How much do truck drivers make in 2026?
Truck drivers earned a national median of $58,640 a year ($28.19/hr) in the latest federal wage data available (BLS OEWS, May 2025 estimates). BLS counts about 2,062,040 people employed in this occupation in the U.S.
Annual and hourly wages, all U.S. industries. Occupation used: Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers (SOC 53-3032). Source: BLS OEWS May 2025.
What the percentiles mean
The median is the middle: half of truck drivers earned more and half earned less. The 25th–75th percentile range ($47,960–$69,120) is what the middle half of workers earned. Newer workers and apprentices tend to be near the low end, and experienced, licensed or specialized workers near the high end. BLS does not publish pay by years of experience, so treat any experience-based number as an estimate.
Truck drivers pay by state
BLS OEWS May 2025 state estimates. "Not published" means BLS did not release that estimate (too few survey responses, or not enough workers to publish).
| State | Median / yr | Median / hr | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $52,120 | $25.06 | $38,240 | $77,620 | 36,650 |
| Alaska | $70,100 | $33.70 | $48,080 | $90,610 | 3,420 |
| Arizona | $58,080 | $27.92 | $42,580 | $76,550 | 40,150 |
| Arkansas | $51,550 | $24.79 | $36,770 | $81,110 | 32,220 |
| California | $60,230 | $28.96 | $41,830 | $81,960 | 205,090 |
| Colorado | $61,500 | $29.57 | $47,010 | $80,570 | 25,350 |
| Connecticut | $60,490 | $29.08 | $47,160 | $77,360 | 15,740 |
| Delaware | $57,590 | $27.69 | $46,850 | $69,770 | 9,040 |
| District of Columbia | $64,170 | $30.85 | $51,500 | $84,000 | 830 |
| Florida | $50,640 | $24.34 | $37,700 | $74,330 | 112,920 |
| Georgia | $57,050 | $27.43 | $38,150 | $77,900 | 74,840 |
| Hawaii | $59,820 | $28.76 | $47,480 | $74,530 | 4,070 |
| Idaho | $58,770 | $28.26 | $43,360 | $77,120 | 15,920 |
| Illinois | $60,320 | $29.00 | $39,710 | $86,300 | 84,200 |
| Indiana | $60,290 | $28.99 | $42,060 | $79,000 | 59,090 |
| Iowa | $58,070 | $27.92 | $42,390 | $77,910 | 35,040 |
| Kansas | $58,920 | $28.33 | $43,760 | $78,910 | 24,220 |
| Kentucky | $56,340 | $27.09 | $38,670 | $85,630 | 31,760 |
| Louisiana | $49,320 | $23.71 | $36,710 | $68,740 | 28,540 |
| Maine | $57,050 | $27.43 | $40,810 | $71,100 | 9,980 |
| Maryland | $59,360 | $28.54 | $43,670 | $79,130 | 29,150 |
| Massachusetts | $63,030 | $30.30 | $47,080 | $78,480 | 30,890 |
| Michigan | $57,180 | $27.49 | $40,280 | $73,980 | 60,800 |
| Minnesota | $61,990 | $29.80 | $45,910 | $81,830 | 38,770 |
| Mississippi | $51,820 | $24.92 | $35,710 | $79,550 | 24,160 |
| Missouri | $54,550 | $26.23 | $37,860 | $77,510 | 47,760 |
| Montana | $58,870 | $28.30 | $46,040 | $74,120 | 7,830 |
| Nebraska | $58,390 | $28.07 | $40,150 | $81,790 | 23,160 |
| Nevada | $62,290 | $29.95 | $45,860 | $83,090 | 15,010 |
| New Hampshire | $60,280 | $28.98 | $47,370 | $74,200 | 6,960 |
| New Jersey | $63,570 | $30.56 | $47,950 | $90,310 | 47,980 |
| New Mexico | $50,500 | $24.28 | $38,540 | $65,990 | 11,820 |
| New York | $62,050 | $29.83 | $47,880 | $88,100 | 63,700 |
| North Carolina | $51,530 | $24.77 | $39,400 | $76,360 | 62,400 |
| North Dakota | $60,910 | $29.29 | $47,990 | $83,330 | 11,870 |
| Ohio | $59,800 | $28.75 | $43,670 | $77,650 | 83,060 |
| Oklahoma | $54,410 | $26.16 | $37,420 | $80,330 | 27,840 |
| Oregon | $61,980 | $29.80 | $47,700 | $81,220 | 23,970 |
| Pennsylvania | $58,580 | $28.16 | $43,560 | $78,330 | 87,550 |
| Rhode Island | $60,190 | $28.94 | $45,600 | $75,120 | 3,620 |
| South Carolina | $51,130 | $24.58 | $39,330 | $77,070 | 34,170 |
| South Dakota | $58,690 | $28.21 | $41,590 | $78,610 | 6,470 |
| Tennessee | $58,620 | $28.18 | $39,960 | $83,280 | 64,890 |
| Texas | $56,290 | $27.06 | $38,150 | $79,400 | 209,680 |
| Utah | $60,620 | $29.15 | $44,320 | $76,360 | 25,060 |
| Vermont | $60,830 | $29.25 | $48,900 | $74,700 | 3,560 |
| Virginia | $56,860 | $27.34 | $38,180 | $77,040 | 48,750 |
| Washington | $64,760 | $31.13 | $50,010 | $87,500 | 40,530 |
| West Virginia | $49,480 | $23.79 | $36,350 | $72,230 | 12,190 |
| Wisconsin | $58,610 | $28.18 | $44,920 | $76,380 | 53,330 |
| Wyoming | $60,310 | $28.99 | $45,860 | $84,670 | 6,050 |
| Puerto Rico | $25,510 | $12.26 | $21,840 | $36,050 | 10,480 |
How to earn more as a truck driver
- Get a Class A CDL. Class A opens tractor-trailer work, which BLS counts in this occupation.
- Add endorsements (tanker, hazmat, doubles/triples). Endorsed drivers qualify for more loads.
- Build a clean driving record and 1–2 years of verifiable experience. Many better-paying fleets require both.
- Compare pay models: per mile, per hour, per load and percentage pay add up differently. Ask about detention, layover and guaranteed minimums.
- Look at dedicated, tanker, flatbed or private-fleet jobs, which can pay more than entry-level dry van.
Find truck driver work
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FAQ
How much do truck drivers make an hour?
The national median wage for Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers (SOC 53-3032) was $28.19 an hour, or $58,640 a year, in the BLS OEWS May 2025 estimates. Half earned more and half earned less.
What do the highest-paid truck drivers earn?
The top 10% earned at least $79,380 a year ($38.17/hr). The bottom 10% earned less than $40,140 ($19.30/hr).
Which states pay truck drivers the most?
By median annual wage in the BLS OEWS May 2025 state estimates: Alaska ($70,100); Washington ($64,760); District of Columbia ($64,170). Living costs differ by state, too.
Where do these numbers come from?
From the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 53-3032 (Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers). They cover wage and salary workers in all industries, not the self-employed, and are not broken out by experience.
Source and method
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates. Files oesm25nat and oesm25st from bls.gov, downloaded Nov 8, 2026. Occupation: Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers (SOC 53-3032), cross-industry, all ownerships. OEWS wages are straight-time gross pay: they include commissions, production bonuses, tips and on-call pay, and exclude overtime, shift differentials and nonproduction bonuses. Annual wages are generally the hourly wage times 2,080 hours. "Not published" = estimate not released by BLS. BLS occupation profile · All pay guides