What is the Average Entry-Level Wage for a Truck Driver?
Different types of truck drivers in the United States have different average entry-level wages. Read on to learn more about the entry-level salaries and wage information for tractor trailer truck drivers.
<h3 id="section---ImportantFactsAboutTruckDriving">Important Facts About Truck Driving</h3>
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<table border="1"><tr><td>Job Outlook (2021-2031)</td><td> 4% <i>(for all heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers)</i></td></tr>
<tr><td>Entry-Level Education</td><td> Postsecondary non-degree award</td></tr>
<tr><td>On-the-Job Training</td><td> Short-term on-the-job-training</td></tr>
<tr><td>Similar Occupations</td><td> Bus drivers, railroad workers, taxi drivers and chauffeurs</td></tr>
<tr><td>Licensing</td><td> Commercial driver's license required</td></tr>
</table><p><i>Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics</i>
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<h3 id="section---MedianHourlyWages">Median Hourly Wages</h3>
<p>Wages vary for tractor trailer truck drivers, as do the methods in which those wages are paid. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS, <i>www.bls.gov</i>) reports wages for the lowest to the highest earners in any given occupation. The amount of experience is one factor that strongly influences the wages earned by a truck driver, although education and training, specifics employers, location, and industry are influential, as well.
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<p>In May 2021, the BLS reported that the lowest ten percent of heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers took home hourly wages of $14.77 or less an hour. <i>PayScale.com</i> published that, as of January 2023, an entry-level truck driver may earn an hourly wage ranging from $15.78 to $26.88 an hour; the median hourly rate was reported as $20.53 an hour.
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<h3 id="section---SalaryByIndustry">Salary by Industry</h3>
<p>According to the BLS, truck transportation services employed the greatest number of long-distance truck drivers in 2021. Roughly 862,700 truck drivers worked for truck transportation. Also in 2021, merchant wholesalers of nondurable goods employed 84,040 persons, warehousing and storage employed 91,630. The average annual salaries earned in each of these industry categories were reported by the BLS as follows: truck transportation, $52,240; merchant wholesalers of nondurable goods, $54,150; and warehousing and storage, $46,760.
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<h3 id="section---WagesByState">Wages by State</h3>
<p>The BLS lists the top five states with the highest average hourly wage as of May 2021. The list reflects total industry averages, not just entry-level averages. The top five states are, in order:
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<ol><li>Washington ($27.49)
</li><li>District of Columbia ($27.18)
</li><li>Alaska ($27.13)
</li><li>New Jersey ($27.09)
</li><li>New York ($26.63)</li></ol>