Truck Driver Salary By State: Highest-Paid Truck Drivers by State [2026]
Research Summary. After thorough analysis by the Zippia data science team, we present the updated truck driver salary data by state for the United States in 2026:
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Delaware remains the state with the highest truck driver salary at $70,901.
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Hawaii continues to have the lowest truck driver salary, averaging $44,475.
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The national average salary for truck drivers is now $60,326.
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The national hourly wage for truck drivers stands at $29.00.
For further details, refer to the specific methodology.
Background
Salary remains a top priority for job seekers, as evidenced by surveys across diverse demographics. Prospective truck drivers often ask, “How much do truck drivers earn in my area?“
While numerous factors influence individual salaries, comprehensive data on average truck driver salaries by state is readily available, including breakdowns by experience level. Although local salaries may vary slightly from state averages, these figures provide a valuable benchmark.
Delaware leads the nation in truck driver salaries, offering competitive wages across the industry.
Here’s a quick overview of the top ten states for truck driver salaries:
Now, let’s dive deeper into the salary landscape and provide a comprehensive ranking of all states.
Highest-Paid Truck Drivers By State
| Rank | State | Average Truck Driver Salary | 10th Percentile | 90th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Delaware | $70,901 | $47,000 | $106,000 |
| 2 | Rhode Island | $70,834 | $47,000 | $105,000 |
| 3 | Connecticut | $70,082 | $46,000 | $104,000 |
| 4 | New Jersey | $70,043 | $46,000 | $104,000 |
| 5 | New York | $69,847 | $46,000 | $104,000 |
| 6 | Vermont | $69,340 | $46,000 | $103,000 |
| 7 | New Hampshire | $69,288 | $46,000 | $103,000 |
| 8 | Nevada | $69,012 | $43,000 | $108,000 |
| 9 | Kentucky | $68,557 | $46,000 | $101,000 |
| 10 | Pennsylvania | $68,232 | $45,000 | $101,000 |
| 11 | Maryland | $67,819 | $45,000 | $101,000 |
| 12 | Indiana | $67,338 | $45,000 | $98,000 |
| 13 | Oklahoma | $67,261 | $45,000 | $99,000 |
| 14 | Georgia | $66,979 | $44,000 | $100,000 |
| 15 | Wisconsin | $66,857 | $45,000 | $97,000 |
| 16 | Mississippi | $66,365 | $44,000 | $99,000 |
| 17 | Minnesota | $65,995 | $45,000 | $96,000 |
| 18 | Arkansas | $65,794 | $44,000 | $97,000 |
| 19 | Ohio | $65,665 | $44,000 | $96,000 |
| 20 | Missouri | $65,648 | $44,000 | $96,000 |
| 21 | North Dakota | $65,342 | $44,000 | $94,000 |
| 22 | Wyoming | $65,149 | $43,000 | $96,000 |
| 23 | Massachusetts | $65,144 | $43,000 | $97,000 |
| 24 | North Carolina | $65,096 | $43,000 | $97,000 |
| 25 | Kansas | $64,531 | $43,000 | $94,000 |
| 26 | Virginia | $64,083 | $42,000 | $95,000 |
| 27 | South Carolina | $63,692 | $42,000 | $95,000 |
| 28 | Iowa | $63,473 | $43,000 | $92,000 |
| 29 | Alabama | $63,414 | $42,000 | $94,000 |
| 30 | Michigan | $63,047 | $42,000 | $92,000 |
| 31 | Maine | $62,971 | $42,000 | $94,000 |
| 32 | South Dakota | $62,449 | $42,000 | $91,000 |
| 33 | California | $62,190 | $39,000 | $99,000 |
| 34 | Illinois | $61,732 | $42,000 | $90,000 |
| 35 | West Virginia | $61,668 | $41,000 | $91,000 |
| 36 | New Mexico | $61,479 | $40,000 | $92,000 |
| 37 | Washington | $61,194 | $38,000 | $96,000 |
| 38 | Tennessee | $60,653 | $40,000 | $89,000 |
| 39 | Utah | $60,538 | $39,000 | $92,000 |
| 40 | Arizona | $60,400 | $39,000 | $93,000 |
| 41 | Louisiana | $58,551 | $39,000 | $87,000 |
| 42 | Colorado | $58,278 | $39,000 | $86,000 |
| 43 | Montana | $56,810 | $37,000 | $85,000 |
| 44 | Florida | $56,563 | $37,000 | $84,000 |
| 45 | Nebraska | $54,316 | $37,000 | $79,000 |
| 46 | Oregon | $53,050 | $33,000 | $84,000 |
| 47 | Texas | $50,414 | $33,000 | $75,000 |
| 48 | Idaho | $47,833 | $30,000 | $74,000 |
| 49 | Alaska | $47,735 | $38,000 | $59,000 |
| 50 | Hawaii | $44,475 | $33,000 | $59,000 |
Methodology: Truck Driver Salary By State
To accurately assess truck driver salaries by state, Zippia has compiled data from various reputable sources, including the BLS, FLC, and OPM. This data is further supplemented with actual salary listings from job postings. Our data science team then calculates a weighted average of these inputs to determine the average truck driver salary by state.
We ranked each state based on these average annual salaries, identifying the state with the highest salary as the leading market for truck drivers.
Truck Driver Salary By State FAQs
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What is the highest-paid state for truck drivers?
The highest-paid state for truck drivers is Delaware, with an average salary of $70,901 per year.
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What city pays truck drivers the most?
Wilmington, DE leads with the highest average salary for truck drivers at $70,911 per year.
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What is the worst state for truck drivers?
The worst state for truck drivers is Hawaii, offering the lowest average salary at $44,475 per year.
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.
