Average Owner/Operator Salary
What is an Owner/Operator's Salary?
| Percentile | Annual Salary | Monthly Salary | Hourly Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $245,000 | $20,417 | $118 |
| 75th Percentile | $209,000 | $17,417 | $100 |
| Average | $175,131 | $14,594 | $84 |
| 25th Percentile | $146,000 | $12,167 | $70 |
| 10th Percentile | $124,000 | $10,333 | $60 |
Average Owner/Operator Salary By State
The darker areas on the map show where owner/operators earn the highest salaries across all 50 states.
- State View
- County View
Owner/Operator average salary by State
| State | Avg. Salary | Hourly Rate | Job Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $157,477 | $75.71 | 5,499 |
| Alaska | $165,602 | $79.62 | 118 |
| Arizona | $189,359 | $91.04 | 3,088 |
| Arkansas | $175,035 | $84.15 | 4,168 |
| California | $189,385 | $91.05 | 14,402 |
| Colorado | $179,400 | $86.25 | 5,383 |
| Connecticut | $197,286 | $94.85 | 505 |
| Delaware | $189,033 | $90.88 | 971 |
| District of Columbia | $180,713 | $86.88 | 244 |
| Florida | $145,745 | $70.07 | 2,456 |
| Georgia | $166,762 | $80.17 | 12,069 |
| Hawaii | $136,317 | $65.54 | 117 |
| Idaho | $180,918 | $86.98 | 1,196 |
| Illinois | $183,635 | $88.29 | 13,751 |
| Indiana | $182,523 | $87.75 | 5,908 |
| Iowa | $181,032 | $87.03 | 3,726 |
| Kansas | $175,247 | $84.25 | 5,405 |
| Kentucky | $167,728 | $80.64 | 5,665 |
| Louisiana | $171,103 | $82.26 | 4,284 |
| Maine | $172,839 | $83.10 | 301 |
| Maryland | $171,743 | $82.57 | 2,488 |
| Massachusetts | $190,987 | $91.82 | 1,806 |
| Michigan | $182,050 | $87.52 | 4,543 |
| Minnesota | $179,167 | $86.14 | 4,077 |
| Mississippi | $165,474 | $79.55 | 3,390 |
| Missouri | $170,666 | $82.05 | 7,930 |
| Montana | $176,690 | $84.95 | 291 |
| Nebraska | $170,294 | $81.87 | 2,583 |
| Nevada | $198,088 | $95.23 | 855 |
| New Hampshire | $179,659 | $86.37 | 253 |
| New Jersey | $182,434 | $87.71 | 1,964 |
| New Mexico | $171,496 | $82.45 | 1,998 |
| New York | $188,874 | $90.80 | 7,714 |
| North Carolina | $163,488 | $78.60 | 5,074 |
| North Dakota | $189,404 | $91.06 | 1,643 |
| Ohio | $169,990 | $81.73 | 11,375 |
| Oklahoma | $176,061 | $84.64 | 5,103 |
| Oregon | $190,834 | $91.75 | 1,904 |
| Pennsylvania | $175,110 | $84.19 | 10,197 |
| Rhode Island | $195,068 | $93.78 | 354 |
| South Carolina | $166,063 | $79.84 | 4,146 |
| South Dakota | $167,402 | $80.48 | 1,642 |
| Tennessee | $167,822 | $80.68 | 4,295 |
| Texas | $168,128 | $80.83 | 23,682 |
| Utah | $188,331 | $90.54 | 2,883 |
| Vermont | $181,324 | $87.17 | 208 |
| Virginia | $177,242 | $85.21 | 10,323 |
| Washington | $185,903 | $89.38 | 2,306 |
| West Virginia | $159,614 | $76.74 | 4,036 |
| Wisconsin | $175,140 | $84.20 | 3,489 |
| Wyoming | $188,824 | $90.78 | 427 |
How much should you get paid?
Tell us about yourself to get a free, personalized Zippia Salary Report and suggestions on how to increase your pay.
Highest Paying Cities For Owner/Operator
| City | Avg. Salary | Hourly Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Bridgeport, CT | $203,800 | $97.98 |
| Boston, MA | $195,417 | $93.95 |
| Wilmington, DE | $195,269 | $93.88 |
| New York, NY | $193,356 | $92.96 |
| Phoenix, AZ | $191,485 | $92.06 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $190,194 | $91.44 |
And if you’re looking for a high-paying job, here are jobs in the top places hiring now:
How much does an Owner/Operator make?
Average Owner/Operator Salary Over Time
Compare salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Owner/Operator Salary By Year
| Year | Avg. Salary | Hourly Rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | $175,000 | $84.20 | +4.0% |
| 2021 | $168,000 | $80.86 | +3.5% |
| 2020 | $162,000 | $78.03 | +2.7% |
| 2019 | $158,000 | $75.89 | +2.7% |
| 2018 | $154,000 | $73.85 | +2.6% |
How Much Do Owner/Operators Make In Different Industries?
