Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers (SOC 53-3032) earn a median $58,640 a year ($28.19 an hour) in the United States, with 2,062,040 employed as of May 2025; the highest-paying state is Alaska.
What heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers do
Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers move freight in vehicles with a gross weight of at least 26,001 pounds, including tractor-trailer combinations. A commercial driver's license is required. Before leaving, a driver checks paperwork for completeness, inspects the vehicle's mechanical, safety, and emergency equipment, and confirms that cargo is secure and the trailer is properly coupled. During the trip the driver keeps a log of hours and vehicle condition under federal and state rules and later obtains a receipt or signature when goods are delivered. Some drivers may also be required to unload the truck, and they read bills of lading to learn each assignment. Tow truck drivers are counted in this code as well. Garbage and recycling collection trucks are excluded and have their own code.
Typical entry: O*NET reports that most workers in this occupation have a high school diploma or equivalent.
Also called: Armored Truck Driver, Automotive Carrier Driver (Auto Carrier Driver), Automotive Crane Driver (Auto Crane Driver), Automotive Haulaway Driver (Auto Haulaway Driver), Automotive Hauler (Auto Hauler).
National wage percentiles, May 2025
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||
| United States | Hourly | $19.30 | $23.06 | $28.19 | $33.23 | $38.17 | $28.71 | 2,062,040 |
| Annual | $40,140 | $47,960 | $58,640 | $69,120 | $79,380 | $59,710 | ||
Employment per 1,000 jobs and the location quotient are area measures; they appear in the state and metro tables below. To see what a wage in this range leaves after tax, use FastCalc's take-home pay calculator.
Where heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers earn and work most
Five highest-paying states
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Alaska | Hourly | $23.12 | $29.09 | $33.70 | $37.53 | $43.56 | $33.42 | 3,420 | 10.50 | 0.79 |
| Annual | $48,080 | $60,500 | $70,100 | $78,060 | $90,610 | $69,520 | ||||
| Washington | Hourly | $24.05 | $28.58 | $31.13 | $36.31 | $42.07 | $32.80 | 40,530 | 11.41 | 0.86 |
| Annual | $50,010 | $59,450 | $64,760 | $75,530 | $87,500 | $68,230 | ||||
| District of Columbia | Hourly | $24.76 | $28.29 | $30.85 | $35.79 | $40.39 | $32.55 | 830 | 1.18 | 0.09 |
| Annual | $51,500 | $58,850 | $64,170 | $74,440 | $84,000 | $67,710 | ||||
| New Jersey | Hourly | $23.05 | $27.59 | $30.56 | $36.75 | $43.42 | $32.10 | 47,980 | 11.20 | 0.84 |
| Annual | $47,950 | $57,400 | $63,570 | $76,450 | $90,310 | $66,770 | ||||
| Massachusetts | Hourly | $22.64 | $27.08 | $30.30 | $34.69 | $37.73 | $30.56 | 30,890 | 8.49 | 0.64 |
| Annual | $47,080 | $56,320 | $63,030 | $72,150 | $78,480 | $63,570 | ||||
Five states with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Texas | Hourly | $18.34 | $22.44 | $27.06 | $31.17 | $38.17 | $27.88 | 209,680 | 14.90 | 1.12 |
| Annual | $38,150 | $46,680 | $56,290 | $64,820 | $79,400 | $57,990 | ||||
| California | Hourly | $20.11 | $23.43 | $28.96 | $34.77 | $39.41 | $29.82 | 205,090 | 11.26 | 0.85 |
| Annual | $41,830 | $48,740 | $60,230 | $72,330 | $81,960 | $62,020 | ||||
| Florida | Hourly | $18.12 | $21.88 | $24.34 | $29.99 | $35.74 | $26.37 | 112,920 | 11.37 | 0.86 |
| Annual | $37,700 | $45,500 | $50,640 | $62,380 | $74,330 | $54,850 | ||||
| Pennsylvania | Hourly | $20.94 | $23.83 | $28.16 | $31.65 | $37.66 | $28.67 | 87,550 | 14.44 | 1.09 |
| Annual | $43,560 | $49,570 | $58,580 | $65,830 | $78,330 | $59,640 | ||||
| Illinois | Hourly | $19.09 | $23.34 | $29.00 | $36.35 | $41.49 | $30.01 | 84,200 | 13.81 | 1.04 |
| Annual | $39,710 | $48,550 | $60,320 | $75,600 | $86,300 | $62,430 | ||||
Five highest-paying metropolitan areas
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Lincoln, NE | Hourly | $23.05 | $28.98 | $39.32 | $39.32 | $39.32 | $35.12 | 4,530 | 24.78 | 1.87 |
