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Updated · 2026 tax rules · Data: IRS, BLS, BEA, HUD · How we calculate

Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver Salary

Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers earn a median $58,640 a year nationally. Transportation and Material Moving Occupations

U.S. median
$58,640
$28.19 per hour
Range
$40,140 – $79,380
10th to 90th percentile
Employed
2,062,040
across the U.S.
▲2.1%
Pay trend: The median for heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers in the U.S. rose from $57,440 (May 2024) to $58,640 (May 2025). That roughly kept pace with inflation (2.4%).

What heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers do

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)
Openings per year
214,500
Self-employed
7%

Employment of heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers is projected to grow 3.8% from 2025 to 2035, about the same as the 3.5% average for all occupations. About 214,500 openings are expected each year, on average, including jobs left by workers who retire or switch careers.

Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.

Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver take-home pay calculator

Starts at the national median. Pick your state to see your real paycheck.

Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver
Deductions, kids & local tax

2026 tax year. Federal brackets from IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-32.

Your take-home pay
$49,297
per year · effective tax rate 15.9%
$4,108Monthly
$2,054Twice a month
$1,896Every 2 weeks
$23.70Hourly
  • Federal income tax$4,857
  • Social Security (6.2%)$3,636
  • Medicare (1.45%)$850
  • Texas income tax$0
  • Take-home pay$49,297

Marginal rate: 12% federal + 0.00% state

Pay by experience

PercentileSalaryHourlyTake-home (no state tax)
10th percentile (entry level)$40,140$19.30$34,432
25th percentile$47,960$23.06$40,716
Median (50th)$58,640$28.19$49,297
75th percentile$69,120$33.23$57,456
90th percentile (top earners)$79,380$38.16$64,674

Best cities for heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers (after tax & cost of living)

#Metro areaMedianTake-homeReal value*Jobs
1Lincoln, NE$81,790$63,527$69,3674,530
2Memphis, TN$63,070$52,857$57,34119,460
3Sioux Falls, SD$60,820$51,049$56,3262,540
4Iowa City, IA$61,960$50,262$54,9262,360
5Toledo, OH$60,410$49,841$54,4975,110
6Fargo, ND$58,900$49,506$54,4803,570
7Cedar Rapids, IA$58,900$47,920$53,8653,030
8Youngstown, OH$56,810$47,047$53,8332,740
9Des Moines, IA$60,720$49,313$53,7767,840
10Knoxville, TN$59,100$49,667$53,6548,130
11Columbus, OH$61,720$50,857$53,27116,110
12Davenport, IA$58,280$47,445$53,2623,070
13Fayetteville, AR$60,480$48,630$53,2337,500
14Akron, OH$60,210$49,685$53,2134,740
15Jackson, MS$58,100$47,271$53,0856,590
16Seattle, WA$71,240$58,947$53,04221,230
17Tulsa, OK$58,790$47,318$53,0387,220
18Dayton, OH$59,490$49,127$52,9994,660
19Reno, NV$63,790$53,435$52,8994,170
20Chattanooga, TN$57,440$48,333$52,8444,370
21Nashville, TN$60,630$50,896$52,83118,860
22Hickory, NC$57,460$46,565$52,6243,050
23Spokane, WA$62,980$52,784$52,6023,890
24Kansas City, MO$60,170$48,636$52,55518,230
25Indianapolis, IN$61,980$50,182$52,43920,480

*Take-home pay in U.S.-average dollars (BEA Regional Price Parities).

