How much does a Truck Driver make in Indiana?

BLS puts the average Truck Driver pay in Indiana at $60,950 a year (BLS, May 2025). On that pay in Indiana, after federal taxes, FICA, and Indiana state taxes, your estimated take-home pay is approximately $49,385 annually ($4,115/month).

What is the take-home pay for a Truck Driver in Indiana?

On a $60,950 salary in Indiana, your take-home pay is approximately $49,385/year or $4,115/month. Federal tax: $5,134. State tax: $1,769. FICA: $4,663.

Is $60,950 a good Truck Driver salary?

$60,950 is the BLS average Truck Driver pay in Indiana, about the same as the US average of $59,710 (BLS, May 2025). The middle 50% in Indiana earn between $49,390 and $72,260.

How do Indiana taxes affect Truck Driver salaries?

Indiana levies state income tax on top of federal taxes. Your estimated state tax on $60,950 is $1,769. Your total effective tax rate is approximately 19.0%.

What are the career growth prospects for Truck Drivers?

In Indiana, the top 10% earn over $79,000 and the bottom 10% under $42,060 (BLS, May 2025). 4% growth through 2032 (about as fast as average). Related roles include: Long Haul Driver, Local Delivery Driver, Owner Operator, Tanker Driver, Flatbed Driver.

How can a Truck Driver in Indiana reduce their tax bill?

Maximize your 401(k) contribution ($24,500 in 2026) to reduce taxable income. An HSA ($4,400 single / $8,750 family) adds further pre-tax savings. These strategies can save thousands annually — use our calculator to see your exact savings.

Transportation

Truck Driver Salary in Indiana (2026)

Average Truck Driver pay in Indiana

$60,950/year

≈ $29/hour before tax

Middle 50% earn $49,390–$72,260

US average: $59,710

Source: BLS, May 2025

After tax (single filer)

$49,385/year

$4,115/month · effective tax rate 18.97%

Federal $5,134
State $1,769
FICA $4,663
Take-home

Pay by role in Indiana

Tractor-Trailer Driver (any freight)BLS · middle 50%$49,390–$72,260
Tractor-Trailer Driver (any freight) (Chicago metro)BLS · Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN · middle 50%$50,580–$77,660
Local Delivery DriverBLS · middle 50%$37,090–$51,110
New CDL DriverBLS · 10th–25th percentile$42,060–$49,390
Senior OTR / TrainerBLS · 75th–90th percentile$72,260–$79,000

See the full tax breakdown

Category	Amount
Annual Take-Home Pay	$49,385
Monthly Take-Home Pay	$4,115
Biweekly Take-Home Pay	$1,899
Hourly Take-Home Pay based on 2,080 hrs/year	$24/hr
Federal Tax	$5,134
State Tax	$1,769
FICA Taxes	$4,663
Effective Tax Rate total taxes ÷ gross salary	18.97%

Estimates only — not tax advice. · Full disclaimer →

Indianapolis 'Crossroads of America' (I-65/I-69/I-70/I-74 converge), FedEx Ground / FedEx Express national hubs in Indianapolis, NW Indiana steel + Chicago intermodal access — Indiana is genuinely one of the country's top freight crossroads.

Not all Truck Drivers earn the same — not even close

Indiana's nickname is 'Crossroads of America' — and for truck drivers it genuinely is. I-65 (Chicago→Indianapolis→Louisville→Nashville→AL), I-69 (Detroit→Indianapolis→Memphis), I-70 (Pittsburgh→Indianapolis→St. Louis), I-74 (Cincinnati→Indianapolis→Iowa), I-94 (Chicago→Detroit through NW Indiana), and I-80/I-90 (Pennsylvania→Iowa) all converge in or pass through Indiana. Indianapolis hosts FedEx Ground national hub, FedEx Express regional operations, Salesforce HQ-East, Eli Lilly headquarters, and Anheuser-Busch operations. NW Indiana (Gary, Hammond, Crown Point) is the cheap-housing base for Chicago-area work, though not a tax shelter: Illinois and Indiana have no reciprocity agreement.

