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Best states for a flatbed driver
Quoted expert
Martin Garsee
- Rank 1 - 10
- 11 - 20
- 21 - 30
- 31 - 40
- 41 - 51
It seems like flatbed drivers are becoming more and more common across America. But working conditions and demand for flatbed drivers aren't the same everywhere in the U.S. This way, if you are newly entering the job market, or you are looking to change jobs, you know which places are the best for flatbed driver jobs.
The median salary for flatbed drivers in North Dakota is $79,485. Compare that to the median salary in Florida of $48,257, which ranked worst for flatbed drivers, and you can see how your location is important for your career.We found that North Dakota is the best state for flatbed driver jobs, whereas Florida is the worst.
10 best states for flatbed drivers in 2025
1. North Dakota
Total flatbed driver jobs: 2,059 Average annual salary: $79,485 Lowest 10 percent earn: $55,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $113,000 Location Quotient: 1.97
2. Illinois
Total flatbed driver jobs: 18,909 Average annual salary: $74,859 Lowest 10 percent earn: $51,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $109,000 Location Quotient: 1.41
3. Wyoming
Total flatbed driver jobs: 659 Average annual salary: $72,853 Lowest 10 percent earn: $49,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $107,000 Location Quotient: 0.98
4. Tennessee
Total flatbed driver jobs: 8,533 Average annual salary: $66,212 Lowest 10 percent earn: $45,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $96,000 Location Quotient: 1.29
5. South Dakota
Total flatbed driver jobs: 2,141 Average annual salary: $65,005 Lowest 10 percent earn: $44,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $94,000 Location Quotient: 1.78
6. Indiana
Total flatbed driver jobs: 10,124 Average annual salary: $65,901 Lowest 10 percent earn: $45,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $96,000 Location Quotient: 1.37
7. Delaware
Total flatbed driver jobs: 1,516 Average annual salary: $70,223 Lowest 10 percent earn: $47,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $103,000 Location Quotient: 1.07
8. Kentucky
Total flatbed driver jobs: 7,648 Average annual salary: $63,549 Lowest 10 percent earn: $43,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $92,000 Location Quotient: 1.85
9. Montana
Total flatbed driver jobs: 703 Average annual salary: $70,469 Lowest 10 percent earn: $47,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $103,000 Location Quotient: 0.54
10. Nebraska
Total flatbed driver jobs: 3,602 Average annual salary: $65,108 Lowest 10 percent earn: $44,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $94,000 Location Quotient: 1.44
Flatbed driver jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a flatbed driver
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a flatbed driver
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | North Dakota | $79,485 | $55,000 | 755,393 | 2,059 |
| 2 | Illinois | $74,859 | $51,000 | 12,802,023 | 18,909 |
| 3 | Wyoming | $72,853 | $49,000 | 579,315 | 659 |
| 4 | Tennessee | $66,212 | $45,000 | 6,715,984 | 8,533 |
| 5 | South Dakota | $65,005 | $44,000 | 869,666 | 2,141 |
| 6 | Indiana | $65,901 | $45,000 | 6,666,818 | 10,124 |
| 7 | Delaware | $70,223 | $47,000 | 961,939 | 1,516 |
| 8 | Kentucky | $63,549 | $43,000 | 4,454,189 | 7,648 |
| 9 | Montana | $70,469 | $47,000 | 1,050,493 | 703 |
| 10 | Nebraska | $65,108 | $44,000 | 1,920,076 | 3,602 |
| 11 | West Virginia | $62,146 | $42,000 | 1,815,857 | 3,487 |
| 12 | Oklahoma | $63,009 | $43,000 | 3,930,864 | 5,849 |
| 13 | Minnesota | $67,430 | $46,000 | 5,576,606 | 6,703 |
| 14 | Michigan | $65,059 | $44,000 | 9,962,311 | 7,635 |
| 15 | Alabama | $62,602 | $42,000 | 4,874,747 | 8,176 |
| 16 | Virginia | $67,095 | $45,000 | 8,470,020 | 12,014 |
