Truck Driver Salary 2026 — Take-Home Pay by State
Truck drivers operate heavy commercial vehicles to transport goods across short and long distances, navigating routes, regulations, and increasingly complex logistics networks.
National Median
$58,000
Best State (Net)
$54,276
Alaska
Take-Home TX
$48,651
No state tax
Job Growth
4%
Key Facts — Truck Driver 2026
BLS median: $54,320 for heavy/tractor-trailer drivers (BLS May 2023 OES)
Owner-operators routinely clear $130K+ with established business operations
Texas oil-field hauling (Permian, Eagle Ford) is uniquely lucrative cyclical specialty
CA AB5 reshaped owner-operator economics — TX/FL more contractor-friendly
Industry consolidation continues — major fleets (Knight-Swift, JBHunt) growing
Salary by Experience Level
New CDL Driver (1st year)
$48,000
gross/year
Est. take-home (TX):
$40,616
Major fleet training; large carrier
OTR Driver (2–5 yrs)
$65,000
gross/year
Est. take-home (TX):
$54,276
Long-haul, weekly home time
Senior / Specialty Driver
$85,000
gross/year
Est. take-home (TX):
$68,386
HazMat, tanker, oversize loads
Owner-Operator
$130,000
gross/year
Est. take-home (TX):
$99,857
Revenue-driven; business ownership
Specialties & Salary Premiums
| Specialty | Est. Salary | Premium |
|---|---|---|
| Owner-Operator | $121,800 | +110% |
| Tanker Driver (HazMat) | $87,000 | +50% |
| Oil & Gas (Permian/Eagle Ford) | $89,900 | +55% |
| Port Drayage (LA/LB, NY/NJ) | $75,400 | +30% |
| Lineman / Utility (Storm Response) | $78,300 | +35% |
| Local Delivery (LTL/Parcel) | $52,200 | -10% |
Best States for Truck Drivers — Real Take-Home Pay
Ranked by estimated take-home pay (single filer, no additional deductions). The highest gross salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.
▲Top 5 — Highest Take-Home
Truck Driver Salary by State — All 50 States
Take-home estimates for a single filer with no additional deductions. Click any state for the full breakdown.
| State | Gross Salary | Est. Take-Home |
|---|---|---|
| $65,000 | $54,276 | |
| $60,000 | $50,258 | |
| $62,000 | $49,515 | |
| $62,000 | $48,871 | |
| $60,000 | $48,008 | |
| $62,000 | $47,494 | |
| $56,000 | $47,044 | |
| $56,000 | $47,044 | |
| $56,000 | $47,044 | |
| $55,000 | $46,241 | |
| $56,000 | $46,019 | |
12New York | $58,000 | $45,706 |
13Colorado | $56,000 | $45,240 |
14Maryland | $56,000 | $45,097 |
15Hawaii | $58,000 | $44,781 |
16Illinois | $55,000 | $44,261 |
| $54,000 | $43,877 | |
| $52,000 | $43,830 | |
19Delaware | $54,000 | $43,292 |
20Virginia | $54,000 | $43,195 |
| $56,000 | $43,006 | |
22Oregon | $56,000 | $42,985 |
23Arizona | $52,000 | $42,905 |
| $52,000 | $42,694 | |
25Ohio | $52,000 | $42,535 |
26Michigan | $52,000 | $42,258 |
| $50,000 | $42,223 | |
| $52,000 | $41,869 | |
29Nebraska | $52,000 | $41,669 |
30Montana | $52,000 | $41,647 |
| $50,000 | $40,788 | |
| $50,000 | $40,736 | |
33Utah | $50,000 | $40,631 |
34Oklahoma | $50,000 | $40,561 |
35Missouri | $50,000 | $40,491 |
36Kansas | $50,000 | $40,473 |
37Georgia | $50,000 | $40,302 |
38Iowa | $50,000 | $40,228 |
39Idaho | $50,000 | $40,193 |
| $47,000 | $39,813 | |
41Maine | $50,000 | $39,721 |
42Indiana | $48,000 | $39,577 |
43Vermont | $50,000 | $39,563 |
44Alabama | $48,000 | $39,296 |
45Kentucky | $48,000 | $39,131 |
| $48,000 | $39,049 | |
| $48,000 | $38,504 | |
48Arkansas | $47,000 | $38,405 |
| $46,000 | $37,614 | |
| $45,000 | $37,006 |
Maximize Your Take-Home
401(k) — $24,500 max
Reduces taxable income dollar-for-dollar
HSA — $4,400 single
Triple tax advantage — deductible, grows tax-free, tax-free withdrawals
FSA — $3,300 max
Medical expenses with pre-tax dollars
State consideration
Moving to TX, FL, WA can save $5,000–$15,000/year in taxes
Calculate Your Exact Take-Home as a Truck Driver
Add 401(k), HSA, dependents, and more to see your personalized take-home in your state.
Open Calculator →Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to common questions about your taxes and our calculator.
Truck Driver Salary by State — Detailed Pages
Alabama
$39,296
net
AlaskaNo state tax
$54,276
net
Arizona
$42,905
net
Arkansas
$38,405
net
California
$47,494
net
Colorado
$45,240
net
Connecticut
$48,008
net
Delaware
$43,292
net
FloridaNo state tax
$43,830
net
Georgia
$40,302
net
Hawaii
$44,781
net
Idaho
$40,193
net
Illinois
$44,261
net
Indiana
$39,577
net
Iowa
$40,228
net
Kansas
$40,473
net
Kentucky
$39,131
net
Louisiana
$40,736
net
Maine
$39,721
net
Maryland
$45,097
net
Massachusetts
$49,515
net
Michigan
$42,258
net
Minnesota
$43,006
net
Mississippi
$37,006
net
Missouri
$40,491
net
Montana
$41,647
net
Nebraska
$41,669
net
NevadaNo state tax
$47,044
net
New HampshireNo state tax
$47,044
net
New Jersey
$48,871
net
New Mexico
$40,788
net
New York
$45,706
net
North Carolina
$39,049
net
North Dakota
$46,019
net
Ohio
$42,535
net
Oklahoma
$40,561
net
Oregon
$42,985
net
Pennsylvania
$42,694
net
Rhode Island
$43,877
net
South Carolina
$38,504
net
South DakotaNo state tax
$42,223
net
TennesseeNo state tax
$39,813
net
TexasNo state tax
$46,241
net
Utah
$40,631
net
Vermont
$39,563
net
Virginia
$43,195
net
WashingtonNo state tax
$50,258
net
West Virginia
$37,614
net
Wisconsin
$41,869
net
WyomingNo state tax
$47,044
net