BLS data, computed here
Truck driver pay by metro area: the ladder from low to high
90 metro areas, one ladder. BLS publishes pay for tractor-trailer drivers in each metro, but the numbers sit in spreadsheets. Here they are side by side, with a calculator that turns your offer into a yearly figure, a position against the local market and a cost per mile.
May 2025 estimatesBLS OEWS, heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers, metropolitan areasReference period: May 2025 (published 2026)Retrieved Oct 10, 2026, 06:21 UTCretrieved Oct 10, 2026
Read this first
These are wages employers reported to BLS for May 2025, for employees. They leave out owner-operators and benefits. A per-mile or flat pay is converted to an hourly figure by BLS, so an hourly number is a market marker, not an offer to copy. Small metros rest on small samples: check the drivers column. Nothing here is a quote, a legal minimum or a promise about what a driver will accept.
Check an offer against the local market
Pick the metro, enter how the driver is paid and the weekly work. The ladder shows where your offer sits.
Pay ladder for the metro you pick
Line: 10th to 90th percentile. Box: 25th to 75th. Tick: median. Dashed marker: your offer on a yearly basis at 2,080 hours.
What the offer is worth
Yearly pay at your hours
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- Weekly pay
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- Per hour on duty
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- Same yearly pay per 2,080 h
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- Metro median for 2,080 h
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- Your pay against that median
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- Where it sits
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- Cost to you with the add-on
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- Driver cost per mile
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- Per mile that matches the median
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Pre-filled values are Example data. Replace them with your own offer.
Enter the offer.
Formula: weekly pay = per mile x paid miles, or per hour x hours, or the weekly amount. Yearly pay = weekly pay x paid weeks. Median for 2,080 h = BLS median hourly wage x 2,080. Cost = yearly pay x (1 + add-on). Integer cents, rounded once. Nothing you type leaves this page.
The 20 biggest driver markets on one ladder
Sorted by median pay. Each row is a metro area; the line runs from the 10th to the 90th percentile of hourly wages.
All 90 metro areas
Click a heading to sort. Wages are dollars per hour; annual mean is dollars per year; the last column is the 90th minus the 10th percentile.
| Metro area | Drivers | Mean per hour | 10th percentile | Median | 90th percentile | Annual mean | Median vs U.S. | 90th minus 10th |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY | 4,830 | $30.14 | $22.58 | $29.19 | $38.52 | $62,690 | +3.5% | $15.94 |
| Albuquerque, NM | 4,210 | $26.55 | $19.25 | $26.85 | $34.41 | $55,220 | -4.8% | $15.16 |
| Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ | 6,590 | $29.59 | $21.82 | $28.89 | $38.61 | $61,540 | +2.5% | $16.79 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | 41,830 | $28.56 | $19.66 | $28.41 | $37.38 | $59,400 | +0.8% | $17.72 |
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | 10,760 | $28.11 | $20.34 | $27.46 | $37.60 | $58,460 | -2.6% | $17.26 |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | 15,580 | $29.22 | $20.95 | $28.59 | $37.87 | $60,770 | +1.4% | $16.92 |
| Baton Rouge, LA | 5,830 | $26.50 | $18.94 | $26.36 | $35.67 | $55,120 | -6.5% | $16.73 |
| Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX | 2,100 | $27.19 | $17.85 | $26.39 | $36.82 | $56,560 | -6.4% | $18.97 |
| Birmingham, AL | 9,170 | $27.21 | $18.45 | $26.18 | $37.24 | $56,600 | -7.1% | $18.79 |