| Annual | $47,950 | $60,280 | $81,790 | $81,790 | $81,790 | $73,050 | ||||
| Fairbanks-College, AK | Hourly | $27.43 | $30.68 | $36.81 | $37.89 | $37.89 | $34.78 | 590 | 16.09 | 1.21 |
| Annual | $57,050 | $63,810 | $76,560 | $78,810 | $78,810 | $72,350 | ||||
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | Hourly | $26.91 | $29.60 | $34.25 | $37.79 | $45.10 | $34.61 | 21,230 | 10.18 | 0.77 |
| Annual | $55,980 | $61,570 | $71,240 | $78,600 | $93,810 | $71,980 | ||||
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | Hourly | $23.21 | $27.83 | $34.00 | $38.52 | $45.49 | $34.00 | 5,360 | 4.72 | 0.36 |
| Annual | $48,280 | $57,880 | $70,730 | $80,120 | $94,620 | $70,730 | ||||
| Morristown, TN | Hourly | $21.01 | $23.61 | $32.37 | $35.64 | $36.20 | $29.57 | 1,470 | 31.02 | 2.34 |
| Annual | $43,700 | $49,120 | $67,330 | $74,130 | $75,290 | $61,500 | ||||
Five metropolitan areas with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | Hourly | $24.25 | $28.51 | $31.27 | $37.07 | $44.57 | $33.18 | 65,100 | 6.86 | 0.52 |
| Annual | $50,440 | $59,290 | $65,040 | $77,100 | $92,710 | $69,020 | ||||
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | Hourly | $19.86 | $24.32 | $29.95 | $37.34 | $42.42 | $31.33 | 62,210 | 13.78 | 1.04 |
| Annual | $41,300 | $50,580 | $62,300 | $77,660 | $88,230 | $65,170 | ||||
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | Hourly | $20.63 | $23.57 | $29.01 | $33.94 | $38.52 | $29.44 | 61,270 | 9.77 | 0.74 |
| Annual | $42,910 | $49,020 | $60,340 | $70,600 | $80,120 | $61,230 | ||||
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | Hourly | $20.58 | $23.60 | $28.62 | $35.11 | $44.22 | $30.16 | 55,670 | 13.75 | 1.04 |
| Annual | $42,810 | $49,090 | $59,530 | $73,020 | $91,990 | $62,720 | ||||
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | Hourly | $18.42 | $22.51 | $27.33 | $30.97 | $38.22 | $27.96 | 49,750 | 15.12 | 1.14 |
| Annual | $38,320 | $46,830 | $56,840 | $64,410 | $79,490 | $58,160 | ||||
Top industries employing heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers
Truck Transportation employ 43.7% of heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers nationally (900,880 jobs) at a median $60,320 a year ($29.00 an hour), followed by Merchant Wholesalers, Nondurable Goods (4244 and 4248 only) (5.0%) and Couriers and Express Delivery Services (4.8%).
| Industry | Employment | Share of occupation | Median annual | Median hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Truck Transportation NAICS 484000 | 900,880 | 43.7% | $60,320 | $29.00 |
| Merchant Wholesalers, Nondurable Goods (4244 and 4248 only) NAICS 4240A1 | 102,160 | 5.0% | $61,320 | $29.48 |
| Couriers and Express Delivery Services NAICS 492100 | 99,980 | 4.8% | $60,040 | $28.87 |
| Warehousing and Storage NAICS 493100 | 93,410 | 4.5% | $60,390 | $29.03 |
| Nonmetallic Mineral Product Manufacturing NAICS 327000 | 74,870 | 3.6% | $57,390 | $27.59 |
Share is the industry's employment over the occupation's national employment (2,062,040). Industries whose employment BLS withheld are not ranked.
Published medians, May 2021 to May 2025
BLS published a median annual wage of $48,310 for heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers in May 2021 and $58,640 in May 2025, with employment of 1,903,420 and 2,062,040.
| Release | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2021 | $48,310 | $23.23 | 1,903,420 |
| May 2022 | $49,920 | $24.00 | 1,984,180 |
| May 2023 | $54,320 | $26.12 | 2,044,400 |
| May 2024 | $57,440 | $27.62 | 2,070,480 |
| May 2025 | $58,640 | $28.19 | 2,062,040 |
BLS does not design OEWS as a time series: each release pools three years of samples, and occupational classifications, area definitions and estimation methods change between releases, so a difference between two releases is not a measure of change over time. The figures are shown as published, side by side, and nothing is computed from them. See how often OEWS is updated.
