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Best states for a semi truck driver
Quoted expert
Martin Garsee
- Rank 1 - 10
- 11 - 20
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- 41 - 51
Do you wonder which states in the U.S. are the best for semi truck drivers? If so, we have the full list of best to worst states for semi truck driver jobs for you to check out and see if you think it's time to move and start anew. Not all states fare the same when it come to job opportunity and pay.Our research found that Illinois is the best state for semi truck drivers, while North Dakota and Illinois are ranked highest in terms of median salary. Illinois has a median salary of $73,205 and North Dakota has the highest median salary among all 50 states for semi truck drivers.
In order to get you the best states for semi truck drivers, we looked at our data on jobs and wages -- specifically the average annual wage and the number of available jobs per capita.If you are currently seeking employment as a semi truck driver, you can find open job positions using Zippia's search tools.
10 best states for semi truck drivers in 2026
1. Illinois
Total semi truck driver jobs: 16,282 Average annual salary: $73,205 Lowest 10 percent earn: $50,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $106,000 Location Quotient: 1.56
2. Wyoming
Total semi truck driver jobs: 560 Average annual salary: $70,617 Lowest 10 percent earn: $49,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $101,000 Location Quotient: 1.07
3. Delaware
Total semi truck driver jobs: 1,539 Average annual salary: $69,913 Lowest 10 percent earn: $46,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $104,000 Location Quotient: 1.4
4. Tennessee
Total semi truck driver jobs: 7,085 Average annual salary: $63,843 Lowest 10 percent earn: $43,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $94,000 Location Quotient: 1.38
5. North Dakota
Total semi truck driver jobs: 375 Average annual salary: $78,797 Lowest 10 percent earn: $56,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $110,000 Location Quotient: 0.46
6. Montana
Total semi truck driver jobs: 703 Average annual salary: $69,976 Lowest 10 percent earn: $49,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $98,000 Location Quotient: 0.7
7. Kentucky
Total semi truck driver jobs: 6,646 Average annual salary: $61,335 Lowest 10 percent earn: $41,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $90,000 Location Quotient: 2.06
8. Nevada
Total semi truck driver jobs: 1,226 Average annual salary: $66,420 Lowest 10 percent earn: $44,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $99,000 Location Quotient: 0.67
9. Minnesota
Total semi truck driver jobs: 5,058 Average annual salary: $66,668 Lowest 10 percent earn: $46,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $95,000 Location Quotient: 0.87
10. Pennsylvania
Total semi truck driver jobs: 11,694 Average annual salary: $62,673 Lowest 10 percent earn: $42,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $93,000 Location Quotient: 1.15
Semi truck driver jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a semi truck driver
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a semi truck driver
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Illinois | $73,205 | $50,000 | 12,802,023 | 16,282 |
| 2 | Wyoming | $70,617 | $49,000 | 579,315 | 560 |
| 3 | Delaware | $69,913 | $46,000 | 961,939 | 1,539 |
| 4 | Tennessee | $63,843 | $43,000 | 6,715,984 | 7,085 |
| 5 | North Dakota | $78,797 | $56,000 | 755,393 | 375 |
| 6 | Montana | $69,976 | $49,000 | 1,050,493 | 703 |
| 7 | Kentucky | $61,335 | $41,000 | 4,454,189 | 6,646 |
| 8 | Nevada | $66,420 | $44,000 | 2,998,039 | 1,226 |
| 9 | Minnesota | $66,668 | $46,000 | 5,576,606 | 5,058 |
| 10 | Pennsylvania | $62,673 | $42,000 | 12,805,537 | 11,694 |
| 11 | West Virginia | $60,544 | $40,000 | 1,815,857 | 3,196 |
| 12 | Nebraska | $62,642 | $43,000 | 1,920,076 | 2,503 |
| 13 | Vermont | $66,407 | $45,000 | 623,657 | 509 |
