How much does an owner/operator make?

The average owner/operator salary in the United States is $167,288. Owner/operator salaries typically range between $105,000 and $264,000 yearly. The average hourly rate for owner/operators is $80.43 per hour. Owner/operator salary is impacted by location, education, and experience. Owner/operators earn the highest average salary in Oregon.

Owner/operator salary

Q: What state pays Owner/Operators the most?

Oregon pays Owner/Operators the most in the United States, with an average salary of $188,607 per year, or $90.68 per hour.

Q: How do I know if I'm being paid fairly as an owner/operator?

You know if you are being paid fairly as an owner/operator if your pay is close to the average pay for the state you live in. For example, if you live in Alaska you should be paid close to $182,238 per year.

Q: Do owner-operators make good money?

Yes, owner-operators make good money. On average, owner-operators gross over $184,000 annually. However, it is important to note that this is average gross pay. This does not include fuel, truck payments, food and lodging, or any other expense. What expenses a person might encounter as an owner-operator is essential when developing a business plan.

Q: How much do heavy haul owner-operators make?

Heavy haul owner-operators make about $133,000 annually. The top-earning percentile makes around $300,000, while the low end is barely $30,000. This wide range is due to whether heavy haul owner-operators are reporting net or gross earnings. Typically the average net range for heavy haul owner-operator income is around $50,000 to $150,000 annually.

Q: How much do owner-operators make net?

Owner-operators make a net pay of $60,000 to $70,000 annually. However, many owner-operators will only take home $45,000 a year, with a much lower average for the first year of operation.

Quoted expert

Laura Lott Valenti

Average owner/operator salary

$167,288

$80.43 hourly rate

Entry-level owner/operator salary

$105,000 yearly salary

Updated January 8, 2025

Understanding Owner/Operator Salaries

The average salary for an Owner/Operator in the United States is $167,288 per year, translating to roughly $80 per hour. This figure can vary significantly based on factors such as location, years of experience, and the type of industry served. For example, Owner/Operators in urban centers often command higher salaries due to increased demand and operational costs.

Salary by Experience Level

Experience plays a vital role in determining salary. Entry-level Owner/Operators may start with lower earnings, while those with several years of expertise can see substantial increases. Understanding these dynamics is essential for anyone considering this career path.

Top Locations for Owner/Operators

Certain states and cities offer more lucrative opportunities. For instance, Owner/Operators in states like California and Texas typically report higher salaries due to the higher cost of living and demand for transportation services. Evaluating regional markets can provide insights into potential earnings and career growth.

Conclusion

For those interested in becoming an Owner/Operator, knowing the average salary, the impact of experience, and the best locations for employment is crucial. These insights can help guide your career choices and maximize your earning potential.

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Owner/operator salary by:

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Where can an Owner/Operator earn more?

Compare salary by location

214k

194k

174k

154k

134k

Columbus, OH$188,221

Indianapolis, IN$164,367

Compare salary by company

228k

208k

188k

168k

148k

Reddy Ice$198,613

Champion Homes$177,661

Owner/operator salaries by experience level

Average owner/operator salary by state

The highest-paying states for owner/operators are Oregon, Alaska, and Rhode Island. The lowest average owner/operator salary states are Arkansas, Texas, and West Virginia.

State view
County view

Average salary:

