Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver Salary in Des Moines, IA
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers in the Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA metro area earn a median $60,720 a year — 4% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $49,313 take-home, or $4,109 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median heavy and tractor-trailer truck driver salary in Des Moines, IA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$5,106
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,765
- Medicare (1.45%)$880
- Iowa income tax$1,656
- Take-home pay$49,313
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 3.80% 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 Des Moines, IA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $43,950 | $21.13 | $36,476 | $3,040 |
| 25th percentile | $50,430 | $24.25 | $41,436 | $3,453 |
| Median (50th) | $60,720 | $29.19 | $49,313 | $4,109 |
| 75th percentile | $74,040 | $35.60 | $58,755 | $4,896 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $79,240 | $38.10 | $62,216 | $5,185 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Iowa resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $60,720 buys in Des Moines, IA
Prices in Des Moines, IA are 8.3% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 15% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median heavy and tractor-trailer truck driver's $49,313 take-home pay has the buying power of $53,776 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Des Moines, IA has 1.5× the national concentration of heavy and tractor-trailer truck driver jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers, adjusted for cost of living
Des Moines, IA ranks #9 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 |
| 9 | Des Moines, IA | $60,720 | $49,313 | $53,776 |
*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 Iowa
- Iowa City, IA — $61,960
- Cedar Rapids, IA — $58,900
- Davenport, IA — $58,280
- Sioux City, IA — $51,540
Frequently asked questions
How much does a heavy and tractor-trailer truck driver make in Des Moines, IA?
The median heavy and tractor-trailer truck driver salary in the Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA metro area is $60,720 a year, or about $29.19 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $50,430 and $74,040.
What is a heavy and tractor-trailer truck driver’s take-home pay in Des Moines, IA?
On the median $60,720 salary, a single filer living in Iowa takes home about $49,313 a year ($4,109 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,656 in Iowa taxes in 2026.
Is Des Moines, IA a good place to work as a heavy and tractor-trailer truck driver?
Pay here is 4% above the national median of $58,640. Local prices are 8.3% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $53,776 would in a typical U.S. city. Des Moines, IA ranks #9 of 134 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a heavy and tractor-trailer truck driver afford rent in Des Moines, IA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Des Moines, IA is $1,092 a month ($1,302 for two bedrooms) — 27% 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 Des Moines, IA
- Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand — $46,370
- Light Truck Driver — $43,200
- Stocker and Order Filler — $36,800