Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver Salary in Rochester, NY
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers in the Rochester, NY metro area earn a median $58,920 a year — 0% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $46,938 take-home, or $3,911 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median heavy and tractor-trailer truck driver salary in Rochester, NY. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$4,890
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,653
- Medicare (1.45%)$854
- New York income tax$2,585
- Take-home pay$46,938
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 5.40% 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 Rochester, NY
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $46,400 | $22.31 | $37,554 | $3,129 |
| 25th percentile | $50,280 | $24.17 | $40,462 | $3,372 |
| Median (50th) | $58,920 | $28.33 | $46,938 | $3,911 |
| 75th percentile | $65,850 | $31.66 | $52,132 | $4,344 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $76,940 | $36.99 | $59,400 | $4,950 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, New York resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $58,920 buys in Rochester, NY
Prices in Rochester, NY are 3.0% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 13% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median heavy and tractor-trailer truck driver's $46,938 take-home pay has the buying power of $48,372 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 less concentrated in Rochester, NY than nationally (location quotient 0.61), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers, adjusted for cost of living
Rochester, NY ranks #70 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 |
| 70 | Rochester, NY | $58,920 | $46,938 | $48,372 |
*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 New York
- Syracuse, NY — $61,330
- Buffalo, NY — $59,440
- Albany, NY — $60,720
- New York, NY — $65,040
- Kiryas Joel, NY — $62,760
Frequently asked questions
How much does a heavy and tractor-trailer truck driver make in Rochester, NY?
The median heavy and tractor-trailer truck driver salary in the Rochester, NY metro area is $58,920 a year, or about $28.33 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $50,280 and $65,850.
What is a heavy and tractor-trailer truck driver’s take-home pay in Rochester, NY?
On the median $58,920 salary, a single filer living in New York takes home about $46,938 a year ($3,911 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $2,585 in New York taxes in 2026.
Is Rochester, NY a good place to work as a heavy and tractor-trailer truck driver?
Pay here is 0% above the national median of $58,640. Local prices are 3.0% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $48,372 would in a typical U.S. city. Rochester, NY ranks #70 of 134 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a heavy and tractor-trailer truck driver afford rent in Rochester, NY?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Rochester, NY is $1,256 a month ($1,573 for two bedrooms) — 32% 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 Rochester, NY
- Bus Drivers, School — $51,780
- Light Truck Driver — $42,090
- Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand — $40,050
- Stocker and Order Filler — $37,940