| Boise City, ID | 6,380 | $29.83 | $22.49 | $29.00 | $44.68 | $62,040 | +2.9% | $22.19 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | 20,090 | $30.97 | $23.05 | $30.78 | $37.87 | $64,420 | +9.2% | $14.82 |
| Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY | 4,710 | $29.80 | $22.33 | $28.58 | $37.78 | $61,990 | +1.4% | $15.45 |
| Charleston-North Charleston, SC | 6,020 | $27.86 | $19.99 | $26.52 | $37.29 | $57,950 | -5.9% | $17.30 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | 18,700 | $27.89 | $21.27 | $26.98 | $37.26 | $58,020 | -4.3% | $15.99 |
| Chattanooga, TN-GA | 4,370 | $27.28 | $18.96 | $27.62 | $35.93 | $56,740 | -2.0% | $16.97 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 62,210 | $31.33 | $19.86 | $29.95 | $42.42 | $65,170 | +6.2% | $22.56 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | 13,820 | $30.37 | $22.08 | $29.13 | $39.24 | $63,170 | +3.3% | $17.16 |
| Colorado Springs, CO | 1,860 | $28.90 | $21.71 | $28.75 | $37.40 | $60,110 | +2.0% | $15.69 |
| Columbia, SC | 5,630 | $27.04 | $18.15 | $24.65 | $37.98 | $56,240 | -12.6% | $19.83 |
| Columbus, OH | 16,110 | $31.13 | $22.36 | $29.68 | $43.31 | $64,760 | +5.3% | $20.95 |
| Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin, FL | 640 | $23.57 | $17.08 | $23.05 | $29.89 | $49,020 | -18.2% | $12.81 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 55,670 | $30.16 | $20.58 | $28.62 | $44.22 | $62,720 | +1.5% | $23.64 |
| Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH | 4,660 | $28.59 | $20.03 | $28.60 | $36.25 | $59,470 | +1.5% | $16.22 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | 14,320 | $31.79 | $23.21 | $30.72 | $39.72 | $66,130 | +9.0% | $16.51 |
| Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | 7,840 | $30.52 | $21.13 | $29.19 | $38.10 | $63,480 | +3.5% | $16.97 |
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | 25,780 | $27.92 | $20.17 | $28.43 | $36.86 | $58,070 | +0.9% | $16.69 |
| El Paso, TX | 7,850 | $26.25 | $17.46 | $23.69 | $35.96 | $54,600 | -16.0% | $18.50 |
| Fresno, CA | 8,170 | $26.92 | $17.61 | $26.80 | $36.82 | $55,990 | -4.9% | $19.21 |
| Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI | 10,820 | $27.40 | $20.60 | $28.02 | $35.45 | $56,990 | -0.6% | $14.85 |
| Greensboro-High Point, NC | 6,480 | $28.83 | $19.40 | $28.12 | $38.73 | $59,960 | -0.2% | $19.33 |
| Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC | 5,240 | $27.03 | $19.32 | $25.52 | $37.06 | $56,230 | -9.5% | $17.74 |
| Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA | 6,800 | $30.75 | $22.77 | $29.58 | $39.56 | $63,960 | +4.9% | $16.79 |
| Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT | 5,830 | $29.46 | $22.60 | $28.79 | $37.07 | $61,270 | +2.1% | $14.47 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | 49,750 | $27.96 | $18.42 | $27.33 | $38.22 | $58,160 | -3.1% | $19.80 |
| Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH | 2,330 | $25.76 | $17.10 | $24.06 | $35.63 | $53,570 | -14.7% | $18.53 |
| Huntsville, AL | 2,570 | $27.98 | $18.39 | $27.25 | $37.58 | $58,190 | -3.3% | $19.19 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | 20,480 | $30.36 | $20.78 | $29.80 | $39.68 | $63,160 | +5.7% | $18.90 |
| Jacksonville, FL | 13,100 | $27.44 | $18.57 | $26.74 | $37.58 | $57,080 | -5.1% | $19.01 |
| Kansas City, MO-KS | 18,230 | $29.74 | $21.19 | $28.93 | $38.89 | $61,850 | +2.6% | $17.70 |
| Knoxville, TN | 8,130 | $28.95 | $19.07 | $28.41 | $38.00 | $60,210 | +0.8% | $18.93 |
| Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL | 7,820 | $27.90 | $19.02 | $27.45 | $38.94 | $58,030 | -2.6% | $19.92 |
| Lancaster, PA | 5,080 | $28.21 | $19.11 | $28.05 | $37.73 | $58,680 | -0.5% | $18.62 |
| Laredo, TX | 5,460 | $25.71 | $15.42 | $23.56 | $35.89 | $53,470 | -16.4% | $20.47 |
| Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV | 8,670 | $30.00 | $20.94 | $29.16 | $38.41 | $62,400 | +3.4% | $17.47 |
