So you’re wondering, how much do truck drivers make? The simple answer is truck drivers can make a LOT of money (over $100,000), so for a lot of people, it makes sense to become a truck driver.
Salaries for truck drivers are different. It can depend on who you talk to, and what type of truck driver, and how much they drive.
Read on to learn the real number that truck drivers make, it might surprise you.
Over-the-road (OTR) truck drivers generally make the most money, but are on the road sometimes for weeks at a time. The longer you’re on the road & the more challenging the drive usually means more money.
A local delivery driver will sleep at home every night, but may make half the salary an OTR driver would.
For most truck drivers, it is all about the mileage you are driving if you want to earn the big bucks.
In this article we will break down overall average pay for a truck driver, as well as pay for specific truck driving specialities.
Median Truck Driver Salary
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median salary for truck drivers was $48,310 in 2021. Which means that half of truck drivers were making less than $48k and half were making more than $48k.
You’re probably thinking, “That’s it? $48k doesn’t seem like a lot.” And you’re right.
You’ll have a hard time finding ANY jobs paying as low as $48,000 a year on any job board. That statistic from BLS includes part time work, local delivery drivers – anyone working with a CDL license. It is not the best reflection of what type of money you can make as a truck driver.
What is the Average Pay for Truck Drivers?
The average truck driver salary in the US is $59,000, according to Zippia.com. If you are a driver with some experience & are willing to drive for longer periods of time, you can make much more.
For a driver without experience, you will probably be somewhere between the median salary ($48k) and the average salary of $59k.
The best part is truck driver salaries keep going up. As baby boomers and older drivers retire, there is a huge demand for younger drivers. And not enough younger drivers to fill those roles.
Every day there is more and more competition for companies to attract reliable truck drivers, and not enough new drivers to fill their trucks. These companies have to keep increasing their pay to attract new talent. In April 2022 Walmart increased their starting pay for new truck drivers to $95,000-110,00.
How much do truck drivers make a week?
The average truck driver makes around $1200 per week.
The driver shortage means companies are more desperate than ever to find high quality CDL drivers. Many companies are offering guaranteed minimum weekly pay of $1000 or more. That means no matter what, you will get paid that number.
Of course, if you want to earn the most you can every week, you will want to max out your mileage on the road.
If you sign on with the right company and really want to max out your pay, there are many ways to do it. Weekly pay is not going to give you the full picture for truck driver compensation. Most truck drivers’ salary package will include weekly pay as well as bonuses for things like safety, mileage, sign-ons, referrals, and more.
How much do OTR truck drivers (or long haul truck drivers) make?
The average OTR truck driver salary is $69,000 per year according to Glassdoor. OTR truck drivers are often one of the higher paid roles in the trucking industry.
Why do OTR truck drivers make more money than other truck drivers? The simple answer: it is a harder job.
OTR truck driving is harder mostly because you are on the road for many days and often weeks at a time. OTR truckers are sleeping in a bunk in their cab, away from family. They are putting in the most mileage possible to get their loads across the country.
How much do local truck drivers make
Local truck drivers earn an average of $50,000 – $60,000 per year according to salary.com. Local truck driver jobs often pay a little less than other jobs. That is mostly because they are local, which means drivers are sleeping in their bed every day.
There might be more competition for local driver positions, especially a higher paying one. Older CDL drivers with more experience might be tired of long haul trucking and want a job with more home time.
How much do flatbed truck drivers make
Flatbed truck drivers make an average of $63,000 per year, according to talent.com. Flatbed drivers, like OTR drivers, often make more money than most. The main reason is flatbedding is hard. Loads often need to be tarped manually by the driver, so there is a degree of difficulty and skill involved.
For a flatbed driver, securing the loads is most often the responsibility of the driver. The job can be physically demanding and stressful. And for that reason it often pays more money.
How much do hazmat truck drivers make
Hazmat truck drivers earn an average of $63,000 per year, according to salary.com.
Salary can vary depending on what type of Hazmat truck driver you are. There are tankers, hazardous materials, and hazmat/tanker endorsements. All of these are special endorsements that require additional training and testing on top of your CDL.
If you can attain a hazmat endorsement, it is often a good idea, as it will unlock higher paying opportunities and more job potential.
How much do team truck drivers make
Team drivers can regularly be some of the highest paid drivers in trucking. Team truck drivers make an average of $77,000 per year according to Glassdoor.
A team position is just what it sounds like: a team of two drivers in the cab, taking turns driving across the country. Team truck driving positions are usually over-the-road (OTR) jobs, which means you are on the road and sleeping in your cab for many days or weeks at a time.
This is often one of the highest paying jobs for a reason. The turnover is high, as the expectation is the wheels are pretty much constantly moving. And even the best of friends will get sick of each other after a while. The most successful team drivers are often a husband and wife duo.
How much do owner operator truck drivers make
Owner operators make the most money of any truck drivers. On average, owner operator truck drivers make $235,000 according to ZipRecruiter. The highest paid owner operators can make $400,000+.
The reason owner operators make so much money is simple. They are technically running their own business, own their own truck, and take on a lot of the overhead and risk. As an owner operator, your salary will be much higher, but you’ll often be paying for your truck, gas, insurance, and more.
