Taxes & money · Updated Oct 2026
How much do truck drivers make? Pay per mile, by state and by job type
Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers earned a median of $58,640 a year ($28.19 an hour) in May 2025, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics wage survey released May 15, 2026.[1] Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2025, 53-3032 Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers (national and state) (opens in a new tab) Per mile, carriers paid an average of 81.8 cents in driver wages in 2025, per ATRI's 2026 operating-cost survey.[3] Source: American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI): Analysis of the Operational Costs of Trucking, 2026 Update (PDF) (opens in a new tab) What you actually make depends on your state, your freight, how you're paid and how many miles you get.
Pay per mile: what's typical and what counts as good
- ATRI benchmark: carriers averaged $0.818 a mile in driver wages in 2025, up 2.5% from $0.798 in 2024.[3] Source: American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI): Analysis of the Operational Costs of Trucking, 2026 Update (PDF) (opens in a new tab)
- Benefits on top: carriers spent another $0.210 a mile on driver benefits, so total driver compensation averaged $1.028 a mile, the first year it topped a dollar.[3] Source: American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI): Analysis of the Operational Costs of Trucking, 2026 Update (PDF) (opens in a new tab)
- Hourly view: ATRI's per-hour figure for driver wages in 2025 was $37.36.[3] Source: American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI): Analysis of the Operational Costs of Trucking, 2026 Update (PDF) (opens in a new tab)
- By region: ATRI found the Northeast paid the highest average driver wages at $0.852 a mile. The Midwest was lowest at $0.748.[3] Source: American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI): Analysis of the Operational Costs of Trucking, 2026 Update (PDF) (opens in a new tab)
- ATRI's numbers are carrier-side averages across fleets that answered its survey. They are not a quote for any one job, and new drivers often start below them.
- Paid miles vs. miles driven: "per mile" almost always means paid (dispatched) miles, counted by a routing program, not every mile on your odometer. Ask how a carrier counts miles. Our CPM pay and settlements guide walks through it.
- Example (not a real company rate): 2,300 paid miles at $0.70 a mile is $1,610 gross for the week, before taxes and deductions. Plug your own numbers into the pay calculator.
Truck driver pay by state
Mean pay runs from about $52,000 to about $70,000 depending on the state. Alaska ($69,520), Washington ($68,230), New Jersey ($66,770), New York ($65,780) and Nevada ($65,010) had the highest mean annual wages in May 2025.[1] Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2025, 53-3032 Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers (national and state) (opens in a new tab) Louisiana ($51,930), West Virginia ($52,440) and New Mexico ($53,100) had the lowest.[1] Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2025, 53-3032 Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers (national and state) (opens in a new tab) Higher pay often comes with higher living costs, so compare both.
All figures: BLS OEWS, SOC 53-3032 Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers, May 2025, released May 15, 2026. Wage-and-salary workers only. Self-employed owner-operators aren't counted.[1] Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2025, 53-3032 Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers (national and state) (opens in a new tab)
| State | Median annual | Mean annual | Drivers employed | CDL jobs on Truker |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $52,120 | $56,230 | 36,650 | Alabama jobs |
| Alaska | $70,100 | $69,520 | 3,420 | Alaska jobs |
| Arizona | $58,080 | $58,870 | 40,150 | Arizona jobs |
| Arkansas | $51,550 | $57,390 | 32,220 | Arkansas jobs |
| California | $60,230 | $62,020 | 205,090 | California jobs |
| Colorado | $61,500 | $63,650 | 25,350 | Colorado jobs |
| Connecticut | $60,490 | $61,980 | 15,740 | Connecticut jobs |