| Lexington-Fayette, KY | 4,460 | $30.43 | $21.05 | $27.38 | $45.24 | $63,290 | -2.9% | $24.19 |
| Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR | 7,910 | $27.90 | $18.17 | $27.43 | $39.34 | $58,030 | -2.7% | $21.17 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 61,270 | $29.44 | $20.63 | $29.01 | $38.52 | $61,230 | +2.9% | $17.89 |
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | 10,820 | $30.26 | $21.62 | $28.37 | $42.10 | $62,930 | +0.6% | $20.48 |
| Madison, WI | 4,160 | $28.67 | $21.21 | $28.70 | $37.38 | $59,620 | +1.8% | $16.17 |
| Memphis, TN-MS-AR | 19,460 | $31.97 | $21.25 | $30.32 | $46.22 | $66,500 | +7.6% | $24.97 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | 29,060 | $26.96 | $18.40 | $24.80 | $36.12 | $56,080 | -12.0% | $17.72 |
| Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | 10,250 | $28.89 | $21.78 | $28.64 | $37.47 | $60,080 | +1.6% | $15.69 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | 20,430 | $31.97 | $23.11 | $30.87 | $40.10 | $66,500 | +9.5% | $16.99 |
| Modesto, CA | 3,510 | $28.13 | $18.52 | $28.05 | $37.51 | $58,500 | -0.5% | $18.99 |
| Naples-Marco Island, FL | 1,340 | $25.64 | $18.03 | $23.81 | $31.81 | $53,340 | -15.5% | $13.78 |
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | 18,860 | $30.00 | $21.44 | $29.15 | $40.36 | $62,410 | +3.4% | $18.92 |
| New Orleans-Metairie, LA | 5,500 | $25.64 | $18.25 | $24.78 | $35.52 | $53,330 | -12.1% | $17.27 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 65,100 | $33.18 | $24.25 | $31.27 | $44.57 | $69,020 | +10.9% | $20.32 |
| North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FL | 2,930 | $26.00 | $18.63 | $24.47 | $33.83 | $54,070 | -13.2% | $15.20 |
| Ocala, FL | 2,230 | $26.40 | $17.64 | $24.75 | $39.16 | $54,910 | -12.2% | $21.52 |
| Oklahoma City, OK | 10,170 | $28.38 | $18.17 | $26.31 | $46.11 | $59,020 | -6.7% | $27.94 |
| Omaha, NE-IA | 10,210 | $28.22 | $19.30 | $27.89 | $38.77 | $58,710 | -1.1% | $19.47 |
| Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | 15,420 | $26.49 | $18.23 | $24.16 | $36.03 | $55,100 | -14.3% | $17.80 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | 3,020 | $28.47 | $19.03 | $28.42 | $36.98 | $59,210 | +0.8% | $17.95 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 32,220 | $29.84 | $22.53 | $28.54 | $38.26 | $62,060 | +1.2% | $15.73 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | 30,480 | $28.75 | $20.91 | $28.74 | $36.80 | $59,790 | +2.0% | $15.89 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | 14,620 | $28.39 | $20.66 | $27.83 | $36.93 | $59,050 | -1.3% | $16.27 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | 14,370 | $32.16 | $23.60 | $30.67 | $41.15 | $66,890 | +8.8% | $17.55 |
| Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | 7,030 | $28.98 | $21.90 | $29.14 | $36.04 | $60,270 | +3.4% | $14.14 |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | 7,210 | $26.50 | $19.25 | $25.06 | $35.49 | $55,110 | -11.1% | $16.24 |
| Reno, NV | 4,170 | $32.38 | $22.65 | $30.67 | $45.61 | $67,350 | +8.8% | $22.96 |
| Richmond, VA | 11,760 | $28.91 | $17.88 | $27.98 | $45.41 | $60,130 | -0.7% | $27.53 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | 40,230 | $30.83 | $18.90 | $29.13 | $46.79 | $64,130 | +3.3% | $27.89 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | 10,960 | $29.84 | $21.16 | $29.24 | $38.96 | $62,060 | +3.7% | $17.80 |
| Salt Lake City-Murray, UT | 12,340 | $30.05 | $22.04 | $29.96 | $36.98 | $62,500 | +6.3% | $14.94 |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | 13,710 | $27.13 | $18.54 | $25.79 | $36.94 | $56,430 | -8.5% | $18.40 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | 10,440 | $28.93 | $19.65 | $28.74 | $37.62 | $60,180 | +2.0% | $17.97 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | 16,450 | $33.30 | $23.22 | $31.95 | $45.33 | $69,260 | +13.3% | $22.11 |