| 17 | Ohio | $61,775 | $42,000 | 11,658,609 | 17,735 |
| 18 | Missouri | $63,494 | $43,000 | 6,113,532 | 9,728 |
| 19 | Pennsylvania | $62,864 | $42,000 | 12,805,537 | 15,586 |
| 20 | Iowa | $62,229 | $42,000 | 3,145,711 | 6,327 |
| 21 | New York | $66,687 | $45,000 | 19,849,399 | 11,449 |
| 22 | Vermont | $65,770 | $45,000 | 623,657 | 522 |
| 23 | Connecticut | $67,761 | $46,000 | 3,588,184 | 1,790 |
| 24 | Nevada | $65,270 | $43,000 | 2,998,039 | 1,256 |
| 25 | North Carolina | $63,405 | $43,000 | 10,273,419 | 10,189 |
| 26 | New Mexico | $62,983 | $42,000 | 2,088,070 | 2,525 |
| 27 | Maryland | $67,178 | $45,000 | 6,052,177 | 5,391 |
| 28 | Arkansas | $60,422 | $41,000 | 3,004,279 | 5,177 |
| 29 | Kansas | $59,706 | $41,000 | 2,913,123 | 6,542 |
| 30 | Wisconsin | $61,239 | $42,000 | 5,795,483 | 6,585 |
| 31 | Louisiana | $61,184 | $41,000 | 4,684,333 | 5,749 |
| 32 | Mississippi | $60,050 | $40,000 | 2,984,100 | 4,116 |
| 33 | District of Columbia | $67,476 | $45,000 | 693,972 | 195 |
| 34 | Utah | $61,808 | $41,000 | 3,101,833 | 2,223 |
| 35 | Texas | $61,263 | $41,000 | 28,304,596 | 26,058 |
| 36 | South Carolina | $59,349 | $40,000 | 5,024,369 | 7,707 |
| 37 | New Jersey | $62,251 | $42,000 | 9,005,644 | 3,976 |
| 38 | Idaho | $59,054 | $39,000 | 1,716,943 | 1,883 |
| 39 | Georgia | $57,882 | $39,000 | 10,429,379 | 16,720 |
| 40 | Massachusetts | $61,875 | $42,000 | 6,859,819 | 2,581 |
| 41 | Rhode Island | $59,862 | $40,000 | 1,059,639 | 644 |
| 42 | Alaska | $56,822 | $46,000 | 739,795 | 141 |
| 43 | Hawaii | $56,644 | $45,000 | 1,427,538 | 159 |
| 44 | Colorado | $58,626 | $39,000 | 5,607,154 | 4,021 |
| 45 | Maine | $57,439 | $39,000 | 1,335,907 | 690 |
| 46 | Arizona | $55,666 | $37,000 | 7,016,270 | 4,045 |
| 47 | Washington | $57,881 | $39,000 | 7,405,743 | 4,160 |
| 48 | California | $56,585 | $38,000 | 39,536,653 | 25,515 |
| 49 | Oregon | $55,097 | $37,000 | 4,142,776 | 3,503 |
| 50 | New Hampshire | $55,283 | $37,000 | 1,342,795 | 741 |
| 51 | Florida | $48,257 | $33,000 | 20,984,400 | 5,798 |
Highest paying states for flatbed drivers
| Rank | State | Avg. Flatbed Driver Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | North Dakota | $79,485 |
| 2 | Illinois | $74,859 |
| 3 | Wyoming | $72,853 |
| 4 | Tennessee | $66,212 |
| 5 | South Dakota | $65,005 |
| 6 | Indiana | $65,901 |
| 7 | Delaware | $70,223 |
| 8 | Kentucky | $63,549 |
| 9 | Montana | $70,469 |
| 10 | Nebraska | $65,108 |
| 11 | West Virginia | $62,146 |
| 12 | Oklahoma | $63,009 |
| 13 | Minnesota | $67,430 |
| 14 | Michigan | $65,059 |
| 15 | Alabama | $62,602 |
| 16 | Virginia | $67,095 |
| 17 | Ohio | $61,775 |
| 18 | Missouri | $63,494 |
| 19 | Pennsylvania | $62,864 |
| 20 | Iowa | $62,229 |
| 21 | New York | $66,687 |
| 22 | Vermont | $65,770 |
| 23 | Connecticut | $67,761 |
| 24 | Nevada | $65,270 |
| 25 | North Carolina | $63,405 |
| 26 | New Mexico | $62,983 |
| 27 | Maryland | $67,178 |
| 28 | Arkansas | $60,422 |
| 29 | Kansas | $59,706 |
| 30 | Wisconsin | $61,239 |
| 31 | Louisiana | $61,184 |
| 32 | Mississippi | $60,050 |
| 33 | District of Columbia | $67,476 |
| 34 | Utah | $61,808 |
| 35 | Texas | $61,263 |
| 36 | South Carolina | $59,349 |
| 37 | New Jersey | $62,251 |
| 38 | Idaho | $59,054 |
| 39 | Georgia | $57,882 |
| 40 | Massachusetts | $61,875 |
| 41 | Rhode Island | $59,862 |
| 42 | Alaska | $56,822 |
| 43 | Hawaii | $56,644 |
| 44 | Colorado | $58,626 |
| 45 | Maine | $57,439 |
| 46 | Arizona | $55,666 |
| 47 | Washington | $57,881 |
| 48 | California | $56,585 |
| 49 | Oregon | $55,097 |
| 50 | New Hampshire | $55,283 |
| 51 | Florida | $48,257 |
Expert opinions on the best states for flatbed drivers
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for flatbed 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.
Flatbed driver best states FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025