Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver Salary in Virginia Beach, VA
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers in the Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC metro area earn a median $50,460 a year — 14% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $40,637 take-home, or $3,386 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median heavy and tractor-trailer truck driver salary in Virginia Beach, VA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$3,875
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,129
- Medicare (1.45%)$732
- Virginia income tax$2,087
- Take-home pay$40,637
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 5.75% state
The Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC metro spans Virginia, North Carolina. 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 Virginia Beach, VA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $38,180 | $18.36 | $31,476 | $2,623 |
| 25th percentile | $45,670 | $21.96 | $37,064 | $3,089 |
| Median (50th) | $50,460 | $24.26 | $40,637 | $3,386 |
| 75th percentile | $60,970 | $29.31 | $48,478 | $4,040 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $71,930 | $34.58 | $56,111 | $4,676 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Virginia resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $50,460 buys in Virginia Beach, VA
Prices in Virginia Beach, VA are 2.1% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 0% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median heavy and tractor-trailer truck driver's $40,637 take-home pay has the buying power of $41,492 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 Virginia Beach, VA than nationally (location quotient 0.74), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers, adjusted for cost of living
Virginia Beach, VA ranks #132 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 |
| 132 | Virginia Beach, VA | $50,460 | $40,637 | $41,492 |
*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 Virginia
- Roanoke, VA — $56,430
- Richmond, VA — $58,190
Frequently asked questions
How much does a heavy and tractor-trailer truck driver make in Virginia Beach, VA?
The median heavy and tractor-trailer truck driver salary in the Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC metro area is $50,460 a year, or about $24.26 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $45,670 and $60,970.
What is a heavy and tractor-trailer truck driver’s take-home pay in Virginia Beach, VA?
On the median $50,460 salary, a single filer living in Virginia takes home about $40,637 a year ($3,386 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $2,087 in Virginia taxes in 2026.
Is Virginia Beach, VA 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 2.1% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $41,492 would in a typical U.S. city. Virginia Beach, VA ranks #132 of 134 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a heavy and tractor-trailer truck driver afford rent in Virginia Beach, VA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Virginia Beach, VA is $1,508 a month ($1,708 for two bedrooms) — 45% of a median heavy and tractor-trailer truck driver’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
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