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)
$54,408
Alaska
Take-Home TX
$48,783
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):
$40,748
Major fleet training; large carrier
OTR Driver (2–5 yrs)
$65,000
gross/year
Est. take-home (TX):
$54,408
Long-haul, weekly home time
Senior / Specialty Driver
$85,000
gross/year
Est. take-home (TX):
$68,628
HazMat, tanker, oversize loads
Owner-Operator
$130,000
gross/year
Est. take-home (TX):
$100,121
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 | $54,408 | |
| $60,000 | $50,390 | |
| $62,000 | $49,859 | |
| $62,000 | $49,431 | |
| $62,000 | $49,117 | |
| $60,000 | $48,073 | |
| $56,000 | $47,176 | |
| $56,000 | $47,176 | |
| $56,000 | $47,176 | |
| $56,000 | $47,176 | |
| $55,000 | $46,373 | |
12New York | $58,000 | $45,966 |
13Hawaii | $58,000 | $45,528 |
14Colorado | $56,000 | $45,420 |
| $56,000 | $44,891 | |
| $52,000 | $43,962 | |
17Illinois | $55,000 | $43,795 |
18Maryland | $56,000 | $43,767 |
| $54,000 | $43,567 | |
20Delaware | $54,000 | $43,249 |
21Oregon | $56,000 | $43,246 |
22Virginia | $54,000 | $43,225 |
23Arizona | $52,000 | $43,065 |
24Ohio | $52,000 | $42,974 |
| $52,000 | $42,366 | |
| $50,000 | $42,355 | |
27Nebraska | $52,000 | $42,300 |
28Montana | $52,000 | $42,275 |
| $52,000 | $42,256 | |
30Michigan | $52,000 | $42,003 |
| $50,000 | $41,230 | |
| $50,000 | $41,171 | |
33Iowa | $50,000 | $41,067 |
34Missouri | $50,000 | $40,987 |
35Vermont | $50,000 | $40,936 |
36Idaho | $50,000 | $40,813 |
37Utah | $50,000 | $40,683 |
38Oklahoma | $50,000 | $40,651 |
39Georgia | $50,000 | $40,609 |
40Kansas | $50,000 | $40,365 |
41Maine | $50,000 | $40,273 |
| $47,000 | $39,945 | |
| $48,000 | $39,881 | |
44Indiana | $48,000 | $39,362 |
| $48,000 | $39,342 | |
46Kentucky | $48,000 | $39,186 |
47Alabama | $48,000 | $38,767 |
48Arkansas | $47,000 | $38,664 |
| $46,000 | $37,866 | |
| $45,000 | $36,630 |
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
$38,767
net
AlaskaNo state tax
$54,408
net
Arizona
$43,065
net
Arkansas
$38,664
net
California
$49,431
net
Colorado
$45,420
net
Connecticut
$48,073
net
Delaware
$43,249
net
FloridaNo state tax
$43,962
net
Georgia
$40,609
net
Hawaii
$45,528
net
Idaho
$40,813
net
Illinois
$43,795
net
Indiana
$39,362
net
Iowa
$41,067
net
Kansas
$40,365
net
Kentucky
$39,186
net
Louisiana
$41,230
net
Maine
$40,273
net
Maryland
$43,767
net
Massachusetts
$49,117
net
Michigan
$42,003
net
Minnesota
$44,891
net
Mississippi
$36,630
net
Missouri
$40,987
net
Montana
$42,275
net
Nebraska
$42,300
net
NevadaNo state tax
$47,176
net
New HampshireNo state tax
$47,176
net
New Jersey
$49,859
net
New Mexico
$41,171
net
New York
$45,966
net
North Carolina
$39,342
net
North Dakota
$47,176
net
Ohio
$42,974
net
Oklahoma
$40,651
net
Oregon
$43,246
net
Pennsylvania
$42,366
net
Rhode Island
$43,567
net
South Carolina
$39,881
net
South DakotaNo state tax
$42,355
net
TennesseeNo state tax
$39,945
net
TexasNo state tax
$46,373
net
Utah
$40,683
net
Vermont
$40,936
net
Virginia
$43,225
net
WashingtonNo state tax
$50,390
net
West Virginia
$37,866
net
Wisconsin
$42,256
net
WyomingNo state tax
$47,176
net