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Professional truck driver salary
Average professional truck driver salary
$48,577
Average Professional Truck Driver Salary
The average salary for a Professional Truck Driver in the United States is approximately $48,577 per year. This figure translates to an hourly wage of about $23. However, salaries can vary significantly based on experience, location, and the specific type of driving involved. For instance, experienced drivers tend to earn more compared to those just starting out.
Salary by Experience Level
Entry-level truck drivers may start at lower salaries, while those with several years of experience can command higher pay. The demand for skilled truck drivers continues to rise, making it a viable career choice for many. Additionally, drivers who specialize in certain types of freight or who obtain advanced certifications often find better-paying opportunities.
Regional Salary Variations
Salary figures can also differ by state. For example, truck drivers in states like California and Texas typically earn more than those in other regions due to higher demand and cost of living. Understanding these regional differences can help drivers target locations that offer the best earning potential.
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Where can a Professional Truck Driver earn more?
Professional truck driver salaries by experience level
Average professional truck driver salary by state
The highest-paying states for professional truck drivers are Rhode Island, Montana, and Connecticut. The lowest average professional truck driver salary states are Kansas, Maine, and Nevada.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for professional truck drivers
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | North Dakota | $58,322 | $28.04 |
| 2 | Oklahoma | $56,101 | $26.97 |
| 3 | Rhode Island | $63,325 | $30.44 |
| 4 | Ohio | $54,747 | $26.32 |
| 5 | Montana | $62,783 | $30.18 |
| 6 | Connecticut | $61,555 | $29.59 |
| 7 | Kentucky | $53,421 | $25.68 |
| 8 | Tennessee | $53,740 | $25.84 |
| 9 | Wyoming | $55,445 | $26.66 |
| 10 | Pennsylvania | $54,964 | $26.43 |
| 11 | Texas | $54,718 | $26.31 |
| 12 | Vermont | $56,005 | $26.93 |
| 13 | New York | $60,698 | $29.18 |
| 14 | New Hampshire | $56,252 | $27.04 |
| 15 | Massachusetts | $59,349 | $28.53 |
| 16 | Illinois | $54,593 | $26.25 |
| 17 | Wisconsin | $53,289 | $25.62 |
| 18 | South Dakota | $52,430 | $25.21 |
| 19 | New Jersey | $59,615 | $28.66 |
| 20 | Maryland | $59,472 | $28.59 |
| 21 | West Virginia | $50,411 | $24.24 |
| 22 | Georgia | $53,564 | $25.75 |
| 23 | Indiana | $50,740 | $24.39 |
| 24 | Virginia | $56,089 | $26.97 |
| 25 | North Carolina | $52,904 | $25.43 |
| 26 | District of Columbia | $63,792 | $30.67 |
| 27 | Delaware | $53,709 | $25.82 |
| 28 | South Carolina | $51,638 | $24.83 |
| 29 | Alabama | $50,440 | $24.25 |
| 30 | Iowa | $50,389 | $24.23 |
| 31 | Arkansas | $49,687 | $23.89 |
| 32 | Minnesota | $53,264 | $25.61 |
| 33 | Arizona | $52,771 | $25.37 |
| 34 | Louisiana | $51,060 | $24.55 |
| 35 | Mississippi | $49,513 | $23.80 |
| 36 | Washington | $55,978 | $26.91 |
| 37 | Kansas | $49,406 | $23.75 |
| 38 | Alaska | $56,518 | $27.17 |
| 39 | Missouri | $50,035 | $24.06 |
| 40 | California | $53,099 | $25.53 |
| 41 | Oregon | $52,537 | $25.26 |
| 42 | Michigan | $49,676 | $23.88 |
| 43 | Colorado | $53,059 | $25.51 |
| 44 | Utah | $50,912 | $24.48 |
| 45 | Hawaii | $57,519 | $27.65 |
| 46 | Idaho | $49,762 | $23.92 |
| 47 | Maine | $48,934 | $23.53 |
| 48 | Nebraska | $47,112 | $22.65 |
| 49 | New Mexico | $47,427 | $22.80 |
| 50 | Nevada | $48,626 | $23.38 |
| 51 | Florida | $46,370 | $22.29 |
Highest paying cities for professional truck drivers
The highest-paying cities for professional truck drivers are Boston, MA, Alexandria, VA, and Broken Arrow, OK.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Boston, MA | $59,352 | $28.53 |
| 2 | Alexandria, VA | $56,451 | $27.14 |
| 3 | Broken Arrow, OK | $56,163 | $27.00 |
| 4 | Philadelphia, PA | $55,210 | $26.54 |
| 5 | Chicago, IL | $54,659 | $26.28 |
| 6 | Columbus, OH | $54,512 | $26.21 |
| 7 | Milwaukee, WI | $53,281 | $25.62 |
| 8 | Bowling Green, KY | $53,187 | $25.57 |
| 9 | Tracy, CA | $52,747 | $25.36 |
| 10 | Charlotte, NC | $52,662 | $25.32 |
| 11 | New Orleans, LA | $51,067 | $24.55 |
| 12 | Indianapolis, IN | $50,641 | $24.35 |
| 13 | Birmingham, AL | $50,570 | $24.31 |
| 14 | Charleston, WV | $50,149 | $24.11 |
| 15 | Kansas City, MO | $49,847 | $23.96 |
| 16 | Detroit, MI | $49,800 | $23.94 |
| 17 | Little Rock, AR | $49,784 | $23.93 |
