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Tractor trailer operator salary
Average tractor trailer operator salary
$38,754
Understanding the Salary of Tractor Trailer Operators
As a tractor trailer operator, your salary can vary significantly based on several factors. Currently, the average annual salary is $38,754, with hourly wages around $19. Factors influencing your earnings include geographic location, years of experience, and specific job duties.
For instance, operators in states like California and Texas often see higher salaries due to the demand for transport services. Additionally, experience plays a crucial role; those with more years on the road typically earn more. In metropolitan areas, salaries tend to be higher than in rural locations, reflecting the cost of living and demand for services.
To maximize your earning potential, consider seeking positions in industries such as logistics and freight transport, where operators are often compensated at the higher end of the salary spectrum. This page not only details average salaries but also highlights the highest paying cities and states, offering valuable insights for current and prospective operators.
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Where can a Tractor Trailer Operator earn more?
Tractor trailer operator salaries by experience level
Average tractor trailer operator salary by state
The highest-paying states for tractor trailer operators are North Dakota, Montana, and Alaska. The lowest average tractor trailer operator salary states are Missouri, Michigan, and Alabama.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for tractor trailer operators
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wyoming | $45,590 | $21.92 |
| 2 | Montana | $48,040 | $23.10 |
| 3 | North Dakota | $52,612 | $25.29 |
| 4 | Minnesota | $41,983 | $20.18 |
| 5 | Oregon | $42,750 | $20.55 |
| 6 | Washington | $44,418 | $21.35 |
| 7 | Idaho | $40,328 | $19.39 |
| 8 | Nevada | $40,518 | $19.48 |
| 9 | Wisconsin | $39,169 | $18.83 |
| 10 | Pennsylvania | $38,446 | $18.48 |
| 11 | Illinois | $38,952 | $18.73 |
| 12 | Ohio | $36,945 | $17.76 |
| 13 | Delaware | $39,113 | $18.80 |
| 14 | Alaska | $47,070 | $22.63 |
| 15 | Colorado | $41,479 | $19.94 |
| 16 | Massachusetts | $42,645 | $20.50 |
| 17 | South Dakota | $40,812 | $19.62 |
| 18 | New York | $40,201 | $19.33 |
| 19 | Indiana | $36,704 | $17.65 |
| 20 | Oklahoma | $36,298 | $17.45 |
| 21 | Nebraska | $38,483 | $18.50 |
| 22 | California | $40,616 | $19.53 |
| 23 | West Virginia | $34,833 | $16.75 |
| 24 | Hawaii | $46,917 | $22.56 |
| 25 | Vermont | $39,235 | $18.86 |
| 26 | Kentucky | $35,024 | $16.84 |
| 27 | Maryland | $39,523 | $19.00 |
| 28 | Iowa | $35,503 | $17.07 |
| 29 | New Hampshire | $39,345 | $18.92 |
| 30 | Tennessee | $35,183 | $16.91 |
| 31 | Arizona | $37,672 | $18.11 |
| 32 | New Jersey | $38,881 | $18.69 |
| 33 | Virginia | $36,866 | $17.72 |
| 34 | Kansas | $33,965 | $16.33 |
| 35 | District of Columbia | $40,201 | $19.33 |
| 36 | Connecticut | $38,208 | $18.37 |
| 37 | Rhode Island | $36,377 | $17.49 |
| 38 | Louisiana | $34,107 | $16.40 |
| 39 | Arkansas | $34,696 | $16.68 |
| 40 | Mississippi | $32,984 | $15.86 |
| 41 | Georgia | $34,655 | $16.66 |
| 42 | Maine | $35,258 | $16.95 |
| 43 | Texas | $34,762 | $16.71 |
| 44 | Missouri | $32,097 | $15.43 |
| 45 | North Carolina | $32,985 | $15.86 |
| 46 | New Mexico | $32,411 | $15.58 |
| 47 | Alabama | $31,772 | $15.28 |
| 48 | South Carolina | $26,975 | $12.97 |
| 49 | Michigan | $31,916 | $15.34 |
| 50 | Utah | $31,724 | $15.25 |
| 51 | Florida | $26,559 | $12.77 |
Highest paying cities for tractor trailer operators
The highest-paying cities for tractor trailer operators are Auburn, WA, Commerce City, CO, and Cedar Hill, TX.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Auburn, WA | $44,414 | $21.35 |
| 2 | Commerce City, CO | $41,495 | $19.95 |
| 3 | Cedar Hill, TX | $34,560 | $16.62 |
Tractor trailer operator salary details
A tractor trailer operator's salary ranges from $27,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $55,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a tractor trailer operator's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $55,000 | $4,583 | $26 |
| 75th Percentile | $46,000 | $3,833 | $22 |
| Average | $38,754 | $3,230 | $19 |
| 25th Percentile | $32,000 | $2,667 | $15 |
| 10th Percentile | $27,000 | $2,250 | $13 |
Highest paying tractor trailer operator jobs
The highest paying types of tractor trailer operators are truck driver-over-the-road, company driver, and commercial truck driver.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CDL Class A Driver | $52,203 | $4,350 | $25.10 | 696,903 |
| Line Haul Driver | $53,992 | $4,499 | $25.96 | 871,646 |
| Class A Driver | $56,620 | $4,718 | $27.22 | 706,950 |
| Company Driver | $65,430 | $5,453 | $31.46 | 708,157 |
| Local Driver | $48,160 | $4,013 | $23.15 | 786,531 |
| CDL Driver | $63,112 | $5,259 | $30.34 | 784,044 |
Top companies hiring tractor trailer operators now:
Which companies pay tractor trailer operators the most?
