How much does a truck driver make per year? What is the highest paying truck driving job? How much does a truck driver make per hour? Learn all this and see real data from truck drivers just like you. We surveyed over 250,000 Drivers and this is what we found out! Driver Shortage? Or Just Pay Truckers More For The Work They Do? Find out!
Truck Driver Salary Data : United States : June 14 2021
We wanted to find out what truck drivers really make in the trucking industry, so we thought let's ask them. We surveyed hundreds of thousands of current CDL A truck drivers in the U.S. and this is what we learned so we're happy to share it with you.
We also asked drivers what they think they should get paid for the work they do. And we looked at over half a million job listings for CDL A truck driving jobs across America.
So you can see a clear picture of what a driver makes, what they think they should be paid, and what the market has as far as new jobs out there.
We hope this data helps truck drivers and those looking to start a trucking career to see where they can make the best money and have the best experience.
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The average Truck Driver Salary In The United States is $66,000. With the average range being $60,000 - $70,000 per year.
But that's not the whole story. You see where you live and what you are willing to drive makes a big difference to what you get paid.
We're going to take you deep into the details because simple things can help you raise your salary & your families future. So lets take a look at how we can do that.
When you look at the breakdown of how much truckers get paid, my first questions are: How Do I Get Paid More? And Who Is Making That $150,000 wage?
The highest paying truck driver salaries are from about $150,000 to $200,000 and up. Drivers who have made specific investments in their careers and fall in to two bigger categories reap the benefits of these high pay rates.
First off Owner Operator Drivers have the potential to earn more because they do not work for any specific company and can negotiate the rate for moving freight. Owner Operators can make upwards of $150,000 to $200,000 to the truck per year. But that is an important distinction, because the TRUCK needs to be maintained and the business needs to run. So while Owner Operators make more cash for moving freight, they take on a lot more overhead and responsibilities when running under their own authority.
Next you have Company Drivers who have gained enough experience and endorsements to demand a higher pay rate and better runs. Company Drivers that have Hazmat & Tanker Endorsements and have Flatbed Experience are able to pull different types of freight. That freight usually pays the company they work for more, so the driver can get a higher rate of pay. The important thing for this driver is to make sure he negotiates his rate before he takes the job, because once you're there the companies have you on a specific cents per mile regardless of what you're hauling.
So whether it's buying your own Truck and becoming an owner operator or getting endorsments and building your experience, drivers who invest time and energy in their careers can move up salary tiers just not necessarily at the same company.
Yes, You read that right. Unlike other industries where you can promote your way up, unfortunately in a lot of trucking companies this progression is not available and drivers have to look for new companies to get better pay, better benefits, and better home time.
Truck Drivers can make great money as you saw above. But I'm also sure you noticed that a lot of drivers also can make very little. As you read above endorsements and experience play a big part in how much you can make. But so does location.
Across the country there is a big difference in how much a truck driver can make. As you can see on the map bellow most of the current available jobs are east of Interstate 35 (i35).
You'll also notice that there are some HOT Spots across the nation that have the bulk of jobs that are currently available.
These trucking cities are bombarded with ads and social media job posts.
So if you're a trucker in or near these cities you can have litteraly hundred of calls from available jobs today by signing up with a Truck Driver web recruitment site like TRKDRVR.com
Truck drivers make between $15.46 per hour on the low end and $65 per hour on the high end. The difference in pay rate is again determined by experience and ability to move different types of freight like Hazmat and Tanker Endorsements.
Check out the ranges from these popular job web sites.
| Web Site | Low End | High End | Link To Original |
|---|---|---|---|
| Salary.com | $17.00 | $29.00 | Visit Salary.com |
| TruckDrivingJobs.com | $19.00 | $35.00 | Visit TDJ |
| ZipRecruiter | $19.00 | $35.00 | Visit ZipRecruiter |
| GlassDoor | $17.00 | $29.00 | Visit GlassDoor |
| Indeed | $17.00 | $29.00 | Visit Indeed.com |
| PayScale.com | $15.46 | $25.88 | Visit PayScale.com |
There are also specialty jobs that move specific freight types that pay more. One thing we recommend truck drivers do is to take a look at your local area to see what industry is in need of truckers. For example in Houston, TX there are a lot of jobs for Hazmat and Tanker Drivers that can haul fuel. In the Pacific Northwest, Seattle and Portland areas, there are a ton of jobs for drivers with Flatbed experience.
Average truck drivers salaries vary based on experience, location and endorsements. As you saw above the average over all is $66,000. But there are many making less and a lot making more. Here's why.
As we mentioned time in the driving business makes a difference. While it may be easier now for a new truck driver straight out of school to sign on with a big company, it is usually not for a big pay check. More often than not new drivers are put through extra training and pay their dues with the lowest pay rates and most demanding schedules.
When looking at experience companies look at the number of months a driver has under his belt. The first 6 months are almost always rough and for a low pay rate. Or they are particularly demanding running OTR routes on a team so that the truck can keep rolling.
When you are new the best thing to do is run OTR, get on a team that keeps moving and gets lots of miles. This will not only build up your stamina for this type of work, but will pay you better than a regular position.
On top of that you don't have to go it alone. A lot of drivers say they love to drive. But it does get lonely out there and when you're on a team you can not only make more money but also make some good conversation.
Check out the ranges for average driver pay based on experience in the state of Florida below.
| Experience | Location | Average Reported Pay | Percentage Of Drivers |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 - 6 Months | Florida | $20,000 - $40,000 | 8% of Driver Respondents |
| 6 - 12 Months | Florida | $40,000 - $50,000 | 5% of Driver Respondents |
| 12 - 24 Months | Florida | $60,000 - $70,000 | 2% of Driver Respondents |
| 24 - 36 Months | Florida | $60,000 - $70,000 | 1% of Driver Respondents |
| 36 - 48 Months | Florida | $60,000 - $70,000 | 1% of Driver Respondents |
| 48+ Months | Florida | $70,000 - $80,000 | 11% of Driver Respondents |
As you can see the longer you drive the more you can make. Take a look at the rates of pay in the different parts of the United States by visiting our states pages.
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