| 18 | Jackson, MS | $49,454 | $23.78 |
| 19 | Wichita, KS | $49,331 | $23.72 |
| 20 | Jacksonville, FL | $47,411 | $22.79 |
Professional truck driver salary details
A professional truck driver's salary ranges from $33,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $69,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a professional truck driver's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $69,000 | $5,750 | $33 |
| 75th Percentile | $58,000 | $4,833 | $28 |
| Average | $48,577 | $4,048 | $23 |
| 25th Percentile | $40,000 | $3,333 | $19 |
| 10th Percentile | $33,000 | $2,750 | $16 |
Highest paying professional truck driver jobs
The highest paying types of professional truck drivers are truck driver-over-the-road, commercial truck driver, and truck driver class a.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Driver | $34,771 | $2,898 | $16.72 | 1,017,998 |
| CDL Driver | $63,112 | $5,259 | $30.34 | 784,044 |
| Mixer Driver | $52,004 | $4,334 | $25.00 | 990,295 |
| Van Driver | $36,254 | $3,021 | $17.43 | 791,293 |
| Truck Driver-Over-The-Road | $69,158 | $5,763 | $33.25 | 689,630 |
| Route Driver | $45,492 | $3,791 | $21.87 | 266,899 |
Top companies hiring professional truck drivers now:
Which companies pay professional truck drivers the most?
Professional truck driver salaries at Wellpath and McKesson are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average professional truck driver salary at companies like Cecil College and Allied Universal are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wellpath | $50,890 | $24.47 |
| 2 | McKesson | $48,021 | $23.09 |
| 3 | Cecil College | $40,710 | $19.57 |
| 4 | Allied Universal | $38,029 | $18.28 |
| 5 | Tulsa Tech | $37,397 | $17.98 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Professional Truck Driver salary by industry
The average professional truck driver salary varies across industries:
- The average professional truck driver salary in the transportation industry is $56,975, the highest of any industry.
- The average professional truck driver salary in the finance industry is $56,004.
- Professional truck drivers in the telecommunication industry earn an average salary of $51,366, the lowest of any industry.
Highest paying industries for professional truck drivers
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Transportation | $56,975 | $27.39 |
| 2 | Manufacturing | $56,004 | $26.93 |
| 3 | Retail | $51,808 | $24.91 |
| 4 | Insurance | $51,705 | $24.86 |
| 5 | Telecommunication | $51,366 | $24.70 |
High paying professional truck driver jobs
Professional truck driver salary trends
The average professional truck driver salary has risen by $9,482 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average professional truck driver earned $39,095 annually, but today, they earn $48,577 a year. That works out to a 14% change in pay for professional truck drivers over the last decade.
Compare professional truck driver salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average professional truck driver salary over time
Compare professional truck driver salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Professional truck driver salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $48,600 | $23.35 | +4.0% |
| 2025 | $46,600 | $22.43 | +3.5% |
| 2024 | $45,000 | $21.64 | +2.7% |
| 2023 | $43,800 | $21.05 | +2.7% |
| 2022 | $42,600 | $20.49 | +2.6% |
Recently added professional truck driver salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Job Listingsallied Universal | Security Professional-Truck Gate | Clinton, NC | 06/26/2025 | $28,175 |
| Allied Universal Security | Security Professional-Flex Truck Gate | Nazareth, PA | 06/21/2025 | $35,479 |
| Allied Universal | Security Professional-Truck Gate | Clinton, NC | 06/20/2025 | $28,175 |
| Allied Universal Security | Security Professional-Truck Gate | Clinton, MI | 06/18/2025 | $28,175 |
| Job Listingsallied Universal | Security Professional-Truck Gate | Macedonia, OH | 05/26/2025 | $34,436 |
| Allied Universal | Security Professional-Truck Gate | Bowling Green, KY | 04/26/2025 | $30,804 |
| Driveline Solutions | Professional Class A Truck Driver | Competitive Pay & Consistent Miles! | San Antonio, TX | 03/21/2025 | $65,219 |
| Home Every Other Week | Professional Truck Driver (Cdl-A) | Spend Time | Salt Lake City, UT | 03/16/2025 | $62,610 |
| Haug Implement Co | Professional Truck Driver | Willmar, MN | 03/02/2025 | $45,914 |
| Lamar Institute of Technology | Instructional Staff I, Professional Truck Driving Academy | Beaumont, TX | 02/19/2025 | $43,260 |
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