Highest-paying cities

Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver salary by state

StateMedian1-yr changeTake-homeRangeJobs
Alaska $70,100+8.0%$58,145 $48,080 – $90,6103,420
Washington $64,760+1.6%$54,215 $50,010 – $87,50040,530
District of Columbia $64,170+0.9%$51,016 $51,500 – $84,000830
New Jersey $63,570−1.8%$51,294 $47,950 – $90,31047,980
Massachusetts $63,030+4.0%$49,893 $47,080 – $78,48030,890
Nevada $62,290+2.3%$52,230 $45,860 – $83,09015,010
New York $62,050+2.5%$49,283 $47,880 – $88,10063,700
Minnesota $61,990+1.5%$49,297 $45,910 – $81,83038,770
Oregon $61,980+1.3%$47,387 $47,700 – $81,22023,970
Colorado $61,500+2.1%$49,598 $47,010 – $80,57025,350
North Dakota $60,910+3.3%$51,121 $47,990 – $83,33011,870
Vermont $60,830+7.9%$49,453 $48,900 – $74,7003,560
Utah $60,620+1.7%$49,126 $44,320 – $76,36025,060
Connecticut $60,490+3.0%$48,987 $47,160 – $77,36015,740
Illinois $60,320+0.9%$47,806 $39,710 – $86,30084,200
Wyoming $60,310+0.1%$50,639 $45,860 – $84,6706,050
Indiana $60,290+0.3%$48,874 $42,060 – $79,00059,090
New Hampshire $60,280+2.8%$50,615 $47,370 – $74,2006,960
California $60,230+0.5%$48,129 $41,830 – $81,960205,090
Rhode Island $60,190+0.8%$48,902 $45,600 – $75,1203,620
Hawaii $59,820+0.8%$47,229 $47,480 – $74,5304,070
Ohio $59,800+3.0%$49,367 $43,670 – $77,65083,060
Maryland $59,360+3.8%$47,420 $43,670 – $79,13029,150
Kansas $58,920+3.5%$47,034 $43,760 – $78,91024,220
Montana $58,870−0.3%$47,472 $46,040 – $74,1207,830
Idaho $58,770+10.3%$47,395 $43,360 – $77,12015,920
South Dakota $58,690+3.2%$49,337 $41,590 – $78,6106,470
Tennessee $58,620+5.4%$49,281 $39,960 – $83,28064,890
Wisconsin $58,610+2.1%$47,475 $44,920 – $76,38053,330
Pennsylvania $58,580+0.1%$47,451 $43,560 – $78,33087,550
Nebraska $58,390+0.8%$47,319 $40,150 – $81,79023,160
Arizona $58,080+8.2%$47,604 $42,580 – $76,55040,150
Iowa $58,070+5.4%$47,284 $42,390 – $77,91035,040
Delaware $57,590−1.6%$45,934 $46,850 – $69,7709,040
Michigan $57,180+3.7%$45,945 $40,280 – $73,98060,800
Georgia $57,050+0.8%$45,682 $38,150 – $77,90074,840
Maine $57,050+9.9%$45,350 $40,810 – $71,1009,980
Virginia $56,860+4.3%$45,412 $38,180 – $77,04048,750
Kentucky $56,340+1.3%$45,595 $38,670 – $85,63031,760
Texas $56,290+6.1%$47,409 $38,150 – $79,400209,680
Missouri $54,550+7.9%$44,384 $37,860 – $77,51047,760
Oklahoma $54,410+4.8%$43,995 $37,420 – $80,33027,840
Alabama $52,120+4.0%$41,717 $38,240 – $77,62036,650
Mississippi $51,820+2.2%$42,477 $35,710 – $79,55024,160
Arkansas $51,550+4.1%$41,803 $36,770 – $81,11032,220
North Carolina $51,530+3.9%$42,037 $39,400 – $76,36062,400
South Carolina $51,130−1.3%$41,352 $39,330 – $77,07034,170
Florida $50,640+1.3%$42,869 $37,700 – $74,330112,920
New Mexico $50,500+4.4%$41,549 $38,540 – $65,99011,820
West Virginia $49,480+0.9%$40,440 $36,350 – $72,23012,190
Louisiana $49,320+1.1%$40,715 $36,710 – $68,74028,540

Related jobs

JobMedian salaryEducationGrowth 2025–35
Light Truck Driver$44,860High school diploma or equivalent+6.3%
Driver/Sales Worker$38,770High school diploma or equivalent+7.9%
Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity$59,050High school diploma or equivalent+4.1%
Bus Drivers, School$47,920High school diploma or equivalent+0.7%
Taxi Driver$42,100No formal educational credential+11.5%
Shuttle Driver and Chauffeur$37,290No formal educational credential+7.1%
Motor Vehicle Operators, All Other$37,180No formal educational credential+2.8%
Ambulance Drivers and Attendants, Except Emergency Medical Technicians$35,450High school diploma or equivalent-1.3%
Tank Car, Truck, and Ship Loaders$58,870No formal educational credential+2.8%
Traffic Technician$59,090High school diploma or equivalent+4.0%

Frequently asked questions

How much does a heavy and tractor-trailer truck driver make?

The national median salary for heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers is $58,640 a year ($28.19 an hour). The lowest-paid 10% earn under $40,140 and the top 10% earn over $79,380. Source: BLS, May 2025.

Which state pays heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers the most?

Alaska has the highest median pay at $70,100. After taxes and local prices, Lincoln, NE offers the best real take-home pay of any metro area.

How many heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers are there in the U.S.?

About 2,062,040 people work as heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers nationwide.

All 134 cities