Highest paying states for owner/operators

Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
1	North Dakota	$175,054	$84.16
2	Wyoming	$180,627	$86.84
3	Utah	$174,457	$83.87
4	Oregon	$188,607	$90.68
5	Rhode Island	$181,529	$87.27
6	South Dakota	$165,492	$79.56
7	Pennsylvania	$168,550	$81.03
8	Illinois	$172,352	$82.86
9	Delaware	$174,779	$84.03
10	Oklahoma	$162,479	$78.11
11	Alaska	$182,238	$87.61
12	Connecticut	$181,411	$87.22
13	Washington	$179,054	$86.08
14	Idaho	$167,170	$80.37
15	Kansas	$160,522	$77.17
16	Montana	$169,625	$81.55
17	Indiana	$160,414	$77.12
18	Iowa	$160,722	$77.27
19	Kentucky	$157,618	$75.78
20	Ohio	$159,503	$76.68
21	Virginia	$166,157	$79.88
22	Missouri	$161,139	$77.47
23	Nevada	$164,698	$79.18
24	Massachusetts	$173,017	$83.18
25	Wisconsin	$161,699	$77.74
26	Colorado	$165,872	$79.75
27	Minnesota	$165,748	$79.69
28	North Carolina	$162,266	$78.01
29	Tennessee	$156,426	$75.20
30	Arizona	$163,073	$78.40
31	Nebraska	$159,651	$76.76
32	Vermont	$166,258	$79.93
33	Mississippi	$154,043	$74.06
34	New York	$165,710	$79.67
35	New Jersey	$168,208	$80.87
36	California	$167,141	$80.36
37	Arkansas	$153,003	$73.56
38	West Virginia	$149,339	$71.80
39	Louisiana	$154,820	$74.43
40	Georgia	$155,501	$74.76
41	New Hampshire	$164,872	$79.27
42	Michigan	$158,710	$76.30
43	District of Columbia	$167,912	$80.73
44	South Carolina	$154,639	$74.35
45	Alabama	$147,994	$71.15
46	New Mexico	$154,158	$74.11
47	Texas	$152,130	$73.14
48	Maryland	$159,644	$76.75
49	Maine	$157,412	$75.68
50	Florida	$142,129	$68.33
51	Hawaii	$124,852	$60.02

Top owner/operator jobs near you

Highest paying cities for owner/operators

The highest-paying cities for owner/operators are Bridgeport, CT, Des Moines, WA, and Wilmington, DE.

Rank	City	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
1	Bridgeport, CT	$188,221	$90.49
2	Des Moines, WA	$184,425	$88.67
3	Wilmington, DE	$181,608	$87.31
4	Salt Lake City, UT	$180,721	$86.89
5	Aurora, IL	$178,796	$85.96
6	Newark, CA	$177,605	$85.39
7	Lexington, MA	$177,324	$85.25
8	Philadelphia, PA	$173,118	$83.23
9	Newark, NJ	$172,720	$83.04
10	Denver, CO	$170,838	$82.13
11	Virginia Beach, VA	$170,604	$82.02
12	New York, NY	$169,112	$81.30
13	Minneapolis, MN	$169,059	$81.28
14	Phoenix, AZ	$168,829	$81.17
15	Oklahoma City, OK	$168,457	$80.99
16	Raleigh, NC	$167,636	$80.59
17	Kansas City, MO	$166,222	$79.91
18	Kansas City, KS	$165,325	$79.48
19	Milwaukee, WI	$164,800	$79.23
20	Indianapolis, IN	$164,367	$79.02

Owner/Operators are the most in-demand in these five cities:

Owner/operator salary details

An owner/operator's salary ranges from $105,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $264,000 at the 90th percentile.

Average owner/operator salary graph, trends, and summary

What is an owner/operator's salary?

Percentile	Annual salary	Monthly salary	Hourly rate
90th Percentile	$264,000	$22,000	$127
75th Percentile	$212,000	$17,667	$102
Average	$167,288	$13,941	$80
25th Percentile	$131,000	$10,917	$63
10th Percentile	$105,000	$8,750	$50

Highest paying owner/operator jobs

The highest paying types of owner/operators are operator and truck driver, driver/owner operator, and managing partner.

Job title	Annual salary	Monthly salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
CDL Class A Driver	$52,203	$4,350	$25.10	696,903
Truck Driver	$60,326	$5,027	$29.00	827,858
CDL Driver	$63,112	$5,259	$30.34	784,044
Transportation Driver	$43,236	$3,603	$20.79	1,006,562
Truck Driver Class A	$63,270	$5,272	$30.42	709,900
Managing Partner	$147,401	$12,283	$70.87	66,916

How would you rate the starting salaries for owner/operators, as well as the prospects for salary advancement?

Laura Lott Valenti

Assistant Professor of Marketing John C. Daigle Endowed Professor, Nicholls State University

Just yesterday, one of my sales students was told, in an interview, that the starting salary was $50K base and a commission cap of $22.5K for a virtual sales position with a well-branded organization. I think this is great and in line with the industry and expectations! (I also have three former students who work for the company, so he would be in great hands.)