Highest Paying Industries For Owner/Operators
| Rank | Industry | Average Owner/Operator Salary | Owner/Operator Salary Range |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Manufacturing | $178,232 | $136k $211k |
| 2 | Internet | $173,129 | $136k $211k |
| 3 | Technology | $173,018 | $136k $211k |
| 4 | Professional | $170,215 | $136k $211k |
| 5 | Media | $170,198 | $136k $211k |
| 6 | Transportation | $168,159 | $136k $211k |
| 7 | Hospitality | $166,849 | $136k $211k |
| 8 | Retail | $166,745 | $136k $211k |
High Paying Owner/Operator Jobs
Average JOB Salary by Field
Avg. salary: $57,900
Avg. salary: $59,684
Avg. salary: $58,020
Avg. salary: $34,222
Avg. salary: $64,080
Avg. salary: $153,294
Average Salary By Related Field
| Job Title | Annual Salary | Monthly Salary | Hourly Rate | Job Openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CDL Class A Driver | $57,901 | $4,825 | $27.84 | 728,230 |
| Truck Driver | $59,684 | $4,974 | $28.69 | 838,360 |
| CDL Driver | $58,020 | $4,835 | $27.89 | 807,386 |
| Transportation Driver | $34,223 | $2,852 | $16.45 | 748,329 |
| Truck Driver Class A | $64,081 | $5,340 | $30.81 | 734,595 |
| Managing Partner | $153,294 | $12,775 | $73.70 | 79,258 |
Find High Paying Jobs Near You
Owner/Operator Jobs You Might Like
- High Paying Owner/Operator Jobs - $245K and Up
- Entry Level Owner/Operator Jobs
- Part Time Owner/Operator Jobs
- Actively Hiring
- No Degree Owner/Operator Jobs
And if you're looking for a job, here are the five top employers hiring now:
Owner/Operator Salaries By Years Of Experience
Which Companies Pay Owner/Operators The Most?
Highest Paying Companies For Owner/Operators
| Rank | Company | Zippia Score | Average Owner/Operator Salary | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $200,948 | |||
| 2 | $194,521 | |||
| 3 | $191,369 | |||
| 4 | $188,439 | |||
| 5 | $188,319 | |||
| 6 | $188,303 |
And if you're looking for a job, here are the five top employers hiring now:
How much should you get paid?
Tell us about yourself to get a free, personalized Zippia Salary Report and suggestions on how to increase your pay.
Recently Added Owner/Operator Salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date Added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CRST Van Expedited | Flatbed Solo & Teams Owner Operators | Providence, RI | 01/30/2022 | $215,000 |
| Clean Harbors | Owner Operator-Dry Van Up To | San Jose, CA | 01/30/2022 | $215,000 |
| Blackhawk Transport | Flatbed OTR Owner Operators-No Tarping | Indianapolis, IN | 01/29/2022 | $180,000 |
| Blackhawk Transport | Flatbed OTR Owner Operators-No Tarping | Manchester, NH | 01/29/2022 | $180,000 |
| Blackhawk Transport | Flatbed OTR Owner Operators-No Tarping | Detroit, MI | 01/29/2022 | $180,000 |
| Blackhawk Transport | Flatbed OTR Owner Operators-No Tarping | Albuquerque, NM | 01/29/2022 | $180,000 |
| Blackhawk Transport | Flatbed OTR Owner Operators-No Tarping | Billings, MT | 01/29/2022 | $180,000 |
| Blackhawk Transport | Flatbed OTR Owner Operators-No Tarping | Charleston, WV | 01/29/2022 | $180,000 |
| Blackhawk Transport | Flatbed OTR Owner Operators-No Tarping | Bangor, ME | 01/29/2022 | $180,000 |
| Blackhawk Transport | Flatbed OTR Owner Operators-No Tarping | Charlotte, NC | 01/29/2022 | $180,000 |
Average Owner/Operator Salary by Demographic
Owner/Operator Gender Pay Gap
| Gender | Income |
|---|---|
| Male | $176,075 |
| Female | $156,115 |
Owner/Operator Income by Race
| Ethnicity | Salary |
|---|---|
| White | $168,442 |
| Black or African American | $164,202 |
| Asian | $166,840 |
| Hispanic or Latino | $167,475 |
Owner/Operator Salary by Education Level
| Education | Salary |
|---|---|
| High School Diploma or Less | $176,075 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $172,109 |
| Some College/ Associate Degree | $175,928 |
Owner/Operator Salaries FAQs
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.
The total expenses will ultimately determine what amount an owner-operator can expect to keep of the gross pay. Initially, a person can expect to make significantly less than $180,000.
Many owner-operators will only take home $45,000 to $80,000 a year, with a much lower average for the first year. The first-year average is generally much lower because the initial purchase of a tractor-trailer will deplete a significant amount of initial earnings.
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.
Since heavy haul trucking is a specialized type of freight transportation, it typically comes with significantly higher than average income. However, that also means it comes with more base requirements.
These include experience in the following areas: heavy loads hauling, handling special permit requirements, and coordinating routes where oversized loads are allowed to pass. A heavy haul owner-operator also needs to possess a special permit to legally truck heavy hauls.
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.
The average net income in 2020 for leased and independent operators combined jumped from almost $63,000 in 2019 to $67,00 in 2020, thanks to pandemic-related economic changes.
This increase shows some of the volatility of owner-operator net salaries, which is largely driven by demand and the ability to minimize cost. For example, demand for delivered goods was higher during the 2020 pandemic, while expenses were down due to low gas prices and lack of traffic on the roads.