| Delaware | $57,590 | $57,380 | 9,040 | Delaware jobs |
| District of Columbia | $64,170 | $67,710 | 830 | — |
| Florida | $50,640 | $54,850 | 112,920 | Florida jobs |
| Georgia | $57,050 | $57,780 | 74,840 | Georgia jobs |
| Hawaii | $59,820 | $60,850 | 4,070 | Hawaii jobs |
| Idaho | $58,770 | $59,160 | 15,920 | Idaho jobs |
| Illinois | $60,320 | $62,430 | 84,200 | Illinois jobs |
| Indiana | $60,290 | $60,950 | 59,090 | Indiana jobs |
| Iowa | $58,070 | $60,070 | 35,040 | Iowa jobs |
| Kansas | $58,920 | $60,480 | 24,220 | Kansas jobs |
| Kentucky | $56,340 | $59,870 | 31,760 | Kentucky jobs |
| Louisiana | $49,320 | $51,930 | 28,540 | Louisiana jobs |
| Maine | $57,050 | $55,980 | 9,980 | Maine jobs |
| Maryland | $59,360 | $60,590 | 29,150 | Maryland jobs |
| Massachusetts | $63,030 | $63,570 | 30,890 | Massachusetts jobs |
| Michigan | $57,180 | $56,370 | 60,800 | Michigan jobs |
| Minnesota | $61,990 | $63,630 | 38,770 | Minnesota jobs |
| Mississippi | $51,820 | $55,910 | 24,160 | Mississippi jobs |
| Missouri | $54,550 | $56,830 | 47,760 | Missouri jobs |
| Montana | $58,870 | $59,180 | 7,830 | Montana jobs |
| Nebraska | $58,390 | $60,070 | 23,160 | Nebraska jobs |
| Nevada | $62,290 | $65,010 | 15,010 | Nevada jobs |
| New Hampshire | $60,280 | $60,600 | 6,960 | New Hampshire jobs |
| New Jersey | $63,570 | $66,770 | 47,980 | New Jersey jobs |
| New Mexico | $50,500 | $53,100 | 11,820 | New Mexico jobs |
| New York | $62,050 | $65,780 | 63,700 | New York jobs |
| North Carolina | $51,530 | $55,810 | 62,400 | North Carolina jobs |
| North Dakota | $60,910 | $63,330 | 11,870 | North Dakota jobs |
| Ohio | $59,800 | $60,660 | 83,060 | Ohio jobs |
| Oklahoma | $54,410 | $57,670 | 27,840 | Oklahoma jobs |
| Oregon | $61,980 | $64,080 | 23,970 | Oregon jobs |
| Pennsylvania | $58,580 | $59,640 | 87,550 | Pennsylvania jobs |
| Rhode Island | $60,190 | $59,660 | 3,620 | — |
| South Carolina | $51,130 | $55,680 | 34,170 | South Carolina jobs |
| South Dakota | $58,690 | $58,550 | 6,470 | South Dakota jobs |
| Tennessee | $58,620 | $60,440 | 64,890 | Tennessee jobs |
| Texas | $56,290 | $57,990 | 209,680 | Texas jobs |
| Utah | $60,620 | $60,900 | 25,060 | Utah jobs |
| Vermont | $60,830 | $61,100 | 3,560 | Vermont jobs |
| Virginia | $56,860 | $57,770 | 48,750 | Virginia jobs |
| Washington | $64,760 | $68,230 | 40,530 | Washington jobs |
| West Virginia | $49,480 | $52,440 | 12,190 | West Virginia jobs |
| Wisconsin | $58,610 | $58,890 | 53,330 | Wisconsin jobs |
| Wyoming | $60,310 | $63,180 | 6,050 | Wyoming jobs |
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025 state estimates.[1] Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2025, 53-3032 Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers (national and state) (opens in a new tab)
Pay by job type: local, regional, OTR, team
- There's no federal average split by local, regional, OTR or team. BLS reports pay by occupation, state and industry, not by route type.[2] Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Outlook Handbook, Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers (Pay) (opens in a new tab)
- By industry (May 2025 medians): truck transportation $60,320, wholesale trade $58,550, manufacturing $56,570, construction $56,080.[2] Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Outlook Handbook, Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers (Pay) (opens in a new tab)
- LTL: ATRI found LTL linehaul driver wages flat at $0.929 a mile in 2025, and LTL hourly wages (mostly pickup and delivery) averaged $37.95 an hour.[3] Source: American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI): Analysis of the Operational Costs of Trucking, 2026 Update (PDF) (opens in a new tab)
- BLS notes most tractor-trailer drivers are paid by the mile plus bonuses, and the rate varies with the employer, the cargo and the driver's experience. Some long-distance drivers, especially owner-operators, get a share of the revenue.[2] Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Outlook Handbook, Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers (Pay) (opens in a new tab)
- What's posted right now: live pay ranges by route type are on Truker jobs. These are pay figures carriers posted, not averages, and they change daily.
