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Best states for a tractor trailer operator
Quoted expert
Martin Garsee
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Are you wondering which place in the United States is the best state for tractor trailer operators? Knowing how challenging it is to figure out where to start your career or where to move to advance your career, we decided to bring you a list of best states for tractor trailer operator jobs.Our research shows that Wyoming is the best state in the country for tractor trailer operators.
Wyoming is the best state for jobs for tractor trailer operators, and Florida is the worst. The most common pay in Wyoming is $45,590, while the median pay in Florida is $26,559.Wyoming is the best state, and Minot is the city with the highest pay for tractor trailer operators.
10 best states for tractor trailer operators in 2026
1. Wyoming
Total tractor trailer operator jobs: 534 Average annual salary: $45,590 Lowest 10 percent earn: $33,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $61,000 Location Quotient: 0.9
2. Montana
Total tractor trailer operator jobs: 560 Average annual salary: $48,040 Lowest 10 percent earn: $36,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $63,000 Location Quotient: 0.49
3. North Dakota
Total tractor trailer operator jobs: 298 Average annual salary: $52,612 Lowest 10 percent earn: $40,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $68,000 Location Quotient: 0.33
4. Minnesota
Total tractor trailer operator jobs: 5,119 Average annual salary: $41,983 Lowest 10 percent earn: $31,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $55,000 Location Quotient: 0.78
5. Oregon
Total tractor trailer operator jobs: 2,563 Average annual salary: $42,750 Lowest 10 percent earn: $32,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $56,000 Location Quotient: 0.63
6. Washington
Total tractor trailer operator jobs: 3,275 Average annual salary: $44,418 Lowest 10 percent earn: $33,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $58,000 Location Quotient: 0.45
7. Idaho
Total tractor trailer operator jobs: 1,365 Average annual salary: $40,328 Lowest 10 percent earn: $30,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $54,000 Location Quotient: 0.84
8. Nevada
Total tractor trailer operator jobs: 1,286 Average annual salary: $40,518 Lowest 10 percent earn: $29,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $55,000 Location Quotient: 0.62
9. Wisconsin
Total tractor trailer operator jobs: 5,556 Average annual salary: $39,169 Lowest 10 percent earn: $28,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $53,000 Location Quotient: 1.02
10. Pennsylvania
Total tractor trailer operator jobs: 16,124 Average annual salary: $38,446 Lowest 10 percent earn: $26,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $55,000 Location Quotient: 1.4
Tractor trailer operator jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a tractor trailer operator
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a tractor trailer operator
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wyoming | $45,590 | $33,000 | 579,315 | 534 |
| 2 | Montana | $48,040 | $36,000 | 1,050,493 | 560 |
| 3 | North Dakota | $52,612 | $40,000 | 755,393 | 298 |
| 4 | Minnesota | $41,983 | $31,000 | 5,576,606 | 5,119 |
| 5 | Oregon | $42,750 | $32,000 | 4,142,776 | 2,563 |
| 6 | Washington | $44,418 | $33,000 | 7,405,743 | 3,275 |
| 7 | Idaho | $40,328 | $30,000 | 1,716,943 | 1,365 |
| 8 | Nevada | $40,518 | $29,000 | 2,998,039 | 1,286 |
| 9 | Wisconsin | $39,169 | $28,000 | 5,795,483 | 5,556 |
| 10 | Pennsylvania | $38,446 | $26,000 | 12,805,537 | 16,124 |
| 11 | Illinois | $38,952 | $28,000 | 12,802,023 | 21,609 |
| 12 | Ohio | $36,945 | $26,000 | 11,658,609 | 19,396 |
| 13 | Delaware | $39,113 | $27,000 | 961,939 | 1,692 |
| 14 | Alaska | $47,070 | $40,000 | 739,795 | 175 |
| 15 | Colorado | $41,479 | $30,000 | 5,607,154 | 3,308 |