Every state, by median wage
51 states and DC publish a row for this occupation. A linked state has its own page with the within-state metro table and comparison; the others appear here only.
| Rank | State | Median hourly | Median annual | 10th pct (annual) | 90th pct (annual) | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alaska profile | $33.70 | $70,100 | $48,080 | $90,610 | 3,420 | 10.50 | 0.79 |
| 2 | Washington profile | $31.13 | $64,760 | $50,010 | $87,500 | 40,530 | 11.41 | 0.86 |
| 3 | District of Columbia profile | $30.85 | $64,170 | $51,500 | $84,000 | 830 | 1.18 | 0.09 |
| 4 | New Jersey profile | $30.56 | $63,570 | $47,950 | $90,310 | 47,980 | 11.20 | 0.84 |
| 5 | Massachusetts profile | $30.30 | $63,030 | $47,080 | $78,480 | 30,890 | 8.49 | 0.64 |
| 6 | Nevada profile | $29.95 | $62,290 | $45,860 | $83,090 | 15,010 | 9.68 | 0.73 |
| 7 | New York profile | $29.83 | $62,050 | $47,880 | $88,100 | 63,700 | 6.58 | 0.50 |
| 8 | Minnesota profile | $29.80 | $61,990 | $45,910 | $81,830 | 38,770 | 13.14 | 0.99 |
| 9 | Oregon profile | $29.80 | $61,980 | $47,700 | $81,220 | 23,970 | 12.19 | 0.92 |
| 10 | Colorado profile | $29.57 | $61,500 | $47,010 | $80,570 | 25,350 | 8.82 | 0.67 |
| 11 | North Dakota profile | $29.29 | $60,910 | $47,990 | $83,330 | 11,870 | 27.65 | 2.08 |
| 12 | Vermont profile | $29.25 | $60,830 | $48,900 | $74,700 | 3,560 | 11.73 | 0.88 |
| 13 | Utah profile | $29.15 | $60,620 | $44,320 | $76,360 | 25,060 | 14.44 | 1.09 |
| 14 | Connecticut profile | $29.08 | $60,490 | $47,160 | $77,360 | 15,740 | 9.28 | 0.70 |
| 15 | Illinois profile | $29.00 | $60,320 | $39,710 | $86,300 | 84,200 | 13.81 | 1.04 |
| 16 | Wyoming profile | $28.99 | $60,310 | $45,860 | $84,670 | 6,050 | 21.57 | 1.63 |
| 17 | Indiana profile | $28.99 | $60,290 | $42,060 | $79,000 | 59,090 | 18.46 | 1.39 |
| 18 | New Hampshire profile | $28.98 | $60,280 | $47,370 | $74,200 | 6,960 | 10.18 | 0.77 |
| 19 | California profile | $28.96 | $60,230 | $41,830 | $81,960 | 205,090 | 11.26 | 0.85 |
| 20 | Rhode Island profile | $28.94 | $60,190 | $45,600 | $75,120 | 3,620 | 7.23 | 0.55 |
| 21 | Hawaii profile | $28.76 | $59,820 | $47,480 | $74,530 | 4,070 | 6.49 | 0.49 |
| 22 | Ohio profile | $28.75 | $59,800 | $43,670 | $77,650 | 83,060 | 14.97 | 1.13 |
| 23 | Maryland profile | $28.54 | $59,360 | $43,670 | $79,130 | 29,150 | 10.55 | 0.80 |
| 24 | Kansas profile | $28.33 | $58,920 | $43,760 | $78,910 | 24,220 | 16.85 | 1.27 |
| 25 | Montana profile | $28.30 | $58,870 | $46,040 | $74,120 | 7,830 | 15.30 | 1.15 |
| 26 | Idaho profile | $28.26 | $58,770 | $43,360 | $77,120 | 15,920 | 18.56 | 1.40 |
| 27 | South Dakota profile | $28.21 | $58,690 | $41,590 | $78,610 | 6,470 | 14.15 | 1.07 |
| 28 | Tennessee profile | $28.18 | $58,620 | $39,960 | $83,280 | 64,890 | 19.79 | 1.49 |
| 29 | Wisconsin profile | $28.18 | $58,610 | $44,920 | $76,380 | 53,330 | 18.13 | 1.37 |
| 30 | Pennsylvania profile | $28.16 | $58,580 | $43,560 | $78,330 | 87,550 | 14.44 | 1.09 |
| 31 | Nebraska profile | $28.07 | $58,390 | $40,150 | $81,790 | 23,160 | 22.61 | 1.70 |
| 32 | Arizona profile | $27.92 | $58,080 | $42,580 | $76,550 | 40,150 | 12.39 | 0.93 |
| 33 | Iowa profile | $27.92 | $58,070 | $42,390 | $77,910 | 35,040 | 22.47 | 1.69 |
| 34 | Delaware profile | $27.69 | $57,590 | $46,850 | $69,770 | 9,040 | 18.64 | 1.41 |
| 35 | Michigan profile | $27.49 | $57,180 | $40,280 | $73,980 | 60,800 | 13.81 | 1.04 |
| 36 | Georgia profile | $27.43 | $57,050 | $38,150 | $77,900 | 74,840 | 15.31 | 1.15 |
