The average salary for a truck driver in the United States is around $45,949 per year.
Avg Salary
Truck drivers earn an average yearly salary of $45,949.
Wages typically start from $29,574 and go up to $71,392.
27% below national average Updated in 2019
Truck driver earnings by seniority
Top-level truck driver earnings begin at:
$34.32 per hour
$71,392 per year
Senior-level truck driver earnings begin at:
$27.86 per hour
$57,943 per year
Mid-level truck driver earnings begin at:
$22.09 per hour
$45,949 per year
Junior-level truck driver earnings begin at:
$17.52 per hour
$36,438 per year
Starting level truck driver earnings begin at:
$14.22 per hour
$29,574 per year
Approximate values based on highest and lowest earning segments.
Truck driver salary by state
| State Name | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Alaska | $56,281 |
| North Dakota | $52,120 |
| District of Columbia | $52,060 |
| Nevada | $50,920 |
| New York | $50,460 |
| Illinois | $48,650 |
| Connecticut | $48,540 |
| Wyoming | $48,470 |
| New Jersey | $48,340 |
| Massachusetts | $48,290 |
| Washington | $47,700 |
| Indiana | $47,342 |
| Rhode Island | $47,040 |
| Minnesota | $46,990 |
| Colorado | $46,680 |
| Hawaii | $46,480 |
| Maryland | $46,430 |
| Arizona | $46,020 |
| California | $45,790 |
| Oregon | $45,780 |
| Montana | $45,430 |
| Texas | $45,260 |
| New Hampshire | $44,350 |
| Wisconsin | $44,200 |
| Missouri | $44,040 |
| Iowa | $43,838 |
| Utah | $43,820 |
| Nebraska | $43,580 |
| Kansas | $43,566 |
| Kentucky | $43,376 |
| Vermont | $43,110 |
| Ohio | $42,970 |
| Delaware | $42,930 |
| Pennsylvania | $42,364 |
| Georgia | $42,180 |
| North Carolina | $42,140 |
| Tennessee | $41,940 |
| Oklahoma | $41,750 |
| South Carolina | $41,690 |
| Michigan | $41,360 |
| New Mexico | $41,310 |
| Virginia | $40,620 |
| Arkansas | $40,193 |
| Idaho | $39,929 |
| South Dakota | $39,600 |
| Louisiana | $39,530 |
| Mississippi | $39,500 |
| Florida | $38,780 |
| Maine | $38,300 |
| West Virginia | $37,590 |
| Alabama | $37,131 |
| Virgin Islands, U.S. | $35,580 |
| Guam | $28,940 |
| Puerto Rico | $18,590 |
How much does a Truck Driver earn?
Experience is where the money is in the trucking industry. Just like with any other job, entry level positions do pay considerably less. The best bet is going through a truck driving school that offers employment placement assistance. Inexperienced truck drivers are a high risk to companies, however, there are several reputable companies that do pay very well for first year drivers.
Unlike other career salaries, truck driving salaries tend to not follow suit when it comes to the cost of living in an area. The salary is more about the job being performed and the company you are with. Jobs that no one seems to want do pay more; a lot of those jobs are available in the state of New York according to CNN.
West Virginia and Mississippi are also high paying states for truck drivers according to PayScale.com. These positions require precision driving and dedication. In West Virginia, local or state-wide drivers earn top wages simply due to the terrain within the state.
How do truck driver salaries compare to similar careers?
Truck drivers earn about the same as related careers in the United States. On average, they make less than logisticians but more than travel agents.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Logistician salary | $58K |
| Avionics technician salary | $54K |
| Aircraft mechanic salary | $49K |
| Rail transportation worker salary | $49K |
| Traffic technician salary | $47K |
| Truck driver salary | $46K |
| Ship loader salary | $42K |
| Cargo and freight agent salary | $44K |
| Sailor salary | $42K |
| Travel agent salary | $40K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)