Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers Salaries by State
Mean and median pay, wage percentiles, employment, and top-paying metro areas for heavy and tractor-trailer truck driverss across the U.S. Source: BLS OEWS May 2025 (data.bls.gov OEWS tool /OESServices/combo/table, all-occupation crawl by area).
National mean salary $59,710 ≈ $29/hr
National median salary $58,640
Total employment 2,062,040 nationwide
Job Outlook, 2024–2034
Source: BLS Employment Projections 2024-2034.
Projected growth +4%
Faster than average
Annual openings 237,600 per year (avg)
Employment 2024→2034 2,235,100 → 2,324,400 (+89,300)
Typical entry education Postsecondary nondegree award
Salary Map
Brighter tiles = higher average pay; dashed tiles have no data. Click a state for details.
💰 Top 5 Highest-Paying States
- Alaska$69,520
- Washington$68,230
- District of Columbia$67,710
- New Jersey$66,770
- New York$65,780
📉 5 Lowest-Paying States
- Louisiana$51,930
- West Virginia$52,440
- New Mexico$53,100
- Florida$54,850
- South Carolina$55,680
State Rankings
| # | State | Mean | Median | Hourly | vs. U.S. | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alaska | $69,520 | $70,100 | $33 | +16.4% | 3,420 |
| 2 | Washington | $68,230 | $64,760 | $33 | +14.3% | 40,530 |
| 3 | District of Columbia | $67,710 | $64,170 | $33 | +13.4% | 830 |
| 4 | New Jersey | $66,770 | $63,570 | $32 | +11.8% | 47,980 |
| 5 | New York | $65,780 | $62,050 | $32 | +10.2% | 63,700 |
| 6 | Nevada | $65,010 | $62,290 | $31 | +8.9% | 15,010 |
| 7 | Oregon | $64,080 | $61,980 | $31 | +7.3% | 23,970 |
| 8 | Colorado | $63,650 | $61,500 | $31 | +6.6% | 25,350 |
| 9 | Minnesota | $63,630 | $61,990 | $31 | +6.6% | 38,770 |
| 10 | Massachusetts | $63,570 | $63,030 | $31 | +6.5% | 30,890 |
| 11 | North Dakota | $63,330 | $60,910 | $30 | +6.1% | 11,870 |
| 12 | Wyoming | $63,180 | $60,310 | $30 | +5.8% | 6,050 |
| 13 | Illinois | $62,430 | $60,320 | $30 | +4.6% | 84,200 |
| 14 | California | $62,020 | $60,230 | $30 | +3.9% | 205,090 |
| 15 | Connecticut | $61,980 | $60,490 | $30 | +3.8% | 15,740 |
| 16 | Vermont | $61,100 | $60,830 | $29 | +2.3% | 3,560 |
| 17 | Indiana | $60,950 | $60,290 | $29 | +2.1% | 59,090 |
| 18 | Utah | $60,900 | $60,620 | $29 | +2% | 25,060 |
| 19 | Hawaii | $60,850 | $59,820 | $29 | +1.9% | 4,070 |
| 20 | Ohio | $60,660 | $59,800 | $29 | +1.6% | 83,060 |
| 21 | New Hampshire | $60,600 | $60,280 | $29 | +1.5% | 6,960 |
| 22 | Maryland | $60,590 | $59,360 | $29 | +1.5% | 29,150 |
| 23 | Kansas | $60,480 | $58,920 | $29 | +1.3% | 24,220 |
| 24 | Tennessee | $60,440 | $58,620 | $29 | +1.2% | 64,890 |
| 25 | Iowa | $60,070 | $58,070 | $29 | +0.6% | 35,040 |
| 26 | Nebraska | $60,070 | $58,390 | $29 | +0.6% | 23,160 |
| 27 | Kentucky | $59,870 | $56,340 | $29 | +0.3% | 31,760 |
| 28 | Rhode Island | $59,660 | $60,190 | $29 | -0.1% | 3,620 |
| 29 | Pennsylvania | $59,640 | $58,580 | $29 | -0.1% | 87,550 |
| 30 | Montana | $59,180 | $58,870 | $28 | -0.9% | 7,830 |
| 31 | Idaho | $59,160 | $58,770 | $28 | -0.9% | 15,920 |
| 32 | Wisconsin | $58,890 | $58,610 | $28 | -1.4% | 53,330 |
| 33 | Arizona | $58,870 | $58,080 | $28 | -1.4% | 40,150 |
| 34 | South Dakota | $58,550 | $58,690 | $28 | -1.9% | 6,470 |
| 35 | Texas | $57,990 | $56,290 | $28 | -2.9% | 209,680 |
| 36 | Georgia | $57,780 | $57,050 | $28 | -3.2% | 74,840 |
| 37 | Virginia | $57,770 | $56,860 | $28 | -3.2% | 48,750 |
| 38 | Oklahoma | $57,670 | $54,410 | $28 | -3.4% | 27,840 |
| 39 | Arkansas | $57,390 | $51,550 | $28 | -3.9% | 32,220 |
| 40 | Delaware | $57,380 | $57,590 | $28 | -3.9% | 9,040 |
