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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Real salary distribution from 288 tracked cities across 46 states. Compare entry-level, median, and senior compensation — then adjust for cost of living.
Don't just look at the top-paying city — look at the cost-adjusted column. The national median salary for Truck Drivers in 2026 is $58,017, with entry-level positions averaging $35,971 and senior roles reaching $84,125. But those numbers flatten a reality with enormous geographic variation — Sunnyvale pays a median of $106,000, while other markets fall well below the national average. We tracked 288 cities to build the complete picture.
A career as a Truck Driver sits at the intersection of Transportation and Transportation & Logistics. Most professionals enter with CDL license, and the field is characterized by high demand. The work itself is long-haul/local. Understanding that context matters: it explains why certain markets pay premiums and others lag.
$64,500 separates the highest and lowest-paying cities. A Truck Driver in Sunnyvale, California earns a median of $106,000 — $64,500 more than their counterpart in Toledo, Ohio ($41,500). That gap alone is more than many cities' annual rent. That salary-to-cost ratio is genuinely competitive.
The salary distribution for Truck Drivers reveals a $48,154 spread from entry to senior. At $58,017, the median sits $22,350 below the national median household income of $80,367. Context matters: this is an individual salary, compared against household income. The P10 floor of $35,971 represents early-career or part-time positions, while the $84,125 ceiling captures experienced professionals in premium markets.
The pay gap between the top and bottom markets is dramatic: $99,000 (average of the top 3 cities) versus $41,833 (average of the bottom 3). That $57,167 delta is real money — $4,764/month before taxes. But the highest-paying cities tend to be the most expensive. The cost-adjusted comparison below tells the more important story.
A Truck Driver in Sunnyvale, California earns a median of $106,000 — $64,500 more than their counterpart in Toledo, Ohio ($41,500). That gap alone is more than many cities' annual rent.
The national average entry-level (P10) salary for Truck Driver is $35,971, while senior-level (P90) earners average $84,125. That $48,154 trajectory represents the earning growth a career in this field can deliver.
| Country | Coverage | Entry (P10) | Median | Senior (P90) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 288 | $35,971 | $58,017 | $84,125 |
| United Kingdom | 27 | £21,664 | £30,089 | £42,726 |
| Canada | 21 | CA$35,454 | CA$49,241 | CA$69,923 |
| Australia | 13 | A$41,261 | A$57,306 | A$81,375 |
| Sweden | 24 | 246,066 kr | 341,758 kr | 485,296 kr |
| State | Cities | Entry (P10) | Median | Senior (P90) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | 61 | $43,547 | $70,238 | $101,845 |
| Massachusetts | 4 | $42,083 | $67,875 | $98,419 |
| Hawaii | 1 | $41,850 | $67,500 | $97,875 |
| District of Columbia | 1 | $38,750 | $62,500 | $90,625 |
| New Jersey | 4 | $38,285 | $61,750 | $89,538 |
| Washington | 8 | $37,549 | $60,563 | $87,816 |
| New York | 5 | $35,340 | $57,000 | $82,650 |
| Rhode Island | 1 | $35,340 | $57,000 | $82,650 |
| Florida | 22 | $35,072 | $56,568 | $82,024 |
| Colorado | 11 | $34,466 | $55,591 | $80,607 |
| New Hampshire | 1 | $34,410 | $55,500 | $80,475 |
| Nevada | 5 | $34,348 | $55,400 | $80,330 |
| Arizona | 12 | $34,178 | $55,125 | $79,931 |
| Oregon | 5 | $34,100 | $55,000 | $79,750 |
| Idaho | 3 | $33,997 | $54,833 | $79,508 |
| Connecticut | 5 | $33,728 | $54,400 | $78,880 |
| Utah | 4 | $33,635 | $54,250 | $78,663 |
| Virginia | 7 | $33,081 | $53,357 | $77,368 |
| South Carolina | 3 | $32,653 | $52,667 | $76,367 |
| Alaska | 1 | $32,550 | $52,500 | $76,125 |
| Illinois | 5 | $32,178 | $51,900 | $75,255 |
| North Carolina | 9 | $31,379 | $50,611 | $73,386 |
| New Mexico | 3 | $31,000 | $50,000 | $72,500 |
| Montana | 1 | $31,000 | $50,000 | $72,500 |
| Tennessee | 6 | $30,897 | $49,833 | $72,258 |
| Texas | 40 | $30,744 | $49,588 | $71,902 |
| Minnesota | 2 | $30,690 | $49,500 | $71,775 |
| Wisconsin | 2 | $30,535 | $49,250 | $71,413 |
| Georgia | 6 | $30,432 | $49,083 | $71,171 |
| Pennsylvania | 3 | $30,380 | $49,000 | $71,050 |
| Kansas | 4 | $30,225 | $48,750 | $70,688 |
| Michigan | 6 | $30,122 | $48,583 | $70,446 |
| Kentucky | 2 | $29,760 | $48,000 | $69,600 |
| Maryland | 1 | $29,760 | $48,000 | $69,600 |
| Nebraska | 2 | $29,450 | $47,500 | $68,875 |
| South Dakota | 1 | $29,450 | $47,500 | $68,875 |
| Oklahoma | 4 | $28,675 | $46,250 | $67,063 |
| North Dakota | 1 | $28,520 | $46,000 | $66,700 |
| Louisiana | 4 | $28,133 | $45,375 | $65,794 |
| Missouri | 4 | $28,133 | $45,375 | $65,794 |
| Alabama | 5 | $28,024 | $45,200 | $65,540 |
| Indiana | 3 | $27,590 | $44,500 | $64,525 |
| Arkansas | 1 | $27,590 | $44,500 | $64,525 |
| Iowa | 2 | $27,280 | $44,000 | $63,800 |
| Ohio | 6 | $27,228 | $43,917 | $63,679 |
| Mississippi | 1 | $26,040 | $42,000 | $60,900 |
Geography shapes Truck Driver pay in predictable and not-so-predictable ways. California tops the state leaderboard at $70,238 median, with 61 cities providing data. Massachusetts and Hawaii follow. On the flip side, Mississippi and Ohio anchor the bottom — reflecting lower local cost structures and smaller metro premiums.