Pay by equipment: flatbed, reefer, tanker, dry van
- ATRI groups flatbed, tanker, refrigerated, intermodal and bulk carriers as specialized. In 2025, specialized carriers paid higher average per-mile driver wages than truckload carriers in every fleet-size group except fleets over 1,000 trucks.[3] Source: American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI): Analysis of the Operational Costs of Trucking, 2026 Update (PDF) (opens in a new tab)
- Endorsements matter: hauling hazardous materials requires a hazardous materials (H) endorsement on your CDL, which means an extra knowledge test and a background check.[2] Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Outlook Handbook, Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers (Pay) (opens in a new tab)
- Browse posted pay by equipment: flatbed, reefer, tanker. Read each posting's pay terms. Some quote per mile, some per week, some per year.
Company driver vs owner-operator take-home
- The BLS wage figures above count employees only. They leave out self-employed drivers, so they don't describe owner-operator income.[2] Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Outlook Handbook, Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers (Pay) (opens in a new tab)
- An owner-operator's revenue is not take-home. ATRI put the average carrier operating cost at $2.336 a mile in 2025: fuel $0.482, truck and trailer payments $0.404, repair and maintenance $0.215, insurance $0.106, and so on.[3] Source: American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI): Analysis of the Operational Costs of Trucking, 2026 Update (PDF) (opens in a new tab)
- Example (not real figures): a load paying $2.80 a mile, against $2.00 a mile in your own costs, leaves $0.80 a mile before taxes. Small changes in rate or costs swing that a lot.
- Run your own numbers in the pay calculator. Our owner-operator cost-per-mile guide is coming.
FAQs
How much do truck drivers make a year?
Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers earned a median of $58,640 a year in May 2025, per BLS. The lowest-paid 10% earned under $40,140 and the top 10% earned over $79,380. The mean was $59,710. Pay depends on your state, freight, route type and how many paid miles you get.[1] Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2025, 53-3032 Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers (national and state) (opens in a new tab)
How much do truck drivers make per mile?
Carriers paid an average of 81.8 cents a mile in driver wages in 2025, per ATRI's 2026 operating-cost survey, up from 79.8 cents in 2024. New drivers often start below that. "Per mile" usually means paid (dispatched) miles, not every mile you drive. See our CPM pay guide.[3] Source: American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI): Analysis of the Operational Costs of Trucking, 2026 Update (PDF) (opens in a new tab)
What is a good cents per mile for a truck driver?
Compare an offer to ATRI's 2025 average of 81.8 cents a mile, and to how many paid miles you'll actually get. Example: at 2,000–2,500 paid miles a week, $0.60 a mile grosses $1,200–$1,500, $0.70 grosses $1,400–$1,750, and $0.818 grosses $1,636–$2,045. Check yours in the pay calculator.[3] Source: American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI): Analysis of the Operational Costs of Trucking, 2026 Update (PDF) (opens in a new tab)
Which state pays truck drivers the most?
By BLS mean annual wage for May 2025, Alaska pays the most at $69,520, then Washington ($68,230), New Jersey ($66,770), New York ($65,780) and Nevada ($65,010). The District of Columbia ($67,710) is also near the top. Cost of living, fuel and freight differ by state, so a higher wage doesn't always go further.[1] Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2025, 53-3032 Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers (national and state) (opens in a new tab)
Can a truck driver make $100,000 a year?
Some do, but it's well above typical pay. In May 2025, the top 10% of employed heavy and tractor-trailer drivers earned more than $79,380, per BLS.[1] Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2025, 53-3032 Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers (national and state) (opens in a new tab) ATRI found specialized carriers (flatbed, tanker, refrigerated and others) paid higher average per-mile driver wages than truckload carriers in most fleet sizes.[3] Source: American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI): Analysis of the Operational Costs of Trucking, 2026 Update (PDF) (opens in a new tab) For owner-operators, revenue isn't take-home, because operating costs come out first.[3] Source: American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI): Analysis of the Operational Costs of Trucking, 2026 Update (PDF) (opens in a new tab)
Sources
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2025, 53-3032 Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers (national and state) (opens in a new tab). Data year: May 2025, released May 15, 2026.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Outlook Handbook, Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers (Pay) (opens in a new tab). Data year: May 2025 wages, page last modified August 27, 2026.
- American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI): Analysis of the Operational Costs of Trucking, 2026 Update (PDF) (opens in a new tab). Data year: 2025 operations, carrier survey run February–May 2026.