| 37 | Maine profile | $27.43 | $57,050 | $40,810 | $71,100 | 9,980 | 15.58 | 1.18 |
| 38 | Virginia profile | $27.34 | $56,860 | $38,180 | $77,040 | 48,750 | 11.86 | 0.89 |
| 39 | Kentucky profile | $27.09 | $56,340 | $38,670 | $85,630 | 31,760 | 15.88 | 1.20 |
| 40 | Texas profile | $27.06 | $56,290 | $38,150 | $79,400 | 209,680 | 14.90 | 1.12 |
| 41 | Missouri profile | $26.23 | $54,550 | $37,860 | $77,510 | 47,760 | 16.27 | 1.23 |
| 42 | Oklahoma profile | $26.16 | $54,410 | $37,420 | $80,330 | 27,840 | 16.30 | 1.23 |
| 43 | Alabama profile | $25.06 | $52,120 | $38,240 | $77,620 | 36,650 | 17.34 | 1.31 |
| 44 | Mississippi profile | $24.92 | $51,820 | $35,710 | $79,550 | 24,160 | 20.77 | 1.57 |
| 45 | Arkansas profile | $24.79 | $51,550 | $36,770 | $81,110 | 32,220 | 24.72 | 1.86 |
| 46 | North Carolina profile | $24.77 | $51,530 | $39,400 | $76,360 | 62,400 | 12.63 | 0.95 |
| 47 | South Carolina profile | $24.58 | $51,130 | $39,330 | $77,070 | 34,170 | 14.82 | 1.12 |
| 48 | Florida profile | $24.34 | $50,640 | $37,700 | $74,330 | 112,920 | 11.37 | 0.86 |
| 49 | New Mexico profile | $24.28 | $50,500 | $38,540 | $65,990 | 11,820 | 13.57 | 1.02 |
| 50 | West Virginia profile | $23.79 | $49,480 | $36,350 | $72,230 | 12,190 | 17.37 | 1.31 |
| 51 | Louisiana profile | $23.71 | $49,320 | $36,710 | $68,740 | 28,540 | 14.75 | 1.11 |
Related occupations
Occupations in the same SOC broad group (53-3030), with their national median annual wage.
Part of Transportation and Material Moving Occupations. Compare any area in the wage explorer.
Source and notes
Data: BLS OEWS May 2025, released 2026-05-15. Cross-industry estimates, all ownerships. BLS page: OEWS 53-3032 Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers.
- Annual wages assume 2,080 hours a year at the hourly rate; occupations BLS publishes on one basis only show an en dash (–) on the other.
- Employment is rounded to the nearest 10 by BLS. Where BLS withholds a cell, nothing is estimated in its place.
- Top industries: nat4d_M2025_dl.xlsx in oesm25in4.zip (BLS OEWS May 2025, national, 4-digit NAICS, cross-ownership). Employment is the industry's rounded total for this occupation; industries whose employment BLS withheld (**) are not ranked.
- Published medians: national_M2021_dl.xlsx to national_M2024_dl.xlsx in oesm21nat.zip to oesm24nat.zip (BLS OEWS May 2021 to May 2024, national, cross-industry, all ownerships) and the May 2025 spine. Each release is shown as published; nothing is computed between them.
Sources
- BLS Standard Occupational Classification 2018, definition of 53-3032, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- O*NET 30.1 Database, 53-3032.00, National Center for O*NET Development, USDOL/ETA (CC BY 4.0).
- OEWS May 2025 national industry-specific estimates, 4-digit NAICS (oesm25in4.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2021 national estimates (oesm21nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2022 national estimates (oesm22nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2023 national estimates (oesm23nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2024 national estimates (oesm24nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2025 national estimates (oesm25nat.zip), the site's data spine, US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
Includes information from O*NET 30.1 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
Description written 2026-10-17 in our own words from the sources above.