| 41 | Missouri | $56,830 | $54,550 | $27 | -4.8% | 47,760 |
| 42 | Michigan | $56,370 | $57,180 | $27 | -5.6% | 60,800 |
| 43 | Alabama | $56,230 | $52,120 | $27 | -5.8% | 36,650 |
| 44 | Maine | $55,980 | $57,050 | $27 | -6.2% | 9,980 |
| 45 | Mississippi | $55,910 | $51,820 | $27 | -6.4% | 24,160 |
| 46 | North Carolina | $55,810 | $51,530 | $27 | -6.5% | 62,400 |
| 47 | South Carolina | $55,680 | $51,130 | $27 | -6.7% | 34,170 |
| 48 | Florida | $54,850 | $50,640 | $26 | -8.1% | 112,920 |
| 49 | New Mexico | $53,100 | $50,500 | $26 | -11.1% | 11,820 |
| 50 | West Virginia | $52,440 | $49,480 | $25 | -12.2% | 12,190 |
| 51 | Louisiana | $51,930 | $49,320 | $25 | -13% | 28,540 |
Top-Paying Metro Areas
Highest median pay among 521 metro areas.
| # | Metro area | Median | Mean | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lincoln, NE | $81,790 | $73,050 | 4,530 |
| 2 | Balance of Nevada nonmetropolitan area | $79,070 | $72,000 | 1,850 |
| 3 | Fairbanks-College, AK | $76,560 | $72,350 | 590 |
| 4 | Alaska nonmetropolitan area | $72,090 | $70,980 | 1,200 |
| 5 | Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $71,240 | $71,980 | 21,230 |
| 6 | San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $70,730 | $70,730 | 5,360 |
| 7 | Morristown, TN | $67,330 | $61,500 | 1,470 |
| 8 | San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $66,450 | $69,260 | 16,450 |
| 9 | Anchorage, AK | $66,190 | $67,560 | 1,620 |
| 10 | New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $65,040 | $69,020 | 65,100 |
Pay by Industry
Highest-paying industries employing heavy and tractor-trailer truck driverss (BLS OEWS, by median).
| # | Industry | Median | Mean | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Computer Systems Design and Related Services | $103,290 | $92,410 | 210 |
| 2 | Fossil Fuel Electric Power Generation | $94,270 | $90,980 | 190 |
| 3 | Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution | $83,400 | $80,840 | 550 |
| 4 | Metal Ore Mining | $79,070 | $74,190 | 1,940 |
| 5 | Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing | $77,950 | $77,150 | 910 |
| 6 | Rail Transportation | $76,530 | $74,420 | 1,300 |
| 7 | Rail Transportation | $76,530 | $74,420 | 1,300 |
| 8 | Spectator Sports | $76,080 | $72,950 | 390 |
| 9 | Motion Picture and Sound Recording Industries | $75,480 | $81,110 | 520 |
| 10 | Motion Picture and Video Industries | $75,480 | $81,500 | 510 |
| 11 | Deep Sea, Coastal, and Great Lakes Water Transportation | $73,980 | $70,330 | — |
| 12 | Natural Gas Distribution | $73,190 | $73,120 | 590 |
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers make in the U.S.?
The median heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers salary in the United States is $58,640 per year (mean $59,710), and about 80% earn between $40,140 and $79,380.
How much do heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers make per hour?
Roughly $29 per hour, based on a mean annual wage of $59,710 and 2,080 work hours per year.
Which state pays heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers the most?
Alaska has the highest average pay for heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers at $69,520 per year (median $70,100).
What is the job outlook for heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers?
Employment is projected to change +4% from 2024 to 2034 (Faster than average), with about 237,600 openings per year.
What People Search
Common U.S. search queries related to this occupation.
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