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Best states for a commercial truck driver
Quoted expert
Martin Garsee
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Do you want to become a commercial truck driver at XPO Logistics, and you wonder what that means or entails? We have the full list of best states for commercial truck drivers that you can check out, before you begin your journey. We wanted to look at the best states for commercial truck drivers -- where there are plenty of commercial truck driver jobs to go around and commercial truck drivers get paid what they deserve during every phase of their career.
The median salary for commercial truck drivers in Kentucky is $69,328. Compare that to the median salary in Florida of $56,350, which ranked worst for commercial truck drivers, and you can see how your location is important for your career.Kentucky is the best state, and Long Beach is the city with the highest pay for commercial truck drivers.
10 best states for commercial truck drivers in 2025
1. Kentucky
Total commercial truck driver jobs: 7,447 Average annual salary: $69,328 Lowest 10 percent earn: $44,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $107,000 Location Quotient: 1.83
2. Mississippi
Total commercial truck driver jobs: 3,738 Average annual salary: $69,558 Lowest 10 percent earn: $44,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $108,000 Location Quotient: 1.59
3. Pennsylvania
Total commercial truck driver jobs: 13,080 Average annual salary: $72,474 Lowest 10 percent earn: $46,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $113,000 Location Quotient: 1.02
4. Oklahoma
Total commercial truck driver jobs: 5,115 Average annual salary: $68,304 Lowest 10 percent earn: $44,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $105,000 Location Quotient: 1.5
5. North Dakota
Total commercial truck driver jobs: 1,416 Average annual salary: $69,910 Lowest 10 percent earn: $47,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $103,000 Location Quotient: 1.38
6. Missouri
Total commercial truck driver jobs: 8,982 Average annual salary: $68,463 Lowest 10 percent earn: $44,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $105,000 Location Quotient: 1.39
7. Indiana
Total commercial truck driver jobs: 10,591 Average annual salary: $67,129 Lowest 10 percent earn: $43,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $103,000 Location Quotient: 1.46
8. Delaware
Total commercial truck driver jobs: 1,804 Average annual salary: $71,232 Lowest 10 percent earn: $45,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $111,000 Location Quotient: 1.3
9. Kansas
Total commercial truck driver jobs: 5,772 Average annual salary: $66,106 Lowest 10 percent earn: $43,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $101,000 Location Quotient: 1.73
10. Alabama
Total commercial truck driver jobs: 7,539 Average annual salary: $65,657 Lowest 10 percent earn: $42,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $102,000 Location Quotient: 1.55
Commercial truck driver jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a commercial truck driver
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a commercial truck driver
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kentucky | $69,328 | $44,000 | 4,454,189 | 7,447 |
| 2 | Mississippi | $69,558 | $44,000 | 2,984,100 | 3,738 |
| 3 | Pennsylvania | $72,474 | $46,000 | 12,805,537 | 13,080 |
| 4 | Oklahoma | $68,304 | $44,000 | 3,930,864 | 5,115 |
| 5 | North Dakota | $69,910 | $47,000 | 755,393 | 1,416 |
| 6 | Missouri | $68,463 | $44,000 | 6,113,532 | 8,982 |
| 7 | Indiana | $67,129 | $43,000 | 6,666,818 | 10,591 |
| 8 | Delaware | $71,232 | $45,000 | 961,939 | 1,804 |
| 9 | Kansas | $66,106 | $43,000 | 2,913,123 | 5,772 |
| 10 | Alabama | $65,657 | $42,000 | 4,874,747 | 7,539 |
| 11 | New York | $75,089 | $47,000 | 19,849,399 | 12,840 |
| 12 | Georgia | $66,861 | $42,000 | 10,429,379 | 18,679 |
| 13 | Illinois | $68,920 | $44,000 | 12,802,023 | 18,509 |
| 14 | Ohio | $64,810 | $41,000 | 11,658,609 | 20,635 |
| 15 | Tennessee | $65,862 | $42,000 | 6,715,984 | 7,862 |
| 16 | North Carolina | $66,723 | $42,000 | 10,273,419 | 9,418 |
| 17 | New Jersey | $74,628 | $47,000 | 9,005,644 | 3,711 |
| 18 | Arkansas | $63,557 | $41,000 | 3,004,279 | 4,389 |
| 19 | Iowa | $64,494 | $42,000 | 3,145,711 | 5,724 |
| 20 | Minnesota | $68,144 | $45,000 | 5,576,606 | 5,606 |
