Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
Best states for a trailer truck driver
Quoted expert
Martin Garsee
- Rank 1 - 10
- 11 - 20
- 21 - 30
- 31 - 40
- 41 - 51
Trailer truck driver opportunities vary in different parts of the country. In order to help you determine the best states for trailer truck drivers, we ranked all fifty states from best to worst for trailer truck drivers.We wanted to look at the best states for trailer truck drivers -- where there are plenty of trailer truck driver jobs to go around and trailer truck drivers get paid what they deserve during every phase of their career.
Illinois is the best state for jobs for trailer truck drivers, and Florida is the worst. The most common pay in Illinois is $71,681, while the median pay in Florida is $53,283.We found that the West is best for trailer truck drivers, and the Midwest is the worst. New Brunswick, NJ is the best city in the country for trailer truck driver jobs, where as Illinois is the best state in the country.
10 best states for trailer truck drivers in 2025
1. Illinois
Total trailer truck driver jobs: 15,624 Average annual salary: $71,681 Lowest 10 percent earn: $48,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $105,000 Location Quotient: 1.54
2. Indiana
Total trailer truck driver jobs: 9,154 Average annual salary: $67,899 Lowest 10 percent earn: $45,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $100,000 Location Quotient: 1.64
3. Georgia
Total trailer truck driver jobs: 14,283 Average annual salary: $69,273 Lowest 10 percent earn: $45,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $104,000 Location Quotient: 1.62
4. Kansas
Total trailer truck driver jobs: 4,611 Average annual salary: $67,282 Lowest 10 percent earn: $45,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $98,000 Location Quotient: 1.79
5. Pennsylvania
Total trailer truck driver jobs: 10,408 Average annual salary: $71,445 Lowest 10 percent earn: $47,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $108,000 Location Quotient: 1.05
6. Wyoming
Total trailer truck driver jobs: 515 Average annual salary: $70,169 Lowest 10 percent earn: $48,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $101,000 Location Quotient: 1.01
7. New Jersey
Total trailer truck driver jobs: 3,188 Average annual salary: $76,521 Lowest 10 percent earn: $50,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $116,000 Location Quotient: 0.47
8. New York
Total trailer truck driver jobs: 5,742 Average annual salary: $76,363 Lowest 10 percent earn: $50,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $115,000 Location Quotient: 0.53
9. Washington
Total trailer truck driver jobs: 2,854 Average annual salary: $74,622 Lowest 10 percent earn: $49,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $111,000 Location Quotient: 0.46
10. North Carolina
Total trailer truck driver jobs: 7,408 Average annual salary: $65,848 Lowest 10 percent earn: $43,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $99,000 Location Quotient: 0.91
Trailer truck driver jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a trailer truck driver
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a trailer truck driver
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Illinois | $71,681 | $48,000 | 12,802,023 | 15,624 |
| 2 | Indiana | $67,899 | $45,000 | 6,666,818 | 9,154 |
| 3 | Georgia | $69,273 | $45,000 | 10,429,379 | 14,283 |
| 4 | Kansas | $67,282 | $45,000 | 2,913,123 | 4,611 |
| 5 | Pennsylvania | $71,445 | $47,000 | 12,805,537 | 10,408 |
| 6 | Wyoming | $70,169 | $48,000 | 579,315 | 515 |
| 7 | New Jersey | $76,521 | $50,000 | 9,005,644 | 3,188 |
| 8 | New York | $76,363 | $50,000 | 19,849,399 | 5,742 |
| 9 | Washington | $74,622 | $49,000 | 7,405,743 | 2,854 |
| 10 | North Carolina | $65,848 | $43,000 | 10,273,419 | 7,408 |
| 11 | South Dakota | $63,174 | $43,000 | 869,666 | 1,154 |
| 12 | Minnesota | $67,331 | $46,000 | 5,576,606 | 4,433 |
| 13 | Iowa | $61,917 | $42,000 | 3,145,711 | 4,950 |
| 14 | South Carolina | $61,933 | $41,000 | 5,024,369 | 6,376 |
