Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver Salary in Knoxville, TN
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers in the Knoxville, TN metro area earn a median $59,100 a year — 1% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $49,667 take-home, or $4,139 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median heavy and tractor-trailer truck driver salary in Knoxville, TN. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$4,912
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,664
- Medicare (1.45%)$857
- Tennessee income tax$0
- Take-home pay$49,667
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 0.00% 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 Knoxville, TN
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $39,670 | $19.07 | $34,055 | $2,838 |
| 25th percentile | $47,840 | $23.00 | $40,619 | $3,385 |
| Median (50th) | $59,100 | $28.41 | $49,667 | $4,139 |
| 75th percentile | $72,930 | $35.06 | $60,136 | $5,011 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $79,040 | $38.00 | $64,435 | $5,370 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Tennessee resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $59,100 buys in Knoxville, TN
Prices in Knoxville, TN are 7.4% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 17% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median heavy and tractor-trailer truck driver's $49,667 take-home pay has the buying power of $53,654 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Knoxville, TN has 1.4× 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
Knoxville, TN ranks #10 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 |
| 10 | Knoxville, TN | $59,100 | $49,667 | $53,654 |
*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 Tennessee
- Memphis, TN — $63,070
- Chattanooga, TN — $57,440
- Nashville, TN — $60,630
Frequently asked questions
How much does a heavy and tractor-trailer truck driver make in Knoxville, TN?
The median heavy and tractor-trailer truck driver salary in the Knoxville, TN metro area is $59,100 a year, or about $28.41 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $47,840 and $72,930.
What is a heavy and tractor-trailer truck driver’s take-home pay in Knoxville, TN?
On the median $59,100 salary, a single filer living in Tennessee takes home about $49,667 a year ($4,139 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.
Is Knoxville, TN 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 7.4% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $53,654 would in a typical U.S. city. Knoxville, TN ranks #10 of 134 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a heavy and tractor-trailer truck driver afford rent in Knoxville, TN?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Knoxville, TN is $1,126 a month ($1,401 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 Knoxville, TN
- Light Truck Driver — $39,330
- Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand — $37,400
- Stocker and Order Filler — $35,410