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Best states for a driver
Quoted expert
Martin Garsee
- Rank 1 - 10
- 11 - 20
- 21 - 30
- 31 - 40
- 41 - 51
Not all states present equal opportunity for employees, and when it comes to driver jobs, it's no different. We know how hard job search can be, and in order to make your life a little easier, we have the information you need in order to determine where you might want to start your job search. Pay, benefits, and opportunities vary greatly by state, and it's no different for drivers. We found that Iowa is the best state in the nation for drivers, and people in Burlington earn the most in the field.
We figured that the best places for driver jobs has three things everyone would agree on. There would be high annual wages, good career prospects (no matter what phase of the career you are in), and a lot of job opportunities.We found that the South is best for drivers, and the Northeast is the worst. Boston, MA is the best city in the country for driver jobs, where as Iowa is the best state in the country.
10 best states for drivers in 2026
1. Iowa
Total driver jobs: 10,400 Average annual salary: $38,851 Lowest 10 percent earn: $23,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $63,000 Location Quotient: 1.76
2. Vermont
Total driver jobs: 666 Average annual salary: $42,781 Lowest 10 percent earn: $24,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $74,000 Location Quotient: 0.53
3. Oregon
Total driver jobs: 6,240 Average annual salary: $40,433 Lowest 10 percent earn: $27,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $59,000 Location Quotient: 0.93
4. Michigan
Total driver jobs: 13,075 Average annual salary: $37,482 Lowest 10 percent earn: $22,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $63,000 Location Quotient: 1.04
5. Indiana
Total driver jobs: 14,518 Average annual salary: $35,390 Lowest 10 percent earn: $21,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $59,000 Location Quotient: 1.36
6. Rhode Island
Total driver jobs: 929 Average annual salary: $40,449 Lowest 10 percent earn: $23,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $70,000 Location Quotient: 0.47
7. Washington
Total driver jobs: 7,766 Average annual salary: $40,614 Lowest 10 percent earn: $27,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $59,000 Location Quotient: 0.65
8. Massachusetts
Total driver jobs: 3,630 Average annual salary: $42,496 Lowest 10 percent earn: $24,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $74,000 Location Quotient: 0.24
9. New York
Total driver jobs: 12,845 Average annual salary: $41,316 Lowest 10 percent earn: $23,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $72,000 Location Quotient: 0.62
10. Connecticut
Total driver jobs: 2,543 Average annual salary: $40,527 Lowest 10 percent earn: $23,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $70,000 Location Quotient: 0.47
Driver jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a driver
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a driver
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Iowa | $38,851 | $23,000 | 3,145,711 | 10,400 |
| 2 | Vermont | $42,781 | $24,000 | 623,657 | 666 |
| 3 | Oregon | $40,433 | $27,000 | 4,142,776 | 6,240 |
| 4 | Michigan | $37,482 | $22,000 | 9,962,311 | 13,075 |
| 5 | Indiana | $35,390 | $21,000 | 6,666,818 | 14,518 |
| 6 | Rhode Island | $40,449 | $23,000 | 1,059,639 | 929 |
| 7 | Washington | $40,614 | $27,000 | 7,405,743 | 7,766 |
| 8 | Massachusetts | $42,496 | $24,000 | 6,859,819 | 3,630 |
| 9 | New York | $41,316 | $23,000 | 19,849,399 | 12,845 |
| 10 | Connecticut | $40,527 | $23,000 | 3,588,184 | 2,543 |
| 11 | Wisconsin | $34,946 | $21,000 | 5,795,483 | 11,307 |
| 12 | New Jersey | $41,516 | $23,000 | 9,005,644 | 5,008 |
| 13 | Alabama | $33,989 | $20,000 | 4,874,747 | 13,623 |
| 14 | Maine | $36,985 | $21,000 | 1,335,907 | 913 |
