Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver Salary in Kansas City, MO
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers in the Kansas City, MO-KS metro area earn a median $60,170 a year — 3% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $48,636 take-home, or $4,053 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median heavy and tractor-trailer truck driver salary in Kansas City, MO. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$5,040
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,731
- Medicare (1.45%)$872
- Missouri income tax$1,891
- Take-home pay$48,636
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.70% state
Living in Kansas City, MO? City residents also pay Kansas City, MO’s Earnings Tax — about $602 a year on this salary — which lowers take-home pay to $48,034 ($4,003 a month). Choose “Kansas City, MO” under City income tax in the calculator. Suburban residents usually don’t pay it.
The Kansas City, MO-KS metro spans Missouri, Kansas. 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 Kansas City, MO
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $44,070 | $21.19 | $36,456 | $3,038 |
| 25th percentile | $50,020 | $24.05 | $40,957 | $3,413 |
| Median (50th) | $60,170 | $28.93 | $48,636 | $4,053 |
| 75th percentile | $72,790 | $35.00 | $57,554 | $4,796 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $80,900 | $38.89 | $62,878 | $5,240 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Missouri resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $60,170 buys in Kansas City, MO
Prices in Kansas City, MO are 7.5% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 13% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median heavy and tractor-trailer truck driver's $48,636 take-home pay has the buying power of $52,555 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Kansas City, MO has 1.3× 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
Kansas City, MO ranks #24 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 |
| 24 | Kansas City, MO | $60,170 | $48,636 | $52,555 |
*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 Missouri
- Springfield, MO — $56,070
- St. Louis, MO — $58,240
- Joplin, MO — $47,430
Frequently asked questions
How much does a heavy and tractor-trailer truck driver make in Kansas City, MO?
The median heavy and tractor-trailer truck driver salary in the Kansas City, MO-KS metro area is $60,170 a year, or about $28.93 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $50,020 and $72,790.
What is a heavy and tractor-trailer truck driver’s take-home pay in Kansas City, MO?
On the median $60,170 salary, a single filer living in Missouri takes home about $48,636 a year ($4,053 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,891 in Missouri taxes in 2026.
Is Kansas City, MO a good place to work as a heavy and tractor-trailer truck driver?
Pay here is 3% above the national median of $58,640. Local prices are 7.5% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $52,555 would in a typical U.S. city. Kansas City, MO ranks #24 of 134 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a heavy and tractor-trailer truck driver afford rent in Kansas City, MO?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Kansas City, MO is $1,193 a month ($1,355 for two bedrooms) — 29% 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 Kansas City, MO
- First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors — $63,610
- Bus Drivers, School — $48,110
- Industrial Truck and Tractor Operator — $47,350
- Light Truck Driver — $45,290
- Packers and Packagers, Hand — $44,460
- Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand — $41,700
- Stocker and Order Filler — $36,850
- Cleaner of Vehicles and Equipment — $35,480