Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver Salary in Reading, PA
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers in the Reading, PA metro area earn a median $58,480 a year — 0% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $47,373 take-home, or $3,948 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median heavy and tractor-trailer truck driver salary in Reading, PA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$4,838
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,626
- Medicare (1.45%)$848
- Pennsylvania income tax$1,795
- Take-home pay$47,373
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 3.07% 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 Reading, PA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $45,750 | $22.00 | $37,536 | $3,128 |
| 25th percentile | $50,350 | $24.21 | $41,090 | $3,424 |
| Median (50th) | $58,480 | $28.12 | $47,373 | $3,948 |
| 75th percentile | $64,360 | $30.94 | $51,917 | $4,326 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $78,080 | $37.54 | $61,362 | $5,114 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Pennsylvania resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $58,480 buys in Reading, PA
Prices in Reading, PA are 2.9% 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 $47,373 take-home pay has the buying power of $48,808 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Reading, PA 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
Reading, PA ranks #61 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 |
| 61 | Reading, PA | $58,480 | $47,373 | $48,808 |
*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 Pennsylvania
- Harrisburg, PA — $61,520
- Scranton, PA — $57,580
- Pittsburgh, PA — $57,880
- York, PA — $58,590
- Allentown, PA — $60,090
- Lancaster, PA — $58,350
- Philadelphia, PA — $59,370
Frequently asked questions
How much does a heavy and tractor-trailer truck driver make in Reading, PA?
The median heavy and tractor-trailer truck driver salary in the Reading, PA metro area is $58,480 a year, or about $28.12 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $50,350 and $64,360.
What is a heavy and tractor-trailer truck driver’s take-home pay in Reading, PA?
On the median $58,480 salary, a single filer living in Pennsylvania takes home about $47,373 a year ($3,948 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,795 in Pennsylvania taxes in 2026.
Is Reading, PA a good place to work as a heavy and tractor-trailer truck driver?
Pay here is 0% below the national median of $58,640. Local prices are 2.9% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $48,808 would in a typical U.S. city. Reading, PA ranks #61 of 134 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a heavy and tractor-trailer truck driver afford rent in Reading, PA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Reading, PA is $1,237 a month ($1,575 for two bedrooms) — 31% 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 Reading, PA
- Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand — $46,040
- Stocker and Order Filler — $37,990