| Savannah, GA | 4,410 | $27.92 | $18.63 | $28.33 | $36.83 | $58,070 | +0.5% | $18.20 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | 21,230 | $34.61 | $26.91 | $34.25 | $45.10 | $71,980 | +21.5% | $18.19 |
| Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA | 3,890 | $30.52 | $23.22 | $30.28 | $37.03 | $63,480 | +7.4% | $13.81 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | 18,270 | $28.76 | $19.49 | $28.00 | $38.12 | $59,810 | -0.7% | $18.63 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | 10,110 | $29.72 | $19.47 | $29.07 | $38.50 | $61,820 | +3.1% | $19.03 |
| Syracuse, NY | 4,120 | $31.13 | $22.63 | $29.48 | $41.10 | $64,740 | +4.6% | $18.47 |
| Tallahassee, FL | 1,260 | $24.19 | $17.75 | $22.34 | $31.64 | $50,320 | -20.8% | $13.89 |
| Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | 15,840 | $26.19 | $18.68 | $24.31 | $34.98 | $54,470 | -13.8% | $16.30 |
| Tulsa, OK | 7,220 | $28.47 | $18.04 | $28.26 | $36.13 | $59,220 | +0.2% | $18.09 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 20,430 | $29.97 | $21.57 | $28.76 | $39.68 | $62,330 | +2.0% | $18.11 |
| Wichita, KS | 3,890 | $27.91 | $19.04 | $27.85 | $36.36 | $58,050 | -1.2% | $17.32 |
| Worcester, MA | 4,470 | $29.84 | $22.07 | $29.62 | $37.47 | $62,060 | +5.1% | $15.40 |
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, retrieved Oct 10, 2026. U.S. median $28.19, U.S. mean $28.71, 2,062,040 drivers nationwide. The wage for a metro is not the wage for your lane.
What this number means
- The spread inside one metro is wider than the gap between metros: the typical metro here has $17.80 between its 10th and 90th percentile, against $11.91 between the highest and lowest median.
- Pay per mile hides hours. A fair yearly figure on 2,080 hours is a poor rate on 3,000 hours on duty.
- BLS wages exclude benefits and the employer cost on top of them.
What to do about it
- Work out your own paid miles and on-duty hours for a month, then run the calculator with them.
- Compare the per-mile figure that matches the metro median with your lane rate, not with a posted rate.
- If waiting time is unpaid, ask what it does to the per-hour figure before you accept a detention rule.
Questions
Where do these wages come from?
From the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers (SOC 53-3032), all industries, by metropolitan area. BLS surveys employers, so the figures cover employees paid wages. Owner-operators are not employees and are not in them.
Why compare yearly pay when BLS shows an hourly wage?
BLS converts annual and per-unit pay to an hourly figure and assumes full-time year-round work of 2,080 hours. Many drivers are on duty well beyond 2,080 hours, so the same yearly pay is a lower rate per hour on duty. The calculator shows both so you can see the gap.
Why do some small metros look odd?
A metro with a few hundred drivers rests on a small sample, and BLS notes larger errors there. The table shows the number of drivers next to every wage. The headline ranking only uses metros with at least 1,000 drivers.
Can I use the percentiles as a pay scale?
No. They describe what employers in that metro reported, across all kinds of driving: local, regional and long haul, dry van, tank and flatbed. Your lane, equipment, home time and safety record change what a fair offer is.
What does the add-on percentage mean?
It is your own estimate of what each wage dollar costs on top of the wage: employer payroll taxes, workers compensation, unemployment insurance and any benefits you pay. We pre-fill an example only. Use your payroll figures.
Related guides and tools
- Cost per mile: put the driver line next to the other costs
- Detention cost: what a waiting hour costs by state
- Trucking labor and prices: jobs, pay and freight prices over time
- Minimum rate: the rate floor that covers your costs
- Trucking by state: employers and owner-operators
- All tools: free calculators
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