Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers Salary in Iowa
At $58,070 a year, the median for heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers in Iowa is close to the national median of $58,640 (−1%); Iowa ranks 33rd of 51 states by median. Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers earn 20% more than the median across all occupations in Iowa ($48,540). Among neighbouring states, Minnesota, Illinois, South Dakota, Wisconsin and Nebraska pay more (up to $61,990 in Minnesota) and Missouri pays less (down to $54,550 in Missouri). Iowa employs 35,040 heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers, 22.5 per 1,000 jobs, the 21st largest count of any state. A location quotient of 1.69 means the occupation is more concentrated in Iowa than nationally.
Iowa vs the United States, May 2025
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Iowa | Hourly | $20.38 | $23.25 | $27.92 | $30.86 | $37.46 | $28.88 | 35,040 | 22.47 | 1.69 |
| Annual | $42,390 | $48,350 | $58,070 | $64,190 | $77,910 | $60,070 | ||||
| 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 | ||||
- Rank by median
- 33rd of 51 states
- Rank by employment
- 21st of 51 states
- Location quotient
- 1.69
- Jobs per 1,000
- 22.47
Ranks count the 50 states and DC with a published value. The location quotient is the occupation's share of Iowa's employment divided by its national share; 1.00 means the same share as the nation. Take-home pay at these wages: FastCalc's take-home pay calculator.
Metropolitan areas in Iowa
9 metropolitan areas and 4 nonmetropolitan areas touching Iowa publish a row for heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers, sorted by median. Areas crossing a state line are listed under every state they touch; a linked metro has its own profile.
| Area | Median hourly | Median annual | 10th pct (annual) | 90th pct (annual) | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Iowa City, IA | $29.79 | $61,960 | $47,640 | $126,110 | 2,360 | 25.18 | 1.90 |
| Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | $29.19 | $60,720 | $43,950 | $79,240 | 7,840 | 19.39 | 1.46 |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | $28.32 | $58,900 | $44,250 | $77,550 | 3,030 | 21.75 | 1.64 |
| Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA | $28.23 | $58,730 | $37,780 | $79,220 | 1,600 | 18.97 | 1.43 |
| Dubuque, IA | $28.11 | $58,470 | $41,790 | $76,530 | 1,310 | 22.42 | 1.69 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $28.02 | $58,280 | $40,620 | $74,500 | 3,070 | 16.99 | 1.28 |
| Omaha, NE-IA | $27.89 | $58,010 | $40,150 | $80,650 | 10,210 | 20.50 | 1.55 |
| Ames, IA | $26.21 | $54,510 | $42,430 | $69,200 | 640 | 11.51 | 0.87 |
| Sioux City, IA-NE-SD | $24.78 | $51,540 | $38,450 | $79,320 | 2,820 | 37.65 | 2.84 |
| Southwest Iowa nonmetropolitan area | $27.88 | $57,980 | $39,710 | $77,940 | 2,160 | 29.54 | 2.23 |
| Southeast Iowa nonmetropolitan area | $27.03 | $56,220 | $39,130 | $75,660 | 4,950 | 24.72 | 1.86 |
| Northwest Iowa nonmetropolitan area | $26.00 | $54,080 | $43,680 | $73,930 | 5,110 | 35.02 | 2.64 |
| Northeast Iowa nonmetropolitan area | $25.11 | $52,230 | $38,980 | $73,220 | 2,380 | 23.94 | 1.81 |
Neighbouring states
See the national page for Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers (every state ranked) and the Iowa wage profile (every occupation in the state).
Source and notes
Data: BLS OEWS May 2025, released 2026-05-15. Cross-industry estimates, all ownerships. BLS page: OEWS Iowa estimates.
- 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.