Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver Salary in Seattle, WA
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro area earn a median $71,240 a year — 21% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $58,947 take-home, or $4,912 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median heavy and tractor-trailer truck driver salary in Seattle, WA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$6,843
- Social Security (6.2%)$4,417
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,033
- Washington income tax$0
- Take-home pay$58,947
Marginal rate: 22% 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 Seattle, WA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $55,980 | $26.91 | $47,160 | $3,930 |
| 25th percentile | $61,570 | $29.60 | $51,651 | $4,304 |
| Median (50th) | $71,240 | $34.25 | $58,947 | $4,912 |
| 75th percentile | $78,600 | $37.79 | $64,125 | $5,344 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $93,810 | $45.10 | $74,825 | $6,235 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Washington resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $71,240 buys in Seattle, WA
Prices in Seattle, WA are 11.1% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.51× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median heavy and tractor-trailer truck driver's $58,947 take-home pay has the buying power of $53,042 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 Seattle, WA 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
Seattle, WA ranks #16 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 |
| 16 | Seattle, WA | $71,240 | $58,947 | $53,042 |
*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 Washington
- Spokane, WA — $62,980
Frequently asked questions
How much does a heavy and tractor-trailer truck driver make in Seattle, WA?
The median heavy and tractor-trailer truck driver salary in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro area is $71,240 a year, or about $34.25 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $61,570 and $78,600.
What is a heavy and tractor-trailer truck driver’s take-home pay in Seattle, WA?
On the median $71,240 salary, a single filer living in Washington takes home about $58,947 a year ($4,912 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.
Is Seattle, WA a good place to work as a heavy and tractor-trailer truck driver?
Pay here is 21% above the national median of $58,640. Local prices are 11.1% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $53,042 would in a typical U.S. city. Seattle, WA ranks #16 of 134 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a heavy and tractor-trailer truck driver afford rent in Seattle, WA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Seattle, WA is $2,022 a month ($2,379 for two bedrooms) — 41% of a median heavy and tractor-trailer truck driver’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
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