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Top 10 Cities for Truck Drivers in 2026
As you embark on your career as a truck driver or consider relocating to enhance your opportunities, it’s crucial to identify the regions that offer the best long-term prospects. With the trucking industry continuing to evolve, understanding regional differences can significantly influence your salary and career trajectory.
At Zippia, we’ve analyzed various data sources to pinpoint the cities across the United States that provide truck drivers with the most favorable conditions. These cities not only offer competitive salaries relative to the cost of living but also boast ample job availability.
Using the latest data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), we’ve compiled a list of the top cities for truck drivers based on salary, job availability, and overall career prospects. Here are the best cities for truck drivers in 2026:
- Morristown, TN
- Midland, TX
- Fayetteville, AR
- Casper, WY
- Gary, IN
- Odessa, TX
- Fargo, ND
- Billings, MT
- Bismarck, ND
- Michigan City, IN
Morristown, TN tops the list as the best city for truck drivers in 2026, offering a combination of high pay, job availability, and growth potential.
On the flip side, truck drivers may want to avoid cities like Ithaca, NY, where job opportunities are limited.
Continue reading to learn about the methodology behind our research and discover more details about these top cities.
How We Determined the Best Cities for Truck Drivers
At Zippia, we engage with a diverse range of job seekers across various industries. Through our research, we have identified key factors that job seekers prioritize:
- Job Availability
- Salary
To identify the best cities for truck drivers, we analyzed where the jobs are concentrated and how competitive the salaries are. Our criteria, based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ recent Occupational Employment Statistics, included:
- Location Quotient: A measure of how concentrated truck driving jobs are in a particular area.
- Average Annual Salary.
- Average Annual Salary for Entry-Level Positions.
To ensure a fair comparison, we also adjusted salary figures according to the local cost of living in each state. Our analysis covered 412 metropolitan areas across the country, designating each primary area as its corresponding city. For example, the “Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA NECTA Division” was simplified to Boston.
Each city was ranked based on the above criteria, where 1 represents the best score. The final Job Score averaged these rankings, with the lowest score identifying the top city for truck drivers.
1. Morristown, TN
Total Jobs: 1,420
Average Annual Salary: $46,250
Average Entry Level Salary: $32,270
Location Quotient: 2.8
2. Midland, TX
Total Jobs: 4,810
Average Annual Salary: $46,420
Average Entry Level Salary: $32,560
Location Quotient: 4.25
3. Fayetteville, AR
Total Jobs: 9,400
Average Annual Salary: $43,830
Average Entry Level Salary: $29,500
Location Quotient: 3.47
4. Casper, WY
Total Jobs: 920
Average Annual Salary: $55,190
Average Entry Level Salary: $36,030
Location Quotient: 1.77
5. Gary, IN
Total Jobs: 5,590
Average Annual Salary: $47,970
Average Entry Level Salary: $31,160
Location Quotient: 1.73
6. Odessa, TX
Total Jobs: 2,640
Average Annual Salary: $45,550
Average Entry Level Salary: $31,020
Location Quotient: 2.87
7. Fargo, ND
Total Jobs: 3,150
Average Annual Salary: $44,470
Average Entry Level Salary: $31,410
Location Quotient: 1.9
8. Billings, MT
Total Jobs: 1,540
Average Annual Salary: $47,440
Average Entry Level Salary: $33,050
Location Quotient: 1.5
9. Bismarck, ND
Total Jobs: 1,270
Average Annual Salary: $56,020
Average Entry Level Salary: $39,040
Location Quotient: 1.41
10. Michigan City, IN
Total Jobs: 710
Average Annual Salary: $47,900
Average Entry Level Salary: $33,950
Location Quotient: 1.45
And That’s Our List of the Best Cities for Truck Drivers
For those looking to start their truck driving careers, these cities should be at the forefront of your consideration. With high pay, plenty of available positions, and opportunities for career advancement, they present the best options in 2026.
Conversely, here are the cities you might want to avoid as a truck driver:
- Ithaca, NY
- Crestview, FL
- Sebring, FL
Detailed List of the Best Cities for Truck Drivers
| Rank | State | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Morristown, TN | $46,250 |
| 2 | Midland, TX | $46,420 |
| 3 | Fayetteville, AR | $43,830 |
| 4 | Casper, WY | $55,190 |
| 5 | Gary, IN | $47,970 |
| 6 | Odessa, TX | $45,550 |
| 7 | Fargo, ND | $44,470 |
| 8 | Billings, MT | $47,440 |
| 9 | Bismarck, ND | $56,020 |
| 10 | Michigan City, IN | $47,900 |
Author
Chris Kolmar is a co-founder of Zippia and the editor-in-chief of the Zippia career advice blog. He has hired over 50 people in his career, been hired five times, and wants to help you land your next job. His research has been featured on the New York Times, Thrillist, VOX, The Atlantic, and a host of local news. More recently, he's been quoted on USA Today, BusinessInsider, and CNBC.
