 | $38.26 | $62,378 | $5,198 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Pennsylvania resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $59,370 buys in Philadelphia, PA
Prices in Philadelphia, PA are 2.6% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.13× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median heavy and tractor-trailer truck driver's $48,061 take-home pay has the buying power of $46,864 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 Philadelphia, PA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.84).
Best-paying cities for heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers, adjusted for cost of living
Philadelphia, PA ranks #92 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 |
| 92 | Philadelphia, PA | $59,370 | $48,061 | $46,864 |
*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 Pennsylvania
- Harrisburg, PA — $61,520
- Scranton, PA — $57,580
- Pittsburgh, PA — $57,880
- York, PA — $58,590
- Reading, PA — $58,480
- Allentown, PA — $60,090
- Lancaster, PA — $58,350
Frequently asked questions
How much does a heavy and tractor-trailer truck driver make in Philadelphia, PA?
The median heavy and tractor-trailer truck driver salary in the Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD metro area is $59,370 a year, or about $28.54 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $54,310 and $70,740.
What is a heavy and tractor-trailer truck driver’s take-home pay in Philadelphia, PA?
On the median $59,370 salary, a single filer living in Pennsylvania takes home about $48,061 a year ($4,005 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,823 in Pennsylvania taxes in 2026.
Is Philadelphia, PA a good place to work as a heavy and tractor-trailer truck driver?
Pay here is 1% above the national median of $58,640. Local prices are 2.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $46,864 would in a typical U.S. city. Philadelphia, PA ranks #92 of 134 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a heavy and tractor-trailer truck driver afford rent in Philadelphia, PA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Philadelphia, PA is $1,520 a month ($1,810 for two bedrooms) — 38% 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 Philadelphia, PA
- First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors — $62,820
- Refuse and Recyclable Material Collector — $59,730
- Bus Drivers, School — $51,960
- Industrial Truck and Tractor Operator — $49,260
- Light Truck Driver — $45,740
- Packers and Packagers, Hand — $43,970
- Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand — $43,460
- Driver/Sales Worker — $37,520
- Stocker and Order Filler — $36,800
- Shuttle Driver and Chauffeur — $36,760
- Cleaner of Vehicles and Equipment — $35,160
- Automotive and Watercraft Service Attendant — $34,880