Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver Salary in Memphis, TN
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers in the Memphis, TN-MS-AR metro area earn a median $63,070 a year — 8% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $52,857 take-home, or $4,405 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median heavy and tractor-trailer truck driver salary in Memphis, TN. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$5,388
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,910
- Medicare (1.45%)$915
- Tennessee income tax$0
- Take-home pay$52,857
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 0.00% state
The Memphis, TN-MS-AR metro spans Tennessee, Mississippi, Arkansas. 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 Memphis, TN
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $44,200 | $21.25 | $37,695 | $3,141 |
| 25th percentile | $49,130 | $23.62 | $41,656 | $3,471 |
| Median (50th) | $63,070 | $30.32 | $52,857 | $4,405 |
| 75th percentile | $76,690 | $36.87 | $62,781 | $5,232 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $96,150 | $46.23 | $76,472 | $6,373 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Tennessee resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $63,070 buys in Memphis, TN
Prices in Memphis, TN are 7.8% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 20% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median heavy and tractor-trailer truck driver's $52,857 take-home pay has the buying power of $57,341 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Memphis, TN has 2.4× 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
Memphis, TN ranks #2 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 |
*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
- Knoxville, TN — $59,100
- Chattanooga, TN — $57,440
- Nashville, TN — $60,630
Frequently asked questions
How much does a heavy and tractor-trailer truck driver make in Memphis, TN?
The median heavy and tractor-trailer truck driver salary in the Memphis, TN-MS-AR metro area is $63,070 a year, or about $30.32 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $49,130 and $76,690.
What is a heavy and tractor-trailer truck driver’s take-home pay in Memphis, TN?
On the median $63,070 salary, a single filer living in Tennessee takes home about $52,857 a year ($4,405 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.
Is Memphis, TN a good place to work as a heavy and tractor-trailer truck driver?
Pay here is 8% above the national median of $58,640. Local prices are 7.8% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $57,341 would in a typical U.S. city. Memphis, TN ranks #2 of 134 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a heavy and tractor-trailer truck driver afford rent in Memphis, TN?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Memphis, TN is $1,137 a month ($1,263 for two bedrooms) — 26% 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 Memphis, TN
- First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors — $62,350
- Light Truck Driver — $48,350
- Industrial Truck and Tractor Operator — $44,540
- Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand — $39,510
- Stocker and Order Filler — $37,280
- Packers and Packagers, Hand — $35,630