| 16 | Massachusetts | $42,645 | $30,000 | 6,859,819 | 3,370 |
| 17 | South Dakota | $40,812 | $30,000 | 869,666 | 439 |
| 18 | New York | $40,201 | $28,000 | 19,849,399 | 12,634 |
| 19 | Indiana | $36,704 | $26,000 | 6,666,818 | 10,049 |
| 20 | Oklahoma | $36,298 | $26,000 | 3,930,864 | 5,103 |
| 21 | Nebraska | $38,483 | $28,000 | 1,920,076 | 1,340 |
| 22 | California | $40,616 | $29,000 | 39,536,653 | 29,718 |
| 23 | West Virginia | $34,833 | $24,000 | 1,815,857 | 3,476 |
| 24 | Hawaii | $46,917 | $39,000 | 1,427,538 | 158 |
| 25 | Vermont | $39,235 | $29,000 | 623,657 | 440 |
| 26 | Kentucky | $35,024 | $25,000 | 4,454,189 | 7,102 |
| 27 | Maryland | $39,523 | $27,000 | 6,052,177 | 5,720 |
| 28 | Iowa | $35,503 | $26,000 | 3,145,711 | 5,265 |
| 29 | New Hampshire | $39,345 | $28,000 | 1,342,795 | 628 |
| 30 | Tennessee | $35,183 | $25,000 | 6,715,984 | 7,268 |
| 31 | Arizona | $37,672 | $27,000 | 7,016,270 | 4,325 |
| 32 | New Jersey | $38,881 | $27,000 | 9,005,644 | 3,956 |
| 33 | Virginia | $36,866 | $25,000 | 8,470,020 | 13,811 |
| 34 | Kansas | $33,965 | $24,000 | 2,913,123 | 5,656 |
| 35 | District of Columbia | $40,201 | $28,000 | 693,972 | 383 |
| 36 | Connecticut | $38,208 | $27,000 | 3,588,184 | 1,515 |
| 37 | Rhode Island | $36,377 | $26,000 | 1,059,639 | 676 |
| 38 | Louisiana | $34,107 | $24,000 | 4,684,333 | 4,870 |
| 39 | Arkansas | $34,696 | $25,000 | 3,004,279 | 2,124 |
| 40 | Mississippi | $32,984 | $23,000 | 2,984,100 | 4,337 |
| 41 | Georgia | $34,655 | $24,000 | 10,429,379 | 9,547 |
| 42 | Maine | $35,258 | $26,000 | 1,335,907 | 573 |
| 43 | Texas | $34,762 | $24,000 | 28,304,596 | 9,916 |
| 44 | Missouri | $32,097 | $23,000 | 6,113,532 | 8,613 |
| 45 | North Carolina | $32,985 | $23,000 | 10,273,419 | 8,511 |
| 46 | New Mexico | $32,411 | $23,000 | 2,088,070 | 2,196 |
| 47 | Alabama | $31,772 | $22,000 | 4,874,747 | 4,948 |
| 48 | South Carolina | $26,975 | $19,000 | 5,024,369 | 7,383 |
| 49 | Michigan | $31,916 | $23,000 | 9,962,311 | 6,351 |
| 50 | Utah | $31,724 | $23,000 | 3,101,833 | 1,773 |
| 51 | Florida | $26,559 | $18,000 | 20,984,400 | 4,679 |
Highest paying states for tractor trailer operators
| Rank | State | Avg. Tractor Trailer Operator Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wyoming | $45,590 |
| 2 | Montana | $48,040 |
| 3 | North Dakota | $52,612 |
| 4 | Minnesota | $41,983 |
| 5 | Oregon | $42,750 |
| 6 | Washington | $44,418 |
| 7 | Idaho | $40,328 |
| 8 | Nevada | $40,518 |
| 9 | Wisconsin | $39,169 |
| 10 | Pennsylvania | $38,446 |
| 11 | Illinois | $38,952 |
| 12 | Ohio | $36,945 |
| 13 | Delaware | $39,113 |
| 14 | Alaska | $47,070 |
| 15 | Colorado | $41,479 |
| 16 | Massachusetts | $42,645 |
| 17 | South Dakota | $40,812 |
| 18 | New York | $40,201 |
| 19 | Indiana | $36,704 |
| 20 | Oklahoma | $36,298 |
| 21 | Nebraska | $38,483 |
| 22 | California | $40,616 |
| 23 | West Virginia | $34,833 |
| 24 | Hawaii | $46,917 |
| 25 | Vermont | $39,235 |
| 26 | Kentucky | $35,024 |
| 27 | Maryland | $39,523 |
| 28 | Iowa | $35,503 |
| 29 | New Hampshire | $39,345 |
| 30 | Tennessee | $35,183 |
| 31 | Arizona | $37,672 |
| 32 | New Jersey | $38,881 |
| 33 | Virginia | $36,866 |
| 34 | Kansas | $33,965 |
| 35 | District of Columbia | $40,201 |
| 36 | Connecticut | $38,208 |
| 37 | Rhode Island | $36,377 |
| 38 | Louisiana | $34,107 |
| 39 | Arkansas | $34,696 |
| 40 | Mississippi | $32,984 |
| 41 | Georgia | $34,655 |
| 42 | Maine | $35,258 |
| 43 | Texas | $34,762 |
| 44 | Missouri | $32,097 |
| 45 | North Carolina | $32,985 |
| 46 | New Mexico | $32,411 |
| 47 | Alabama | $31,772 |
| 48 | South Carolina | $26,975 |
| 49 | Michigan | $31,916 |
| 50 | Utah | $31,724 |
| 51 | Florida | $26,559 |
Expert opinions on the best states for tractor trailer operators
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for tractor trailer operators 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