Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver Salary in Madison, WI
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers in the Madison, WI metro area earn a median $59,700 a year — 2% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $48,303 take-home, or $4,025 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median heavy and tractor-trailer truck driver salary in Madison, WI. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$4,984
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,701
- Medicare (1.45%)$866
- Wisconsin income tax$1,846
- Take-home pay$48,303
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.40% 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 Madison, WI
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $44,110 | $21.21 | $36,463 | $3,039 |
| 25th percentile | $49,410 | $23.75 | $40,488 | $3,374 |
| Median (50th) | $59,700 | $28.70 | $48,303 | $4,025 |
| 75th percentile | $67,220 | $32.32 | $53,937 | $4,495 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $77,750 | $37.38 | $60,787 | $5,066 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Wisconsin resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $59,700 buys in Madison, WI
Prices in Madison, WI are 2.7% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 0% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median heavy and tractor-trailer truck driver's $48,303 take-home pay has the buying power of $49,650 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 less concentrated in Madison, WI than nationally (location quotient 0.77), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers, adjusted for cost of living
Madison, WI ranks #46 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 |
| 46 | Madison, WI | $59,700 | $48,303 | $49,650 |
*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 Wisconsin
- Green Bay, WI — $59,810
- Milwaukee, WI — $59,580
Frequently asked questions
How much does a heavy and tractor-trailer truck driver make in Madison, WI?
The median heavy and tractor-trailer truck driver salary in the Madison, WI metro area is $59,700 a year, or about $28.70 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $49,410 and $67,220.
What is a heavy and tractor-trailer truck driver’s take-home pay in Madison, WI?
On the median $59,700 salary, a single filer living in Wisconsin takes home about $48,303 a year ($4,025 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,846 in Wisconsin taxes in 2026.
Is Madison, WI a good place to work as a heavy and tractor-trailer truck driver?
Pay here is 2% above the national median of $58,640. Local prices are 2.7% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $49,650 would in a typical U.S. city. Madison, WI ranks #46 of 134 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a heavy and tractor-trailer truck driver afford rent in Madison, WI?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Madison, WI is $1,377 a month ($1,600 for two bedrooms) — 34% 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 Madison, WI
- Light Truck Driver — $46,120
- Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand — $44,190
- Stocker and Order Filler — $36,710