Best cities for a driver/owner operator
The best cities for driver/owner operators are Memphis, TN, Wichita, KS, and New Orleans, LA, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for driver/owner operators vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for driver/owner operators in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a driver/owner operator or considering a move, this list of the best cities for driver/owner operators to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for driver/owner operators. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a driver/owner operator. While the absolute best city for driver/owner operators is Memphis, TN, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for driver/owner operators in 2024.
If you're looking for a driver/owner operator job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for driver/owner operators in 2026
1. Memphis, TN
Driver/owner operator jobs in MemphisTotal driver/owner operator jobs: 218 Average annual salary: $179,773 Lowest 10 percent warn: $72,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $446,000 Location quotient: 6.60 2. Wichita, KS
Driver/owner operator jobs in WichitaTotal driver/owner operator jobs: 111 Average annual salary: $168,074 Lowest 10 percent warn: $65,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $431,000 Location quotient: 7.82 3. New Orleans, LA
Driver/owner operator jobs in New OrleansTotal driver/owner operator jobs: 127 Average annual salary: $171,507 Lowest 10 percent warn: $71,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $410,000 Location quotient: 8.30 4. Columbus, OH
Driver/owner operator jobs in ColumbusTotal driver/owner operator jobs: 168 Average annual salary: $163,194 Lowest 10 percent warn: $63,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $421,000 Location quotient: 2.26 5. Cincinnati, OH
Driver/owner operator jobs in CincinnatiTotal driver/owner operator jobs: 47 Average annual salary: $166,891 Lowest 10 percent warn: $64,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $430,000 Location quotient: 1.30 6. Cleveland, OH
Driver/owner operator jobs in ClevelandTotal driver/owner operator jobs: 79 Average annual salary: $155,662 Lowest 10 percent warn: $58,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $410,000 Location quotient: 2.98 7. Oklahoma City, OK
Driver/owner operator jobs in Oklahoma CityTotal driver/owner operator jobs: 109 Average annual salary: $165,469 Lowest 10 percent warn: $67,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $407,000 Location quotient: 3.19 8. Atlanta, GA
Driver/owner operator jobs in AtlantaTotal driver/owner operator jobs: 217 Average annual salary: $180,662 Lowest 10 percent warn: $72,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $447,000 Location quotient: 1.41 9. Laredo, TX
Driver/owner operator jobs in LaredoTotal driver/owner operator jobs: 9 Average annual salary: $166,852 Lowest 10 percent warn: $70,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $393,000 Location quotient: 3.64 10. Tulsa, OK
Driver/owner operator jobs in TulsaTotal driver/owner operator jobs: 41 Average annual salary: $165,152 Lowest 10 percent warn: $66,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $412,000 Location quotient: 2.56
Choose from 10+ customizable driver/owner operator resume templates
Choose from a variety of easy-to-use driver/owner operator resume templates and get expert advice from Zippia’s AI resume writer along the way. Using pre-approved templates, you can rest assured that the structure and format of your driver/owner operator resume is top notch. Choose a template with the colors, fonts & text sizes that are appropriate for your industry.
Best cities for driver/owner operators
- Memphis, TN
- Wichita, KS
- New Orleans, LA
- Columbus, OH
- Cincinnati, OH
- Cleveland, OH
- Oklahoma City, OK
- Atlanta, GA
- Laredo, TX
- Tulsa, OK
- (218 driver/owner operator jobs)
- (111 driver/owner operator jobs)
- (127 driver/owner operator jobs)
- (168 driver/owner operator jobs)
- (47 driver/owner operator jobs)
- (79 driver/owner operator jobs)
- (109 driver/owner operator jobs)