Top companies hiring owner/operators now:

Which companies pay owner/operators the most?

Owner/operator salaries at Reddy Ice and Clean Harbors are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average owner/operator salary at companies like The Next Level and Medical Diagnostic Laboratories are highly competitive.

Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate
1	Reddy Ice	$198,613	$95.49
2	Clean Harbors	$195,707	$94.09
3	The Next Level	$190,883	$91.77
4	Medical Diagnostic Laboratories	$189,473	$91.09
5	Crossland Construction	$188,902	$90.82
6	VIA Motors	$187,496	$90.14
7	Bennett Enterprises	$186,423	$89.63
8	Amazon	$185,057	$88.97
9	North American Corporation	$184,947	$88.92
10	Allegis Group	$182,927	$87.95
11	CEVA Logistics	$182,907	$87.94
12	Copart	$182,621	$87.80
13	Associated Asset Management	$181,985	$87.49
14	Carrier	$180,884	$86.96
15	Celadon Group	$180,328	$86.70
16	Billy Goat	$180,209	$86.64
17	United Road Services	$178,740	$85.93
18	Cal-Ark International, Inc.	$178,436	$85.79
19	Buchanan Hauling Rigging	$178,064	$85.61
20	Champion Homes	$177,661	$85.41

Wage gap by gender, race and education

$162,000$157,600$153,200$148,800$144,400$140,000

MaleFemale

Owner/Operator salary by industry

The average owner/operator salary varies across industries:

The average owner/operator salary in the technology industry is $168,776, the highest of any industry.
The average owner/operator salary in the finance industry is $168,184.
Owner/operators in the media industry earn an average salary of $152,566, the lowest of any industry.

Highest paying industries for owner/operators

Rank	Industry	Average salary	Hourly rate
1	Technology	$168,776	$81.14
2	Construction	$168,184	$80.86
3	Manufacturing	$168,122	$80.83
4	Hospitality	$164,010	$78.85
5	Professional	$159,664	$76.76
6	Retail	$159,129	$76.50
7	Transportation	$155,824	$74.92
8	Media	$152,566	$73.35

High paying owner/operator jobs

Owner/operator salary trends

The average owner/operator salary has risen by $32,656 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average owner/operator earned $134,632 annually, but today, they earn $167,288 a year. That works out to a 14% change in pay for owner/operators over the last decade.

Compare owner/operator salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.

Average owner/operator salary over time

Compare owner/operator salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.

Owner/operator salary by year

Year	Avg. salary	Hourly rate	% Change
2025	$167,000	$80.43	+4.0%
2024	$161,000	$77.24	+3.5%
2023	$155,000	$74.54	+2.7%
2022	$151,000	$72.49	+2.7%
2021	$147,000	$70.55	+2.6%

Recently added owner/operator salaries

Company	Job	Location	Date added	Salary
Universal Logistics Holdings	Local Owner Operator SD	Salt Lake City, UT	06/29/2025	$208,700
Universal Logistics Holdings	Home Daily Owner Operators	Columbus, OH	06/29/2025	$208,700
Universal Logistics Holdings	Home Daily Owner Operators	Louisville, KY	06/29/2025	$208,700
Universal Logistics Holdings	Class A-Owner Operator	Charleston, SC	06/29/2025	$169,569
Universal Logistics Holdings	Memphis-Class A Owner OP	Memphis, TN	06/29/2025	$156,525
Universal Logistics Holdings	Owner Operator	Charlotte, NC	06/29/2025	$182,613
Universal Logistics Holdings	Home Daily Owner Operators	Kearny, NJ	06/29/2025	$208,700
Universal Logistics Holdings	Home Daily Owner Operator	Council Bluffs, IA	06/29/2025	$208,700
Universal Logistics Holdings	Class A Owner OP JBP	Jacksonville, FL	06/29/2025	$156,525
PN Dispatch	Dispatch Service for Owner Operators/Fleets	Chicago, IL	06/29/2025	$50,000