Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers Salary in Kentucky
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers in Kentucky have a median of $56,340 a year, below the national $58,640 (−4%); the state ranks 39th of 51 states by median. Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers earn 20% more than the median across all occupations in Kentucky ($46,920). Among neighbouring states, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Tennessee and Virginia pay more (up to $60,320 in Illinois) and Missouri and West Virginia pay less (down to $49,480 in West Virginia). Kentucky employs 31,760 heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers, 15.9 per 1,000 jobs, the 24th largest count of any state. A location quotient of 1.20 means the occupation is more concentrated in Kentucky than nationally.
Kentucky vs the United States, May 2025
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Kentucky | Hourly | $18.59 | $22.99 | $27.09 | $33.66 | $41.17 | $28.78 | 31,760 | 15.88 | 1.20 |
| Annual | $38,670 | $47,810 | $56,340 | $70,020 | $85,630 | $59,870 | ||||
| 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
- 39th of 51 states
- Rank by employment
- 24th of 51 states
- Location quotient
- 1.20
- Jobs per 1,000
- 15.88
Ranks count the 50 states and DC with a published value. The location quotient is the occupation's share of Kentucky'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 Kentucky
9 metropolitan areas and 4 nonmetropolitan areas touching Kentucky 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $29.13 | $60,590 | $45,920 | $81,620 | 13,820 | 12.55 | 0.95 |
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $28.37 | $59,000 | $44,970 | $87,580 | 10,820 | 15.79 | 1.19 |
| Lexington-Fayette, KY | $27.38 | $56,950 | $43,780 | $94,090 | 4,460 | 15.54 | 1.17 |
| Bowling Green, KY | $25.70 | $53,450 | $37,690 | $75,970 | 1,540 | 18.79 | 1.42 |
| Clarksville, TN-KY | $24.75 | $51,470 | $38,670 | $77,640 | 1,380 | 13.42 | 1.01 |
| Elizabethtown, KY | $24.37 | $50,680 | $37,210 | $73,270 | 560 | 10.94 | 0.82 |
| Owensboro, KY | $24.33 | $50,600 | $37,490 | $76,630 | 840 | 17.07 | 1.29 |
| Paducah, KY-IL | $24.29 | $50,520 | $38,990 | $74,490 | 660 | 13.09 | 0.99 |
| Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH | $24.06 | $50,050 | $35,560 | $74,110 | 2,330 | 16.56 | 1.25 |
| Central Kentucky nonmetropolitan area | $23.85 | $49,610 | $37,210 | $75,640 | 1,910 | 11.05 | 0.83 |
| South Central Kentucky nonmetropolitan area | $23.81 | $49,510 | $37,070 | $75,820 | 2,970 | 17.22 | 1.30 |
| West Kentucky nonmetropolitan area | $23.72 | $49,330 | $36,040 | $74,730 | 3,350 | 26.05 | 1.96 |
| East Kentucky nonmetropolitan area | $23.70 | $49,290 | $36,970 | $76,660 | 1,030 | 11.19 | 0.84 |
Neighbouring states
| State | Median hourly | Median annual | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kentucky | $27.09 | $56,340 | 31,760 | 1.20 |
| Illinois | $29.00 | $60,320 | 84,200 | 1.04 |
| Indiana | $28.99 | $60,290 | 59,090 | 1.39 |
| Missouri | $26.23 | $54,550 | 47,760 | 1.23 |
| Ohio | $28.75 | $59,800 | 83,060 | 1.13 |
| Tennessee | $28.18 | $58,620 | 64,890 | 1.49 |
| Virginia | $27.34 | $56,860 | 48,750 | 0.89 |
| West Virginia | $23.79 | $49,480 | 12,190 | 1.31 |
See the national page for Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers (every state ranked) and the Kentucky 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 Kentucky 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.