- (217 driver/owner operator jobs)
- (9 driver/owner operator jobs)
- (41 driver/owner operator jobs)
Detailed list of the best cities for a driver/owner operator
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Memphis, TN | $179,773 | $72,000 | 652,717 | 218 |
| 2 | Wichita, KS | $168,074 | $65,000 | 389,902 | 111 |
| 3 | New Orleans, LA | $171,507 | $71,000 | 391,495 | 127 |
| 4 | Columbus, OH | $163,194 | $63,000 | 860,090 | 168 |
| 5 | Cincinnati, OH | $166,891 | $64,000 | 298,800 | 47 |
| 6 | Cleveland, OH | $155,662 | $58,000 | 385,809 | 79 |
| 7 | Oklahoma City, OK | $165,469 | $67,000 | 638,367 | 109 |
| 8 | Atlanta, GA | $180,662 | $72,000 | 472,522 | 217 |
| 9 | Laredo, TX | $166,852 | $70,000 | 257,156 | 9 |
| 10 | Tulsa, OK | $165,152 | $66,000 | 403,090 | 41 |
| 11 | Arlington, TX | $176,472 | $73,000 | 392,772 | 11 |
| 12 | Fort Wayne, IN | $147,597 | $55,000 | 264,488 | 48 |
| 13 | Kansas City, MO | $165,123 | $62,000 | 481,420 | 124 |
| 14 | Albuquerque, NM | $165,175 | $68,000 | 559,277 | 81 |
| 15 | Greensboro, NC | $164,242 | $66,000 | 287,027 | 36 |
| 16 | Philadelphia, PA | $162,355 | $64,000 | 1,567,872 | 174 |
| 17 | Henderson, NV | $152,009 | $63,000 | 292,969 | 15 |
| 18 | North Las Vegas, NV | $151,558 | $62,000 | 238,702 | 7 |
| 19 | Lexington, KY | $167,142 | $65,000 | 318,449 | 11 |
| 20 | Toledo, OH | $155,274 | $58,000 | 278,508 | 19 |
| 21 | Indianapolis, IN | $153,071 | $58,000 | 855,164 | 185 |
| 22 | Garland, TX | $176,963 | $73,000 | 234,943 | 3 |
| 23 | Saint Louis, MO | $169,665 | $65,000 | 311,404 | 83 |
| 24 | Charlotte, NC | $166,817 | $66,000 | 842,051 | 173 |
| 25 | Virginia Beach, VA | $158,347 | $64,000 | 452,602 | 88 |
| 26 | Jacksonville, FL | $160,647 | $65,000 | 880,619 | 113 |
| 27 | Louisville, KY | $166,652 | $64,000 | 597,337 | 28 |
| 28 | Chesapeake, VA | $158,652 | $64,000 | 237,940 | 19 |
| 29 | Winston-Salem, NC | $164,464 | $65,000 | 242,203 | 10 |
| 30 | Houston, TX | $175,452 | $74,000 | 2,303,482 | 200 |
| 31 | Fort Worth, TX | $176,294 | $73,000 | 854,113 | 19 |
| 32 | Hialeah, FL | $150,101 | $59,000 | 236,387 | 6 |
| 33 | Mesa, AZ | $154,760 | $65,000 | 484,587 | 16 |
| 34 | Islip, NY | $150,490 | $58,000 | 335,543 | 1 |
| 35 | Detroit, MI | $138,766 | $51,000 | 672,795 | 122 |
| 36 | Newark, NJ | $154,091 | $59,000 | 281,764 | 101 |
| 37 | Dallas, TX | $176,755 | $73,000 | 1,317,929 | 48 |
| 38 | Raleigh, NC | $164,251 | $66,000 | 458,880 | 51 |
| 39 | Pittsburgh, PA | $161,056 | $62,000 | 303,625 | 56 |
| 40 | San Antonio, TX | $172,917 | $73,000 | 1,492,510 | 33 |
| 41 | El Paso, TX | $169,799 | $72,000 | 683,080 | 9 |
| 42 | Las Vegas, NV | $151,497 | $62,000 | 632,912 | 70 |
| 43 | Corpus Christi, TX | $168,944 | $71,000 | 325,733 | 4 |
| 44 | Nashville, TN | $178,769 | $70,000 | 660,388 | 16 |
| 45 | Milwaukee, WI | $132,244 | $47,000 | 595,047 | 119 |
| 46 | Omaha, NE | $138,833 | $50,000 | 446,970 | 95 |
| 47 | Norfolk, VA | $158,222 | $64,000 | 245,115 | 22 |
| 48 | Tucson, AZ | $155,815 | $66,000 | 530,706 | 20 |
| 49 | Plano, TX | $176,935 | $73,000 | 286,057 | 4 |
| 50 | Austin, TX | $174,575 | $73,000 | 947,890 | 34 |
Highest paying cities for driver/owner operators
| Rank | City | Avg. driver/owner operator salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Savannah, GA | $182,373 |
| 2 | Chattanooga, TN | $181,597 |
| 3 | Little Rock, AR | $180,518 |
| 4 | Dallas, TX | $176,755 |
| 5 | New Orleans, LA | $171,507 |
| 6 | Bowling Green, KY | $170,079 |
| 7 | Saint Louis, MO | $169,665 |
| 8 | Wichita, KS | $168,074 |
| 9 | Columbus, MS | $167,976 |
| 10 | Cincinnati, OH | $166,891 |
| 11 | Charlotte, NC | $166,817 |
| 12 | Charleston, SC | $165,886 |
| 13 | Oklahoma City, OK | $165,469 |
| 14 | Birmingham, AL | $164,467 |
| 15 | Philadelphia, PA | $162,355 |
| 16 | Newark, DE | $161,849 |
| 17 | Jacksonville, FL | $160,647 |
| 18 | Charleston, WV | $158,086 |
| 19 | Columbia, MD | $155,836 |
| 20 | Columbus, IN | $155,285 |
Driver/owner operator best cities FAQs
Have more questions? See all answers to common transportation questions.
Search for driver/owner operator jobs
Updated January 8, 2025