How much does a truck driver make?
The median truck driver in the United States earns $57,440 per year, about $27.62 an hour. That is the midpoint of the profession: half of all truck drivers earn more, and half earn less.
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2024. SOC code 53-3032.
Truck driver salary range
Pay for truck drivers spans a wide band. The lowest paid 10 percent earn under $38,640 a year, while the highest paid 10 percent take home more than $78,800. The average (mean) wage of $58,400 runs a bit higher than the median, which is normal for jobs where a group of top earners pulls the average up.
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $38,640 | $18.58 | Lowest paid |
| 25th percentile | $47,230 | $22.71 | |
| Median (50th) | $57,440 | $27.62 | Midpoint |
| 75th percentile | $65,520 | $31.50 | |
| 90th percentile | $78,800 | $37.89 | Highest paid |
Figures are national wage estimates for heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers (SOC 53-3032), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2024.
Truck driver salary by state
Where you work changes the paycheck. Truck drivers earn the most in Alaska at $64,890 a year, and the least in New Mexico at $48,360. The table below lists every state with published data, ranked by median annual salary.
| State | Median annual | Employed |
|---|---|---|
| Alaska | $64,890 | 3,240 |
| New Jersey | $64,720 | 49,450 |
| Washington | $63,760 | 40,700 |
| District of Columbia | $63,610 | 830 |
| Oregon | $61,180 | 24,720 |
| Minnesota | $61,090 | 38,530 |
| Nevada | $60,900 | 17,430 |
| Massachusetts | $60,630 | 32,170 |
| New York | $60,520 | 61,410 |
| Wyoming | $60,270 | 6,530 |
| Colorado | $60,260 | 27,840 |
| Indiana | $60,090 | 57,870 |
| California | $59,950 | 211,740 |
| Illinois | $59,790 | 76,650 |
| Rhode Island | $59,710 | 3,260 |
| Utah | $59,580 | 24,280 |
| Hawaii | $59,320 | 4,100 |
| Montana | $59,060 | 7,050 |
| North Dakota | $58,970 | 10,510 |
| Connecticut | $58,700 | 15,860 |
| New Hampshire | $58,620 | 6,730 |
| Pennsylvania | $58,540 | 90,160 |
| Delaware | $58,510 | 5,950 |
| Ohio | $58,080 | 91,090 |
| Nebraska | $57,940 | 24,160 |
| Wisconsin | $57,380 | 52,980 |
| Maryland | $57,180 | 23,910 |
| Kansas | $56,940 | 23,250 |
| South Dakota | $56,880 | 5,990 |
| Georgia | $56,570 | 75,700 |
| Vermont | $56,360 | 3,370 |
| Tennessee | $55,610 | 63,130 |
| Kentucky | $55,590 | 33,430 |
| Michigan | $55,140 | 59,910 |
| Iowa | $55,080 | 37,430 |
| Virginia | $54,500 | 55,430 |
| Arizona | $53,690 | 42,270 |
| Idaho | $53,260 | 14,860 |
| Texas | $53,070 | 212,700 |
| Maine | $51,930 | 10,180 |
| Oklahoma | $51,920 | 29,080 |
| South Carolina | $51,810 | 32,700 |
| Mississippi | $50,700 | 25,490 |
| Missouri | $50,540 | 47,530 |
| Alabama | $50,120 | 37,490 |
| Florida | $50,000 | 105,730 |
| North Carolina | $49,580 | 64,610 |
| Arkansas | $49,520 | 32,290 |
| West Virginia | $49,040 | 11,560 |
| Louisiana | $48,770 | 26,260 |
| New Mexico | $48,360 | 10,850 |
State median wages for heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers (SOC 53-3032), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS state files, May 2024. States where the BLS does not publish a median are not shown.
Job outlook for truck drivers
The BLS projects employment of truck drivers to grow 3.8% from 2025 to 2035. That is about as fast as the 3.5% average for all occupations. That works out to roughly 2,221,200 jobs in 2025 moving toward 2,305,000 by 2035.
Across the decade, the BLS expects about 214,500 openings a year for truck drivers. Most come from the need to replace workers who move to other jobs or leave the workforce, on top of any new positions from growth.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program, 2025-35 (Table 1.2, Occupational projections and worker characteristics).
How to become a truck driver
The typical entry-level education for truck drivers is a postsecondary nondegree award, such as a certificate, according to the BLS. New hires typically complete short-term on-the-job training to reach full competency.
A four-year college degree is usually not required to start, which makes this one of the jobs you can enter without a bachelor's degree. See more high paying jobs without a degree .
Education, training, and experience data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program.
What affects how much a truck driver earns
Route type, employer, endorsements, and hours behind the wheel drive pay. Long-haul, specialized freight, and union employers tend to sit at the top of the range, while local and entry-level roles start lower.
Location is one of the clearest factors. The gap between the top paying state (Alaska, $64,890) and the lowest (New Mexico, $48,360) shows how much geography alone can move the number, before experience or specialization.
About 2,070,480 people work as truck drivers in the United States. At $57,440 a year, the job pays above the $49,500 median for all U.S. jobs.
Truck driver salary FAQ
How much does a truck driver make an hour?
The median hourly wage for a truck driver is $27.62. The middle half of truck drivers earn between $22.71 and $31.50 per hour.
What is the highest truck driver salary?
The highest paid 10 percent of truck drivers earn more than $78,800 per year. Top earners usually have the most experience and work in the best paying regions and industries.
How much does a truck driver make a year?
The median annual salary for a truck driver is $57,440. The average (mean) wage of $58,400 runs a bit higher than the median, which is normal for jobs where a group of top earners pulls the average up.
Is being a truck driver a well paid job?
At $57,440 a year, a truck driver earns above the $49,500 median for all U.S. jobs. About 2,070,480 people work as truck drivers in the United States.
Which state pays truck drivers the most?
Alaska has the highest median salary for truck drivers at $64,890 a year. New Jersey ($64,720) and Washington ($63,760) follow. State medians come from the BLS OEWS state files, May 2024.
Is being a truck driver a good career?
Employment of truck drivers is projected to grow 3.8% from 2025 to 2035, about as fast as the 3.5% average for all occupations. The BLS projects about 214,500 openings each year, from growth and from workers leaving the occupation.
Do you need a degree to become a truck driver?
No. The BLS lists the typical entry-level education for truck drivers as a postsecondary nondegree award, such as a certificate, so a four-year degree is usually not required to start.
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