Tractor-Trailer Driver (any freight)

$49,390–$72,260

Indianapolis-based · transcontinental or regional any direction

Source: BLS May 2025 · Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers · Indiana · middle 50%

Tractor-Trailer Driver (any freight) (Chicago metro)

$50,580–$77,660

NW IN specialty · Gary/East Chicago steel mills · skill premium

Source: BLS May 2025 · Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers · Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN · middle 50%

Local Delivery Driver

$37,090–$51,110

Daily home time · Indianapolis metro / Fort Wayne / South Bend

Source: BLS May 2025 · Light Truck Drivers · Indiana · middle 50%

New CDL Driver

$42,060–$49,390

Entry-level; experience-based progression

Source: BLS May 2025 · Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers · Indiana · 10th–25th percentile

Senior OTR / Trainer

$72,260–$79,000

Mentor roles at major fleets

Source: BLS May 2025 · Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers · Indiana · 75th–90th percentile

Worth knowing: Indiana's flat 2.95% state income tax (2026) is among the lowest in the country (continuing HEA 1001's phase-down toward 2.9% by 2027). BUT every IN resident also pays a mandatory county income tax — Marion County (Indianapolis) 2.02%, Hamilton County (Carmel/Fishers) 1.10%, Allen County (Fort Wayne) 1.59%, Lake County (Gary) 1.50%. No opt-out — every Hoosier pays both. Choosing your county wisely matters: a Hamilton County resident saves ~$730/year vs Marion at a typical $80K driver income. Illinois and Indiana have NO reciprocity agreement. An Indiana resident driving for a Chicago employer pays Illinois 4.95% as a nonresident; Indiana credits that against state tax, but the county tax is still due — so a Lake County driver pays about 1.5% of wages MORE than an Illinois resident.

Indiana trucking — Crossroads of America, FedEx hubs, county tax wrinkle

Interstate highways converge in Indianapolis (I-65/I-69/I-70/I-74)

2.95%

IN flat state income tax — among the lowest in the country

$170k+

top owner-operator net revenue with established business

Indianapolis is genuinely the freight crossroads of the United States. I-65, I-69, I-70, I-74 all converge in Indianapolis. Drivers based here can reach Chicago in 3 hours, Cincinnati in 2, Louisville in 2, St. Louis in 4, Memphis in 7, Detroit in 5, Atlanta in 9. The optionality is unmatched among US driver-base cities.

FedEx Ground operates a major national hub in Indianapolis. FedEx Express has significant Indianapolis operations. Plus major distribution centers (Anheuser-Busch, Indianapolis Motor Speedway-area logistics, Eli Lilly pharmaceutical distribution, Salesforce-area office logistics) create deep local driver demand.

Indiana's auto industry creates significant just-in-time freight demand. Subaru Lafayette, Toyota Princeton, Honda Greensburg, GM Fort Wayne all run JIT supply chains that require skilled flatbed and dry van drivers. Auto JIT freight is operationally demanding (tight schedules) but pays premium.

NW Indiana (Lake County, Gary, East Chicago, Crown Point) hosts the largest steel-producing region in the US — ArcelorMittal, U.S. Steel Gary Works, Cleveland-Cliffs operations all support specialty steel hauling. Cheap NW Indiana housing makes it a quietly excellent base for Chicago-area trucking work, even though a Chicago paycheck costs a Lake County resident more income tax, not less (no IL-IN reciprocity).

Indiana's flat 2.95% state tax + mandatory county tax (1-2.5% typical) = ~4-5% combined effective state+local burden. Compared to peer Midwest states (IL 4.95% no county; OH ~3% with city tax in Cleveland/Columbus/Cincinnati; MI 4.25% + Detroit 2.4%), IN's combined burden is competitive. The county-choice wrinkle matters: Hamilton County (1.10%) saves ~$730/year vs Marion (2.02%) at a typical $80K driver income.

Indiana for truck drivers — Crossroads access, FedEx hubs, county-choice math

Indianapolis-area drivers concentrate in working-class communities with truck and trailer parking access — Plainfield (FedEx Ground hub proximity, Hendricks County 1.7% tax), Whiteland / Greenwood (Johnson County 1.4%), Brownsburg (Hendricks 1.7%). The choice between Marion County (Indianapolis core, 2.02% county tax) vs surrounding county matters meaningfully — a driver earning $80K saves about $250-$730/year by choosing a lower-tax county (Hendricks 1.70% to Hamilton 1.10%), and more at higher pay.