When you adjust the top-paying cities for cost of living, the ranking reshuffles. Sunnyvale ($106,000 nominal, 212 cost index) delivers $50,000 in purchasing power — maintaining its lead even after cost adjustment. This is the metric that matters for anyone considering a geo-based career move.
Raw salary divided by the local cost index — this shows where your paycheck buys the most.
| # | City | Nominal Salary | Cost Index | Adjusted Salary | Est. Take-Home |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sunnyvale California | $106,000 | 212 | $50,000 | $65,311 |
| 2 | Santa Clara California | $99,000 | 198 | $50,000 | $61,427 |
| 3 | Irvine California | $92,000 | 184 | $50,000 | $57,433 |
| 4 | San Francisco California | $90,500 | 181 | $50,000 | $56,577 |
| 5 | Carlsbad California | $89,000 | 178 | $50,000 | $55,722 |
| 6 | San Jose California | $88,500 | 177 | $50,000 | $55,436 |
| 7 | Fremont California | $88,500 | 177 | $50,000 | $55,436 |
| 8 | Berkeley California | $86,500 | 173 | $50,000 | $54,295 |
| 9 | Costa Mesa California | $86,500 | 173 | $50,000 | $54,295 |
| 10 | Huntington Beach California | $84,500 | 169 | $50,000 | $53,154 |
From a career planning perspective, Truck Driver offers a $48,154 earning range. The 2.3× multiplier from entry to senior makes this a field where longevity pays off. The typical entry requires CDL license. Day-to-day, expect long-haul/local work environments. With data from 288 cities, the geographic flexibility is substantial — this career travels well.
The weighted national median salary for Truck Drivers is $58,017 in 2026, based on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics across 288 U.S. metro areas. Entry-level (10th percentile) averages $35,971, while experienced professionals at the 90th percentile average $84,125.
The highest-paying city for Truck Drivers is Sunnyvale, California with a median salary of $106,000. The top 3 cities are Sunnyvale ($106,000), Santa Clara ($99,000), Irvine ($92,000). Note: high-paying cities often have higher costs of living — check the cost-adjusted rankings above for purchasing power.
The lowest median Truck Driver salary in our data is in Toledo, Ohio at $41,500. However, lower-paying cities often have significantly lower costs of living, which can offset the pay gap. Always compare salary data alongside local cost of living.
Entry-level Truck Drivers (10th percentile) average $35,971 nationally. This varies by city — in the highest-paying markets, entry-level pay can be close to $65,720. Experience, certifications, and employer type all influence starting salary.
At the 90th percentile (senior level), Truck Drivers average $84,125 nationally — $48,154 more than entry-level. In top-paying cities, senior Truck Drivers can earn up to $153,700.
The top-paying states for Truck Drivers are California ($70,238 median), Massachusetts ($67,875 median), Hawaii ($67,500 median). State averages are computed across all tracked cities in each state, weighted equally.
The typical education path for a Truck Driver involves CDL license. The field is in the Transportation & Logistics sector (Transportation), and the career outlook is high demand. Work style is typically long-haul/local.
With a national median of $58,017 and representation across 288 metro areas, Truck Driver offers a foundation that can be strengthened by strategic location choices. The $48,154 gap between entry and senior pay shows room for salary growth. Industry outlook: high demand.
All salary data on this page is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, which surveys employers across U.S. metropolitan areas. We present 10th percentile (entry), 50th percentile (median), and 90th percentile (senior) pay benchmarks. Cost-of-living adjustments use our core database of 288 cities.
Salary data is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, which surveys employers across U.S. metropolitan and non-metropolitan areas. We present the 10th percentile (entry-level), 50th percentile (median), and 90th percentile (senior) pay benchmarks.
Cost-of-living adjustments use Livably's core index derived from Zillow rent data, Census income surveys, and regional BLS price data. Take-home pay estimates apply simplified federal brackets, 7.65% FICA, and state income tax rates from the Tax Foundation.
State and national averages are computed as simple means across all tracked cities with data for this occupation. Rankings are updated monthly as new BLS releases become available.