| 15 | Montana | $37,359 | $25,000 | 1,050,493 | 1,021 |
| 16 | Minnesota | $35,469 | $21,000 | 5,576,606 | 12,674 |
| 17 | Illinois | $35,352 | $21,000 | 12,802,023 | 23,025 |
| 18 | California | $40,250 | $26,000 | 39,536,653 | 29,192 |
| 19 | Kentucky | $32,017 | $19,000 | 4,454,189 | 11,701 |
| 20 | Louisiana | $32,727 | $19,000 | 4,684,333 | 9,595 |
| 21 | Arkansas | $31,046 | $19,000 | 3,004,279 | 10,152 |
| 22 | Pennsylvania | $33,976 | $19,000 | 12,805,537 | 17,722 |
| 23 | West Virginia | $31,646 | $18,000 | 1,815,857 | 4,435 |
| 24 | Oklahoma | $31,828 | $19,000 | 3,930,864 | 10,494 |
| 25 | Kansas | $31,698 | $19,000 | 2,913,123 | 11,478 |
| 26 | Delaware | $35,034 | $20,000 | 961,939 | 1,852 |
| 27 | Alaska | $36,975 | $26,000 | 739,795 | 241 |
| 28 | South Dakota | $30,661 | $19,000 | 869,666 | 4,513 |
| 29 | New Mexico | $32,628 | $20,000 | 2,088,070 | 4,635 |
| 30 | Virginia | $35,190 | $20,000 | 8,470,020 | 13,438 |
| 31 | North Dakota | $30,849 | $19,000 | 755,393 | 4,685 |
| 32 | New Hampshire | $34,889 | $19,000 | 1,342,795 | 1,057 |
| 33 | Tennessee | $31,005 | $18,000 | 6,715,984 | 13,898 |
| 34 | District of Columbia | $38,569 | $22,000 | 693,972 | 204 |
| 35 | Nevada | $33,176 | $21,000 | 2,998,039 | 1,480 |
| 36 | Idaho | $31,587 | $21,000 | 1,716,943 | 3,829 |
| 37 | Texas | $32,311 | $19,000 | 28,304,596 | 36,390 |
| 38 | Georgia | $31,360 | $18,000 | 10,429,379 | 23,262 |
| 39 | Ohio | $30,110 | $17,000 | 11,658,609 | 20,922 |
| 40 | Wyoming | $30,113 | $20,000 | 579,315 | 1,164 |
| 41 | Colorado | $32,073 | $21,000 | 5,607,154 | 6,920 |
| 42 | Arizona | $32,627 | $20,000 | 7,016,270 | 4,824 |
| 43 | Missouri | $30,462 | $18,000 | 6,113,532 | 17,459 |
| 44 | Maryland | $33,556 | $19,000 | 6,052,177 | 6,487 |
| 45 | Hawaii | $35,994 | $26,000 | 1,427,538 | 277 |
| 46 | Utah | $30,543 | $20,000 | 3,101,833 | 3,814 |
| 47 | Nebraska | $27,858 | $17,000 | 1,920,076 | 6,877 |
| 48 | South Carolina | $27,966 | $16,000 | 5,024,369 | 11,700 |
| 49 | Mississippi | $27,676 | $16,000 | 2,984,100 | 4,939 |
| 50 | North Carolina | $27,805 | $16,000 | 10,273,419 | 16,618 |
| 51 | Florida | $27,301 | $16,000 | 20,984,400 | 8,642 |
Highest paying states for drivers
| Rank | State | Avg. Driver Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Iowa | $38,851 |
| 2 | Vermont | $42,781 |
| 3 | Oregon | $40,433 |
| 4 | Michigan | $37,482 |
| 5 | Indiana | $35,390 |
| 6 | Rhode Island | $40,449 |
| 7 | Washington | $40,614 |
| 8 | Massachusetts | $42,496 |
| 9 | New York | $41,316 |
| 10 | Connecticut | $40,527 |
| 11 | Wisconsin | $34,946 |
| 12 | New Jersey | $41,516 |
| 13 | Alabama | $33,989 |
| 14 | Maine | $36,985 |
| 15 | Montana | $37,359 |
| 16 | Minnesota | $35,469 |
| 17 | Illinois | $35,352 |
| 18 | California | $40,250 |
| 19 | Kentucky | $32,017 |
| 20 | Louisiana | $32,727 |
| 21 | Arkansas | $31,046 |
| 22 | Pennsylvania | $33,976 |
| 23 | West Virginia | $31,646 |
| 24 | Oklahoma | $31,828 |
| 25 | Kansas | $31,698 |
| 26 | Delaware | $35,034 |
| 27 | Alaska | $36,975 |
| 28 | South Dakota | $30,661 |
| 29 | New Mexico | $32,628 |
| 30 | Virginia | $35,190 |
| 31 | North Dakota | $30,849 |
| 32 | New Hampshire | $34,889 |
| 33 | Tennessee | $31,005 |
| 34 | District of Columbia | $38,569 |
| 35 | Nevada | $33,176 |
| 36 | Idaho | $31,587 |
| 37 | Texas | $32,311 |
| 38 | Georgia | $31,360 |
| 39 | Ohio | $30,110 |
| 40 | Wyoming | $30,113 |
| 41 | Colorado | $32,073 |
| 42 | Arizona | $32,627 |
| 43 | Missouri | $30,462 |
| 44 | Maryland | $33,556 |
| 45 | Hawaii | $35,994 |
| 46 | Utah | $30,543 |
| 47 | Nebraska | $27,858 |
| 48 | South Carolina | $27,966 |
| 49 | Mississippi | $27,676 |
| 50 | North Carolina | $27,805 |
| 51 | Florida | $27,301 |
Expert opinions on the best states for drivers
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for 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