NW Indiana drivers (Crown Point, Hammond, Schererville) often work for Chicago employers. There is no IL-IN reciprocity, so Illinois taxes that pay at 4.95% and Lake County adds 1.5% on top — about $1,100 more than an Illinois resident pays at $75K. The arbitrage is housing: NW IN homes run far below Cook County, which is why many Cook County workers still move there.

Owner-operators in Indiana benefit from the freight density + lowest flat-rate income tax in the Midwest + meaningful affordability. Net revenue $100,000–$170,000+ is achievable with established shipper relationships. Indianapolis backhaul optionality is genuinely exceptional — virtually any direction can yield productive return freight.

How Indiana taxes work for truck drivers (and how to keep more)

Indiana's flat 2.95% state income tax (2026, continuing HEA 1001's phase-down toward 2.9% by 2027) is among the lowest in the country — competitive with NC's 3.99% and AZ's 2.5%. BUT Indiana adds a mandatory county income tax on top: Marion County (Indianapolis) 2.02%, Hamilton County (Carmel/Fishers/Westfield) 1.10%, Allen County (Fort Wayne) 1.59%, Lake County (Gary/Crown Point) 1.50%, Hendricks County (Plainfield) 1.70%, Johnson County (Whiteland/Greenwood) 1.40%. No opt-out — every Hoosier pays both state + county. Combined effective state+local = 4-5% for typical drivers.

County choice matters more than most newcomers realize. A driver earning $80K who lives in Hamilton (1.10%) saves about $730/year vs Marion (2.02%) — the same job at the same pay, just choosing the suburb to the north of Indianapolis vs Indianapolis proper. Drivers serving Plainfield's FedEx Ground hub typically live in Hendricks (1.70%) or Hamilton (1.10%) — the spread compounds over a career.

There is no IL-IN reciprocity agreement (Indiana's partners are KY, MI, OH, PA and WI; Illinois's are IA, KY, MI and WI). A Crown Point driver working in Chicago pays Illinois 4.95% as a nonresident, takes Indiana's credit against the 2.95% state tax, and still owes Lake County's 1.5% — roughly 6.45% combined, versus 4.95% for an Illinois resident and 4.45% for one who works in Indiana. The win is dramatically cheaper Lake County housing vs Cook County, not tax. Many Chicago-metro drivers structure their lives this way for the housing alone.

→Choose your IN county wisely. Hamilton County (Carmel/Fishers/Westfield) at 1.10% saves ~$730/year vs Marion (2.02%) at $80K driver income. Combined IN state+county at Hamilton ≈ 4.05%; at Marion ≈ 4.97%. Compounded over a career, the spread is genuine money.
→Max your ($24,500 in 2026) — pre-tax for federal AND IN state + county. At a $90K driver income's combined ~25.5% marginal rate, every $1,000 deferred saves ~$255. Strong leverage despite the headline-low state tax — combined federal + IN state + IN county adds up.
→CollegeChoice 529 — IN's standout family benefit. Indiana offers a 20% state-tax CREDIT (not deduction) on contributions up to $7,500/year, capped at $1,500 per return (not per child). Saves up to $1,500/year in IN tax. Among the most generous 529 incentives in the country dollar-for-dollar. Drivers with school-age kids should max this before any other tax-advantaged account beyond match.
→Renters Deduction: $3,000/year deduction if you rent your primary IN residence. Often missed by self-prepared filers.
→Per-diem deduction (long-haul drivers): IRS $69/day federal per-diem reduces both federal AND IN state + county taxable income (IN conforms to federal ). 200 nights = $13,800 deduction.
→NW Indiana commuters: there is no IL-IN reciprocity, so do not file IL-W-5-NR (it covers only Iowa, Kentucky, Michigan and Wisconsin residents). Your Illinois employer withholds Illinois tax; file an Illinois nonresident return, claim Indiana's credit for it, and budget for Lake County tax, which an Illinois employer often does not withhold.