| 21 | Wisconsin | $65,081 | $42,000 | 5,795,483 | 6,083 |
| 22 | Texas | $65,326 | $41,000 | 28,304,596 | 27,384 |
| 23 | Wyoming | $64,952 | $43,000 | 579,315 | 592 |
| 24 | South Carolina | $63,480 | $40,000 | 5,024,369 | 8,008 |
| 25 | District of Columbia | $76,247 | $48,000 | 693,972 | 274 |
| 26 | Maryland | $67,625 | $43,000 | 6,052,177 | 6,022 |
| 27 | Louisiana | $63,429 | $40,000 | 4,684,333 | 5,219 |
| 28 | Nebraska | $62,704 | $41,000 | 1,920,076 | 2,921 |
| 29 | South Dakota | $60,916 | $40,000 | 869,666 | 1,548 |
| 30 | West Virginia | $57,783 | $37,000 | 1,815,857 | 3,719 |
| 31 | California | $64,691 | $42,000 | 39,536,653 | 29,124 |
| 32 | Arizona | $63,465 | $41,000 | 7,016,270 | 4,543 |
| 33 | Connecticut | $65,012 | $41,000 | 3,588,184 | 1,968 |
| 34 | Rhode Island | $62,703 | $40,000 | 1,059,639 | 671 |
| 35 | Virginia | $62,577 | $39,000 | 8,470,020 | 8,562 |
| 36 | Michigan | $60,036 | $38,000 | 9,962,311 | 7,132 |
| 37 | Alaska | $59,944 | $51,000 | 739,795 | 119 |
| 38 | Utah | $60,572 | $39,000 | 3,101,833 | 2,019 |
| 39 | Vermont | $60,305 | $38,000 | 623,657 | 562 |
| 40 | New Hampshire | $61,718 | $39,000 | 1,342,795 | 760 |
| 41 | Nevada | $59,410 | $38,000 | 2,998,039 | 1,381 |
| 42 | Hawaii | $60,242 | $47,000 | 1,427,538 | 100 |
| 43 | New Mexico | $54,377 | $35,000 | 2,088,070 | 2,416 |
| 44 | Massachusetts | $60,808 | $38,000 | 6,859,819 | 2,751 |
| 45 | Washington | $59,429 | $39,000 | 7,405,743 | 3,646 |
| 46 | Colorado | $58,527 | $38,000 | 5,607,154 | 3,673 |
| 47 | Oregon | $57,008 | $37,000 | 4,142,776 | 2,838 |
| 48 | Montana | $55,053 | $37,000 | 1,050,493 | 718 |
| 49 | Maine | $54,832 | $35,000 | 1,335,907 | 723 |
| 50 | Idaho | $51,937 | $34,000 | 1,716,943 | 1,502 |
| 51 | Florida | $56,350 | $35,000 | 20,984,400 | 5,898 |
Highest paying states for commercial truck drivers
| Rank | State | Avg. Commercial Truck Driver Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kentucky | $69,328 |
| 2 | Mississippi | $69,558 |
| 3 | Pennsylvania | $72,474 |
| 4 | Oklahoma | $68,304 |
| 5 | North Dakota | $69,910 |
| 6 | Missouri | $68,463 |
| 7 | Indiana | $67,129 |
| 8 | Delaware | $71,232 |
| 9 | Kansas | $66,106 |
| 10 | Alabama | $65,657 |
| 11 | New York | $75,089 |
| 12 | Georgia | $66,861 |
| 13 | Illinois | $68,920 |
| 14 | Ohio | $64,810 |
| 15 | Tennessee | $65,862 |
| 16 | North Carolina | $66,723 |
| 17 | New Jersey | $74,628 |
| 18 | Arkansas | $63,557 |
| 19 | Iowa | $64,494 |
| 20 | Minnesota | $68,144 |
| 21 | Wisconsin | $65,081 |
| 22 | Texas | $65,326 |
| 23 | Wyoming | $64,952 |
| 24 | South Carolina | $63,480 |
| 25 | District of Columbia | $76,247 |
| 26 | Maryland | $67,625 |
| 27 | Louisiana | $63,429 |
| 28 | Nebraska | $62,704 |
| 29 | South Dakota | $60,916 |
| 30 | West Virginia | $57,783 |
| 31 | California | $64,691 |
| 32 | Arizona | $63,465 |
| 33 | Connecticut | $65,012 |
| 34 | Rhode Island | $62,703 |
| 35 | Virginia | $62,577 |
| 36 | Michigan | $60,036 |
| 37 | Alaska | $59,944 |
| 38 | Utah | $60,572 |
| 39 | Vermont | $60,305 |
| 40 | New Hampshire | $61,718 |
| 41 | Nevada | $59,410 |
| 42 | Hawaii | $60,242 |
| 43 | New Mexico | $54,377 |
| 44 | Massachusetts | $60,808 |
| 45 | Washington | $59,429 |
| 46 | Colorado | $58,527 |
| 47 | Oregon | $57,008 |
| 48 | Montana | $55,053 |
| 49 | Maine | $54,832 |
| 50 | Idaho | $51,937 |
| 51 | Florida | $56,350 |
Expert opinions on the best states for commercial truck drivers
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for commercial truck drivers to find work opportunities?
Martin Garsee
Executive Director, NAPFTDS
Many over the road trucking companies will hire you from any location in the 48 contiguous states. Companies that have more set routes in a region of the country, will only hire in that region. Most companies, on their website, have a hiring area located. Where there is a dense population, there are more jobs available. Where there is a port, there are jobs that have to get the goods from the port to a warehouse for distribution, which may be local or hundreds of miles away. Where there is a concentration of manufacturing, raw material has to be brought in and completed products have to be shipped to their final destination.
In large cities there are a lot of delivery jobs to retail outlets.
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Updated January 8, 2025