How much do Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers make?
The median pay for Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers in the United States is $58,640 per year — about $28.19 per hour. Entry-level positions start near $40,140, while the most experienced professionals in the top 10% earn $79,380.
That is $2,750 less than the median across all occupations in BLS data ($61,390).
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers salary range by percentile
Half of all Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers earn between $47,960 and $69,120 a year.
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $40,140 | $19.30 | |
| 25th percentile (early career) | $47,960 | $23.06 | |
| 50th percentile (median) | $58,640 | $28.19 | |
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $69,120 | $33.23 | |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $79,380 | $38.16 |
Highest-paying states for Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers
Where you work matters more than almost anything else. Alaska leads the country for Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers pay at $70,100 a year, followed by Washington ($64,760) and District of Columbia ($64,170). At the other end, Louisiana posts the lowest median at $49,320 — a gap of $20,780 for the same job, driven by local demand, industry mix, and cost of living.
| # | State | Median salary | Hourly | vs national |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alaska | $70,100 | $33.70 | +20% |
| 2 | Washington | $64,760 | $31.13 | +10% |
| 3 | District of Columbia | $64,170 | $30.85 | +9% |
| 4 | New Jersey | $63,570 | $30.56 | +8% |
| 5 | Massachusetts | $63,030 | $30.30 | +7% |
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers salary in every state
Official BLS state-level figures across 51 states and territories. Click a state for the full local breakdown.
Workforce and education
About 2,062,000 people work as Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers in the United States. On qualifications: a high school diploma is typically enough, with most skills learned on the job, per O*NET occupation data.
Frequently asked questions
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Related salaries
Other transportation roles with similar pay.