| 14 | Ohio | $60,468 | $41,000 | 11,658,609 | 15,172 |
| 15 | Connecticut | $68,051 | $45,000 | 3,588,184 | 1,782 |
| 16 | South Dakota | $63,423 | $44,000 | 869,666 | 547 |
| 17 | Maryland | $66,466 | $44,000 | 6,052,177 | 5,324 |
| 18 | North Carolina | $61,639 | $41,000 | 10,273,419 | 8,549 |
| 19 | Oklahoma | $60,709 | $41,000 | 3,930,864 | 4,390 |
| 20 | Virginia | $65,753 | $44,000 | 8,470,020 | 7,714 |
| 21 | Alabama | $60,809 | $40,000 | 4,874,747 | 4,955 |
| 22 | New Mexico | $61,484 | $41,000 | 2,088,070 | 2,069 |
| 23 | Missouri | $60,955 | $41,000 | 6,113,532 | 7,741 |
| 24 | New York | $66,894 | $45,000 | 19,849,399 | 6,488 |
| 25 | Michigan | $60,576 | $41,000 | 9,962,311 | 6,404 |
| 26 | Wisconsin | $60,465 | $41,000 | 5,795,483 | 5,497 |
| 27 | Louisiana | $59,942 | $39,000 | 4,684,333 | 4,482 |
| 28 | Mississippi | $58,333 | $39,000 | 2,984,100 | 3,313 |
| 29 | Arkansas | $58,248 | $39,000 | 3,004,279 | 3,766 |
| 30 | Texas | $60,330 | $40,000 | 28,304,596 | 12,721 |
| 31 | Utah | $60,724 | $41,000 | 3,101,833 | 1,772 |
| 32 | Kansas | $57,242 | $39,000 | 2,913,123 | 4,939 |
| 33 | District of Columbia | $66,483 | $44,000 | 693,972 | 158 |
| 34 | South Carolina | $57,836 | $38,000 | 5,024,369 | 6,794 |
| 35 | Massachusetts | $62,452 | $42,000 | 6,859,819 | 2,639 |
| 36 | New Jersey | $62,366 | $41,000 | 9,005,644 | 3,836 |
| 37 | Rhode Island | $60,294 | $40,000 | 1,059,639 | 628 |
| 38 | Idaho | $59,486 | $40,000 | 1,716,943 | 1,316 |
| 39 | Washington | $61,036 | $41,000 | 7,405,743 | 3,143 |
| 40 | California | $59,484 | $39,000 | 39,536,653 | 23,704 |
| 41 | Iowa | $53,068 | $36,000 | 3,145,711 | 5,241 |
| 42 | Indiana | $52,483 | $35,000 | 6,666,818 | 9,731 |
| 43 | Alaska | $58,845 | $51,000 | 739,795 | 112 |
| 44 | Georgia | $56,210 | $37,000 | 10,429,379 | 11,252 |
| 45 | Maine | $57,736 | $39,000 | 1,335,907 | 733 |
| 46 | Oregon | $58,506 | $39,000 | 4,142,776 | 2,452 |
| 47 | Hawaii | $61,748 | $48,000 | 1,427,538 | 158 |
| 48 | Arizona | $55,830 | $37,000 | 7,016,270 | 3,808 |
| 49 | Colorado | $56,385 | $38,000 | 5,607,154 | 3,210 |
| 50 | New Hampshire | $55,831 | $38,000 | 1,342,795 | 738 |
| 51 | Florida | $48,446 | $31,000 | 20,984,400 | 5,725 |
Highest paying states for semi truck drivers
| Rank | State | Avg. Semi Truck Driver Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Illinois | $73,205 |
| 2 | Wyoming | $70,617 |
| 3 | Delaware | $69,913 |
| 4 | Tennessee | $63,843 |
| 5 | North Dakota | $78,797 |
| 6 | Montana | $69,976 |
| 7 | Kentucky | $61,335 |
| 8 | Nevada | $66,420 |
| 9 | Minnesota | $66,668 |
| 10 | Pennsylvania | $62,673 |
| 11 | West Virginia | $60,544 |
| 12 | Nebraska | $62,642 |
| 13 | Vermont | $66,407 |
| 14 | Ohio | $60,468 |
| 15 | Connecticut | $68,051 |
| 16 | South Dakota | $63,423 |
| 17 | Maryland | $66,466 |
| 18 | North Carolina | $61,639 |
| 19 | Oklahoma | $60,709 |
| 20 | Virginia | $65,753 |
| 21 | Alabama | $60,809 |
| 22 | New Mexico | $61,484 |
| 23 | Missouri | $60,955 |
| 24 | New York | $66,894 |
| 25 | Michigan | $60,576 |
| 26 | Wisconsin | $60,465 |
| 27 | Louisiana | $59,942 |
| 28 | Mississippi | $58,333 |
| 29 | Arkansas | $58,248 |
| 30 | Texas | $60,330 |
| 31 | Utah | $60,724 |
| 32 | Kansas | $57,242 |
| 33 | District of Columbia | $66,483 |
| 34 | South Carolina | $57,836 |
| 35 | Massachusetts | $62,452 |
| 36 | New Jersey | $62,366 |
| 37 | Rhode Island | $60,294 |
| 38 | Idaho | $59,486 |
| 39 | Washington | $61,036 |
| 40 | California | $59,484 |
| 41 | Iowa | $53,068 |
| 42 | Indiana | $52,483 |
| 43 | Alaska | $58,845 |
| 44 | Georgia | $56,210 |
| 45 | Maine | $57,736 |
| 46 | Oregon | $58,506 |
| 47 | Hawaii | $61,748 |
| 48 | Arizona | $55,830 |
| 49 | Colorado | $56,385 |
| 50 | New Hampshire | $55,831 |
| 51 | Florida | $48,446 |
Expert opinions on the best states for semi truck drivers
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for semi truck 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.
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Updated January 8, 2025