Three Indiana metros for truck drivers — what each one looks like

IN trucking is centered on Indianapolis (Crossroads of America), but NW Indiana (Chicago-area work) and Fort Wayne are distinct sub-markets with different economics.

Indianapolis (Plainfield FedEx Ground hub / Hendricks Co)

FedEx Ground: $24–$32/hr · OTR: $0.55–$0.72/mile

Indianapolis is the freight crossroads of the United States — I-65, I-69, I-70, I-74 converge. FedEx Ground national hub in Plainfield + FedEx Express major operations + Anheuser-Busch + Eli Lilly distribution + Salesforce + Subaru/Toyota/Honda auto industry create exceptional driver demand. Hamilton County suburbs (1.10%) save ~$730/year vs Marion (2.02%) at a typical $80K driver income.

Plainfield, Avon, Brownsburg (Hendricks Co) offer driveway access at $250-$350K for 3BR. Whiteland, Greenwood (Johnson Co at 1.40%) similar with even cheaper housing. Marion (Indianapolis proper) has cheapest urban housing but 2.02% county tax penalty.

NW Indiana (Crown Point / Schererville / Hammond — Lake County)

Drayage: $24–$32/hr · Steel: $26–$36/hr

NW Indiana is the cross-state-line option for Chicago-area drivers. NS Calumet intermodal yard + ArcelorMittal/U.S. Steel Gary Works + East Chicago refineries. Crown Point + Schererville offer the best combination: Lake County 1.5% tax + dramatically cheaper housing than Cook. Working in Chicago adds Illinois tax on top of that county tax (no IL-IN reciprocity).

Crown Point 3BR homes at $230-$320K with substantial driveway access. Schererville similar. Hammond/East Chicago offer cheapest housing but rougher neighborhoods. Many Chicago-area drivers have permanently relocated from Cook County to NW Indiana for the housing math (a Chicago job still pays Illinois tax, plus the county tax).

Fort Wayne / Allen County (I-69 corridor)

Local: $22–$28/hr · OTR: $0.50–$0.65/mile

I-69 corridor + GM Fort Wayne assembly plant + Sweetwater Sound + regional manufacturing + Lutheran/Parkview healthcare. Underrated mid-state market with meaningful affordability. Allen County 1.59% tax. $100K driver income is well above Fort Wayne median household income.

Fort Wayne 3BR homes at $185-$275K with substantial yards/driveway access. Cost of living among the lowest in the Midwest. Trade-off: smaller local job market means more drivers run regional or OTR routes from a Fort Wayne base.

The career arc — from new CDL to senior trainer to owner-operator

Indiana driving careers start at $44,000-$58,000 as a new CDL-A driver. Major IN-based + national fleets — Schneider, Werner, JB Hunt, Knight-Swift, Hub Group, USA Truck, and Indianapolis-area operations of FedEx Ground and FedEx Express — recruit aggressively. The first 12 months focus on safety record + segment selection. IN's Crossroads-of-America freight density gives new drivers exceptional optionality early.

Years 2-5 are the experience-progression band — pay rises to $58,000-$92,000. FedEx Ground operations at Plainfield (Hendricks Co) start at $52K and progress meaningfully. UPS Teamsters-organized routes can hit $90K+ within 5-7 years for those who land seniority. HazMat endorsement opens petrochemical work; auto industry hauling (Subaru Lafayette, Toyota Princeton, Honda Greensburg, GM Fort Wayne) pays specialty premium for skilled flatbed and dry van drivers.

Years 5-10 are the owner-operator decision point. Senior IN employee drivers earn $68K-$108K (especially at FedEx Freight, UPS, Teamsters fleets). Owner-operators with established Indianapolis shipper relationships clear $100K-$170K+ net revenue. IN's combination of low flat state tax + chosen-county tax minimization + lowest cost of living in the Midwest tilts the math toward owner-op for those willing to run a business. Indianapolis backhaul optionality from any direction is genuinely exceptional.