Tractor trailer operator salaries at UPS and Meijer are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average tractor trailer operator salary at companies like New York State Restaurant Association and McKesson are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | UPS | $51,593 | $24.80 |
| 2 | Meijer | $44,649 | $21.47 |
| 3 | New York State Restaurant Association | $40,374 | $19.41 |
| 4 | McKesson | $39,246 | $18.87 |
| 5 | Walther Farms | $39,175 | $18.83 |
| 6 | Sunbelt Rentals | $38,286 | $18.41 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Tractor Trailer Operator salary by industry
The average tractor trailer operator salary varies across industries:
- The average tractor trailer operator salary in the transportation industry is $39,156, the highest of any industry.
- The average tractor trailer operator salary in the finance industry is $39,144.
- Tractor trailer operators in the construction industry earn an average salary of $37,931, the lowest of any industry.
Highest paying industries for tractor trailer operators
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Transportation | $39,156 | $18.82 |
| 2 | Real Estate | $39,144 | $18.82 |
| 3 | Manufacturing | $38,695 | $18.60 |
| 4 | Construction | $37,931 | $18.24 |
High paying tractor trailer operator jobs
Tractor trailer operator salary trends
The average tractor trailer operator salary has risen by $7,565 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average tractor trailer operator earned $31,189 annually, but today, they earn $38,754 a year. That works out to a 14% change in pay for tractor trailer operators over the last decade.
Compare tractor trailer operator salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average tractor trailer operator salary over time
Compare tractor trailer operator salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Tractor trailer operator salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $38,800 | $18.63 | +4.0% |
| 2024 | $37,200 | $17.89 | +3.5% |
| 2023 | $35,900 | $17.27 | +2.7% |
| 2022 | $34,900 | $16.79 | +2.7% |
| 2021 | $34,000 | $16.34 | +2.6% |
Recently added tractor trailer operator salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sunbelt Rentals | Union Driver 3-Tractor Trailer Operator | Shrewsbury, MA | 06/25/2025 | $70,353 |
| Driversource, Inc. | Class A Tractor Trailer Home Daily | Rossford, OH | 04/04/2025 | $54,262 |
| Denver, Co | Tractor Trailer Operator-Street Maintenance | Denver, CO | 02/20/2025 | $58,436 |
| Sunbelt Rentals, Inc. | Driver 3-Tractor Trailer Operator | Oakland, CA | 12/05/2024 | $55,243 |
| New York State Civil Service | Tractor Trailer Operator, Central Office; Two Positions | Orangeburg, NY | 11/27/2024 | $39,215 |
| TFC Recycling | Tractor Trailer | Enon, VA | 10/24/2024 | $54,262 |
| Sunbelt Rentals | Driver 3-Tractor Trailer Operator | San Leandro, CA | 10/12/2024 | $55,243 |
| Sunbelt Rentals | Driver 3-Tractor Trailer Operator | San Leandro, CA | 09/25/2024 | $55,243 |
| New York State Civil Service | Tandem Tractor Trailer Operator, Two Positions; Central Office | Orangeburg, NY | 09/17/2024 | $48,956 |
| SGV Trucking Academy | Tractor Trailer Operator | Oakland CA | Oakland, CA | 09/16/2024 | $65,302 |
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