Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver Salary in Columbia, SC
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers in the Columbia, SC metro area earn a median $51,280 a year — 13% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $41,464 take-home, or $3,455 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median heavy and tractor-trailer truck driver salary in Columbia, SC. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$3,974
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,179
- Medicare (1.45%)$744
- South Carolina income tax$1,920
- Take-home pay$41,464
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 6.00% 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 Columbia, SC
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $37,750 | $18.15 | $31,404 | $2,617 |
| 25th percentile | $45,760 | $22.00 | $37,360 | $3,113 |
| Median (50th) | $51,280 | $24.65 | $41,464 | $3,455 |
| 75th percentile | $64,930 | $31.22 | $51,613 | $4,301 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $78,990 | $37.98 | $60,817 | $5,068 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, South Carolina resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $51,280 buys in Columbia, SC
Prices in Columbia, SC are 6.3% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 21% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median heavy and tractor-trailer truck driver's $41,464 take-home pay has the buying power of $44,270 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 Columbia, SC as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.08).
Best-paying cities for heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers, adjusted for cost of living
Columbia, SC ranks #118 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 |
| 118 | Columbia, SC | $51,280 | $41,464 | $44,270 |
*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 South Carolina
- Greenville, SC — $53,080
- Spartanburg, SC — $50,700
- Charleston, SC — $55,150
Frequently asked questions
How much does a heavy and tractor-trailer truck driver make in Columbia, SC?
The median heavy and tractor-trailer truck driver salary in the Columbia, SC metro area is $51,280 a year, or about $24.65 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $45,760 and $64,930.
What is a heavy and tractor-trailer truck driver’s take-home pay in Columbia, SC?
On the median $51,280 salary, a single filer living in South Carolina takes home about $41,464 a year ($3,455 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,920 in South Carolina taxes in 2026.
Is Columbia, SC a good place to work as a heavy and tractor-trailer truck driver?
Pay here is 13% below the national median of $58,640. Local prices are 6.3% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $44,270 would in a typical U.S. city. Columbia, SC ranks #118 of 134 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a heavy and tractor-trailer truck driver afford rent in Columbia, SC?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Columbia, SC is $1,139 a month ($1,255 for two bedrooms) — 33% 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 Columbia, SC
- Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand — $37,530
- Stocker and Order Filler — $37,180