California Median
$60,230
per year
Hourly Rate
$28.96
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
vs National
+3% vs US median
US median $58,640
State Rank
#19 of 51
205,090 employed here
How much do Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers make in California?
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers working in California earn a median salary of $60,230 per year, or about $28.96 per hour. That is 3% above the national median of $58,640 for this occupation.
Within California, entry-level pay starts around $41,830 while the top 10% make $81,960 or more. The middle 50% of earners fall between $48,740 and $72,330 a year.
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers salary range in California
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $41,830 | $20.11 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $48,740 | $23.43 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $60,230 | $28.96 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $72,330 | $34.77 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $81,960 | $39.40 |
|
How California compares
California ranks 19th out of 51 states and territories for Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers pay. The top 5 best-paying states:
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers salary in other states
Alaska $70,100Washington $64,760District of Columbia $64,170New Jersey $63,570Massachusetts $63,030Nevada $62,290New York $62,050Minnesota $61,990Oregon $61,980Colorado $61,500North Dakota $60,910Vermont $60,830Utah $60,620Connecticut $60,490Illinois $60,320Wyoming $60,310Indiana $60,290New Hampshire $60,280Rhode Island $60,190Hawaii $59,820Ohio $59,800Maryland $59,360Kansas $58,920Montana $58,870Idaho $58,770South Dakota $58,690Tennessee $58,620Wisconsin $58,610Pennsylvania $58,580Nebraska $58,390Arizona $58,080Iowa $58,070Delaware $57,590Michigan $57,180Georgia $57,050Maine $57,050Virginia $56,860Kentucky $56,340Texas $56,290Missouri $54,550Oklahoma $54,410Alabama $52,120Mississippi $51,820Arkansas $51,550North Carolina $51,530South Carolina $51,130Florida $50,640New Mexico $50,500West Virginia $49,480Louisiana $49,320
Working as Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers in California
Nationally, about 2,062,000 people work as Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers in the United States. A high school diploma is typically enough, with most skills learned on the job.
Considering a move? Compare California pay ($60,230) against the highest-paying state above, and weigh the difference against housing and everyday costs — a smaller paycheck in a cheaper state can stretch further.
Frequently asked questions
How much do Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers make in California?
The median Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers salary in California is $60,230 per year, or about $28.96 per hour, per official BLS state wage estimates. Salaries typically range from $41,830 at the entry level to $81,960 for the top 10% of earners.
How does California pay compare to the national average?
California pays Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers about 3% more than the national median of $58,640. California ranks 19th out of 51 states and territories reporting this occupation.
Is California a good state for Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers?
Yes on pay — California pays above the national median for this occupation, at $60,230 a year. About 205,090 Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers are employed in California. Weigh that against local housing and living costs before moving.
What are the highest-paying jobs in California?
The highest-paying occupations in California include Ophthalmologist, Except Pediatric ($400,150), Neurologist ($357,080), Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers ($353,900), based on median annual pay in official BLS state estimates.
← See the national Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers salary report
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Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Unknown vintage. Education requirements: O*NET (U.S. Department of Labor). State figures are official BLS state-level wage estimates. Where BLS suppresses a state percentile, it is scaled from the official national distribution. Individual pay varies by employer, metro area, and experience.