Kentucky Median
$56,340
per year
Hourly Rate
$27.09
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
vs National
-4% vs US median
US median $58,640
State Rank
#39 of 51
31,760 employed here
How much do Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers make in Kentucky?
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers in Kentucky take home a median of $56,340 annually — roughly $27.09 an hour — which runs 4% below the national median of $58,640.
Within Kentucky, entry-level pay starts around $38,670 while the top 10% make $85,630 or more. The middle 50% of earners fall between $47,810 and $70,020 a year.
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers salary range in Kentucky
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $38,670 | $18.59 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $47,810 | $22.99 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $56,340 | $27.09 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $70,020 | $33.66 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $85,630 | $41.17 |
|
How Kentucky compares
Kentucky ranks 39th 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 $60,280California $60,230Rhode 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 $56,860Texas $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 Kentucky
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 Kentucky pay ($56,340) 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 Kentucky?
The median Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers salary in Kentucky is $56,340 per year, or about $27.09 per hour, per official BLS state wage estimates. Salaries typically range from $38,670 at the entry level to $85,630 for the top 10% of earners.
How does Kentucky pay compare to the national average?
Kentucky pays Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers about 4% less than the national median of $58,640. Kentucky ranks 39th out of 51 states and territories reporting this occupation.
Is Kentucky a good state for Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers?
Pay runs below the national median here, at $56,340 a year. About 31,760 Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers are employed in Kentucky. A lower cost of living can offset the smaller paycheck, so compare take-home value, not just salary.
What are the highest-paying jobs in Kentucky?
The highest-paying occupations in Kentucky include Cardiologist ($558,180), Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers ($350,950), Anesthesiologist ($347,960), 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.