Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver Salary in Dayton, OH
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers in the Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH metro area earn a median $59,490 a year — 1% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $49,127 take-home, or $4,094 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median heavy and tractor-trailer truck driver salary in Dayton, OH. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$4,959
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,688
- Medicare (1.45%)$863
- Ohio income tax$854
- Take-home pay$49,127
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 2.75% state
Living in Dayton? City residents also pay Dayton’s city income tax — about $1,487 a year on this salary — which lowers take-home pay to $47,639 ($3,970 a month). Choose “Dayton” under City income tax in the calculator. Suburban residents usually don’t pay it.
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver pay by experience in Dayton, OH
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $41,670 | $20.03 | $35,298 | $2,942 |
| 25th percentile | $49,680 | $23.88 | $41,514 | $3,460 |
| Median (50th) | $59,490 | $28.60 | $49,127 | $4,094 |
| 75th percentile | $69,660 | $33.49 | $56,703 | $4,725 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $75,400 | $36.25 | $60,583 | $5,049 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Ohio resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $59,490 buys in Dayton, OH
Prices in Dayton, OH are 7.3% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 27% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median heavy and tractor-trailer truck driver's $49,127 take-home pay has the buying power of $52,999 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 Dayton, OH as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.94).
Best-paying cities for heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers, adjusted for cost of living
Dayton, OH ranks #18 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 |
| 18 | Dayton, OH | $59,490 | $49,127 | $52,999 |
*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 Ohio
- Toledo, OH — $60,410
- Youngstown, OH — $56,810
- Columbus, OH — $61,720
- Akron, OH — $60,210
- Cincinnati, OH — $60,590
- Cleveland, OH — $58,970
Frequently asked questions
How much does a heavy and tractor-trailer truck driver make in Dayton, OH?
The median heavy and tractor-trailer truck driver salary in the Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH metro area is $59,490 a year, or about $28.60 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $49,680 and $69,660.
What is a heavy and tractor-trailer truck driver’s take-home pay in Dayton, OH?
On the median $59,490 salary, a single filer living in Ohio takes home about $49,127 a year ($4,094 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $854 in Ohio taxes in 2026.
Is Dayton, OH a good place to work as a heavy and tractor-trailer truck driver?
Pay here is 1% above the national median of $58,640. Local prices are 7.3% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $52,999 would in a typical U.S. city. Dayton, OH ranks #18 of 134 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a heavy and tractor-trailer truck driver afford rent in Dayton, OH?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Dayton, OH is $1,009 a month ($1,273 for two bedrooms) — 25% 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 Dayton, OH
- Industrial Truck and Tractor Operator — $45,120
- Light Truck Driver — $42,200
- Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand — $40,280
- Stocker and Order Filler — $36,750