Late career (15+ years): senior trainers and dedicated lane operators. Established Indianapolis-area owner-operators downsize to predictable dedicated lanes — Indianapolis-Atlanta, Indianapolis-Dallas, Indianapolis-Memphis, Indianapolis-Detroit. NW Indiana drivers retire in coastal Indiana (Lake Michigan area) or transition to FL/AZ for retirement-friendly tax. IN retirement math is moderate — Social Security is exempt, but and most pension income pays the flat state rate plus county tax (Indiana has no general retirement-income exclusion; the $31,110 one is Kentucky's) = comfortable but not exceptional. Many career drivers stay in Hamilton County or Hendricks County for retirement, benefiting from low cost of living + paid-off housing + the lowest combined state+county tax option.

Where Indiana truck drivers actually live

IN drivers cluster in working-class communities with truck parking access. Indianapolis: Plainfield (FedEx Ground hub, Hendricks County), Whiteland (Johnson 1.4%), Brownsburg (Hendricks 1.7%). Living outside Marion (2.02%) saves roughly $250-$730/year at an $80K driver income — about $250 in Hendricks (1.70%), $490 in Johnson (1.40%) and $730 in Hamilton (1.10%). NW Indiana: Crown Point, Hammond, Schererville (Lake County 1.5%; no IL-IN reciprocity for Chicago jobs). Fort Wayne: Allen County warehouse corridor.

Plainfield / Brownsburg (Hendricks Co)

FedEx Ground hub proximity · 1.7% county tax · driveway access

Whiteland / Greenwood (Johnson Co)

Indianapolis south · 1.4% county tax · meaningful affordability

Crown Point / Schererville (Lake Co)

NW IN · Chicago metro work (IL tax applies) · Lake Co 1.5%

Hammond / East Chicago

NW IN · steel industry · IL-IN border · cheap housing

Fort Wayne suburbs (Allen Co)

Allen County 1.59% · meaningful affordability · I-69 corridor

Lafayette / West Lafayette (Tippecanoe)

Auto industry · Subaru Lafayette · 1.28% county tax

Plainfield (Hendricks County) has emerged as the optimal Indianapolis driver hub — FedEx Ground national hub proximity, lower county tax than Marion, meaningful affordability. NW Indiana (Crown Point, Schererville) offers Chicago-area work with the cheapest housing in the metro; a Chicago employer still means Illinois tax plus Lake County tax.

Is this the right move?

Indiana for truck drivers — Crossroads of America, low flat tax, FedEx hubs

Working in your favor

+Indianapolis is genuinely the freight crossroads of America (4 interstates converge)
+Flat 2.95% state tax — among the lowest in the country
+FedEx Ground national hub + FedEx Express + Anheuser-Busch + Eli Lilly logistics
+NW Indiana steel industry + cheap housing for Chicago-area work
+Auto industry (Subaru, Toyota, Honda, GM Fort Wayne) supports JIT premium
+Cost of living significantly below national average

Worth knowing before you sign

−Mandatory county income tax adds 1-2.5% on top of state
−Marion County (Indianapolis) 2.02% county tax — choose suburbs for savings
−Indianapolis traffic has grown with population
−Winter weather complicates I-65/I-70/I-74 operations
−Limited port access (vs Savannah or Houston)

Sources & Methodology

Salary figures are market estimates for Truck Drivers in Indiana and vary by employer, specialty, seniority, and metro. Take-home math assumes a single filer with no dependents, the standard deduction, and Indiana 2026 state rates. Local taxes, insurance premiums, and pre-tax contributions will move your number — run the calculator for your own situation.

Run your own numbers

Indiana paycheck calculator → · 401(k), HSA, dependents
No Tax on Overtime calculator → · up to $12,500 off federal tax
1099 tax calculator → · self-employment tax 15.3%
Bonus calculator → · year-end, sign-on, retention

Key terms:···

Frequently Asked Questions

Find answers to common questions about your taxes and our calculator.

Compare Two States

See how income tax, take-home pay, and total tax burden differ between any two US states side by side.

State 1

State 2

Truck Driver Salary in Other States

Truck Driver Salary in California →Truck Driver Salary in Texas →Truck Driver Salary in New York →Truck Driver Salary in Florida →Truck Driver Salary in Washington →

More on Indiana

All Professions in Indiana →

Salaries by profession, top-paying roles by industry, and an economic breakdown for Indiana in 2026.

Indiana Paycheck Calculator →

Adjust filing status, 401(k), and city/county tax for your exact 2026 take-home in Indiana.