| 15 | California | $71,162 | $46,000 | 39,536,653 | 21,084 |
| 16 | Delaware | $64,620 | $42,000 | 961,939 | 1,432 |
| 17 | Massachusetts | $69,977 | $46,000 | 6,859,819 | 2,455 |
| 18 | Oklahoma | $61,174 | $41,000 | 3,930,864 | 4,055 |
| 19 | Virginia | $66,220 | $43,000 | 8,470,020 | 6,875 |
| 20 | Kentucky | $59,301 | $39,000 | 4,454,189 | 6,284 |
| 21 | Wisconsin | $61,590 | $41,000 | 5,795,483 | 5,017 |
| 22 | West Virginia | $57,846 | $38,000 | 1,815,857 | 3,031 |
| 23 | North Dakota | $63,875 | $44,000 | 755,393 | 320 |
| 24 | Tennessee | $60,100 | $40,000 | 6,715,984 | 6,507 |
| 25 | Maryland | $65,710 | $43,000 | 6,052,177 | 4,819 |
| 26 | Vermont | $64,491 | $42,000 | 623,657 | 497 |
| 27 | Texas | $61,760 | $40,000 | 28,304,596 | 20,043 |
| 28 | New Hampshire | $64,849 | $42,000 | 1,342,795 | 624 |
| 29 | Nevada | $61,713 | $41,000 | 2,998,039 | 1,082 |
| 30 | Ohio | $57,016 | $38,000 | 11,658,609 | 14,104 |
| 31 | Utah | $61,439 | $41,000 | 3,101,833 | 1,593 |
| 32 | Mississippi | $55,977 | $37,000 | 2,984,100 | 3,098 |
| 33 | Colorado | $63,036 | $43,000 | 5,607,154 | 2,919 |
| 34 | District of Columbia | $66,871 | $44,000 | 693,972 | 155 |
| 35 | Connecticut | $62,260 | $41,000 | 3,588,184 | 1,694 |
| 36 | Montana | $60,964 | $42,000 | 1,050,493 | 586 |
| 37 | Oregon | $61,047 | $40,000 | 4,142,776 | 2,150 |
| 38 | Alabama | $54,343 | $36,000 | 4,874,747 | 6,121 |
| 39 | Idaho | $58,581 | $39,000 | 1,716,943 | 1,204 |
| 40 | Rhode Island | $59,585 | $39,000 | 1,059,639 | 599 |
| 41 | Nebraska | $55,857 | $38,000 | 1,920,076 | 2,322 |
| 42 | Alaska | $58,553 | $51,000 | 739,795 | 86 |
| 43 | Hawaii | $64,574 | $51,000 | 1,427,538 | 64 |
| 44 | Maine | $57,914 | $38,000 | 1,335,907 | 671 |
| 45 | Missouri | $53,741 | $36,000 | 6,113,532 | 7,070 |
| 46 | Arkansas | $47,916 | $32,000 | 3,004,279 | 3,531 |
| 47 | New Mexico | $52,227 | $35,000 | 2,088,070 | 1,914 |
| 48 | Michigan | $50,934 | $34,000 | 9,962,311 | 6,005 |
| 49 | Arizona | $54,426 | $35,000 | 7,016,270 | 3,427 |
| 50 | Louisiana | $46,011 | $30,000 | 4,684,333 | 4,128 |
| 51 | Florida | $53,283 | $34,000 | 20,984,400 | 4,740 |
Highest paying states for trailer truck drivers
| Rank | State | Avg. Trailer Truck Driver Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Illinois | $71,681 |
| 2 | Indiana | $67,899 |
| 3 | Georgia | $69,273 |
| 4 | Kansas | $67,282 |
| 5 | Pennsylvania | $71,445 |
| 6 | Wyoming | $70,169 |
| 7 | New Jersey | $76,521 |
| 8 | New York | $76,363 |
| 9 | Washington | $74,622 |
| 10 | North Carolina | $65,848 |
| 11 | South Dakota | $63,174 |
| 12 | Minnesota | $67,331 |
| 13 | Iowa | $61,917 |
| 14 | South Carolina | $61,933 |
| 15 | California | $71,162 |
| 16 | Delaware | $64,620 |
| 17 | Massachusetts | $69,977 |
| 18 | Oklahoma | $61,174 |
| 19 | Virginia | $66,220 |
| 20 | Kentucky | $59,301 |
| 21 | Wisconsin | $61,590 |
| 22 | West Virginia | $57,846 |
| 23 | North Dakota | $63,875 |
| 24 | Tennessee | $60,100 |
| 25 | Maryland | $65,710 |
| 26 | Vermont | $64,491 |
| 27 | Texas | $61,760 |
| 28 | New Hampshire | $64,849 |
| 29 | Nevada | $61,713 |
| 30 | Ohio | $57,016 |
| 31 | Utah | $61,439 |
| 32 | Mississippi | $55,977 |
| 33 | Colorado | $63,036 |
| 34 | District of Columbia | $66,871 |
| 35 | Connecticut | $62,260 |
| 36 | Montana | $60,964 |
| 37 | Oregon | $61,047 |
| 38 | Alabama | $54,343 |
| 39 | Idaho | $58,581 |
| 40 | Rhode Island | $59,585 |
| 41 | Nebraska | $55,857 |
| 42 | Alaska | $58,553 |
| 43 | Hawaii | $64,574 |
| 44 | Maine | $57,914 |
| 45 | Missouri | $53,741 |
| 46 | Arkansas | $47,916 |
| 47 | New Mexico | $52,227 |
| 48 | Michigan | $50,934 |
| 49 | Arizona | $54,426 |
| 50 | Louisiana | $46,011 |
| 51 | Florida | $53,283 |
Expert opinions on the best states for trailer truck drivers
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for trailer 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.
Trailer truck driver best states FAQs
Have more questions? See all answers to common transportation questions.
Search for trailer truck driver jobs
Updated January 8, 2025