Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver Salary in Tampa, FL
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers in the Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL metro area earn a median $50,560 a year — 14% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $42,805 take-home, or $3,567 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median heavy and tractor-trailer truck driver salary in Tampa, FL. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$3,887
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,135
- Medicare (1.45%)$733
- Florida income tax$0
- Take-home pay$42,805
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 0.00% 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 Tampa, FL
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $38,850 | $18.68 | $33,396 | $2,783 |
| 25th percentile | $46,000 | $22.12 | $39,141 | $3,262 |
| Median (50th) | $50,560 | $24.31 | $42,805 | $3,567 |
| 75th percentile | $62,370 | $29.99 | $52,294 | $4,358 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $72,770 | $34.99 | $60,024 | $5,002 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Florida resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $50,560 buys in Tampa, FL
Prices in Tampa, FL are 0.9% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.26× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median heavy and tractor-trailer truck driver's $42,805 take-home pay has the buying power of $42,427 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 Tampa, FL as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.83).
Best-paying cities for heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers, adjusted for cost of living
Tampa, FL ranks #126 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 |
| 126 | Tampa, FL | $50,560 | $42,805 | $42,427 |
*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 Florida
- Lakeland, FL — $57,090
- Jacksonville, FL — $55,630
- North Port, FL — $50,890
- Orlando, FL — $50,250
- Cape Coral, FL — $48,950
- Miami, FL — $51,580
Frequently asked questions
How much does a heavy and tractor-trailer truck driver make in Tampa, FL?
The median heavy and tractor-trailer truck driver salary in the Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL metro area is $50,560 a year, or about $24.31 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $46,000 and $62,370.
What is a heavy and tractor-trailer truck driver’s take-home pay in Tampa, FL?
On the median $50,560 salary, a single filer living in Florida takes home about $42,805 a year ($3,567 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.
Is Tampa, FL a good place to work as a heavy and tractor-trailer truck driver?
Pay here is 14% below the national median of $58,640. Local prices are 0.9% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $42,427 would in a typical U.S. city. Tampa, FL ranks #126 of 134 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a heavy and tractor-trailer truck driver afford rent in Tampa, FL?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Tampa, FL is $1,696 a month ($1,977 for two bedrooms) — 48% 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 Tampa, FL
- First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors — $61,640
- Industrial Truck and Tractor Operator — $49,850
- Light Truck Driver — $40,490
- Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand — $37,570
- Stocker and Order Filler — $35,420
- Cleaner of Vehicles and Equipment — $34,090
- Driver/Sales Worker — $32,830
- Parking Attendant — $28,900
- Packers and Packagers, Hand — $28,000