*the offer is available to new drivers
Highest-Paying Trucking Salaries in 2024
The trucking industry is a cornerstone of the modern economy as it ensures timely and efficient product delivery. The demand for skilled specialists, especially drivers, is rising. It’s based on the e-commerce development and growing need for consumer goods and industrial supplies. The sector offers vast opportunities for truckers to obtain competitive salaries and ensure growth and stability.
How Much Is a Truck Driver’s Salary in 2024?
As the trucking sector is a vital part of the world supply chain, it provides numerous working opportunities. Whether an owner-operator or a private fleet trucker, you can ensure higher revenue and more benefits. Still, the main point is to be aware of current salary trends. In particular, the demand for skilled truck drivers is high amid the constant need for goods transportation.
Salary ranges for Truck Drivers
According to Indeed, in 2024, truckers will earn salaries ranging from $47,740 to $226,649 per year. This range often includes bonuses designed to attract new employees and reward performance. Truckers with several years of experience can significantly increase their earnings. Their increased knowledge and skills allow them to handle more complex requests and ensure the safe transportation of goods.
Several factors influence truckers’ salaries. It includes:
- Level of experience. More experienced drivers obtain higher salaries amid extensive knowledge and skills.
- Specialization. Truckers with specialized certifications, such as hazardous or oversized cargo shipments licenses, often earn more.
- Region. Salaries can vary based on the region and the demand for truck shipping in each state. Specifically, the states with the highest paying trucking jobs are Florida ($154,558 per year), Vermont ($141,481), North Dakota ($140,012), Maine ($139,908), and Delaware ($139,352).
- Company size. Larger companies often provide better benefits and higher salaries. They also offer health benefits, retirement plans, and performance bonuses.
- Freight type. The product type can also impact earnings. Drivers handling perishable, hazardous, or high-value goods earn more due to increased responsibility and requirements.
- Routes and distance. Long-haul truckers have higher salaries as they cover extensive distances.
Additional benefits
Beyond base salaries, truck drivers may receive a range of benefits and additional compensation. This is a common practice for large transportation companies.
- Bonuses. Performance bonuses for meeting targets, fuel efficiency, and safety records.
- Health benefits. Health insurance plans cover several types of health care.
- Retirement plans. Contributions to retirement or savings plans, such as 401 (k) accounts.
- Paid time off. Paid vacation, sick leave, and holiday pay.
- Per diem. Daily allowances for meals and incidental expenses for long trips.
- Tuition compensation. Assistance with costs of training and education to enhance the skills of employees.
Job stability and growth prospects
The trucking sector provides stable jobs and salaries amid the continuous demand for goods delivery. As e-commerce and global trade expand, the demand for freight transportation provides more work opportunities. Drivers willing to invest in learning and specialization can expect income growth and more career prospects.
Highest Paying Trucking Salaries per City
The location can significantly impact the highest paying trucking jobs. Certain cities provide more opportunities due to factors such as demand for shipping, cost of living, and regional economic conditions. We review the cities with the highest truckers salary, such as owner-operator drivers and truck drivers.
Owner-Operator Driver
Owner operators truck drivers own their trucks and work independently, that provides higher salary potential compared to companies’ employees. Still, they also have more risks and responsibilities.
- San Antonio, Texas. The leader of the top paying CDL jobs in San Antonio, with an average salary of $358,017 per year. The economic growth of the city and its central location as a transportation hub provide vast opportunities for growth and income.
- Jacksonville, Florida. Coming in second, this location offers a salary of $321,414 annually for owner-operator truck drivers. Its strategic location as a significant port city leads to higher demand for freight services.
- Columbus, Ohio. Owner-operators may make $318,918 per year here. As Columbus is in the state center, it is a key logistics hub.
- Phoenix, Arizona. With a $311,785 average annual salary, Phoenix is among the top paying cities for this job. Its growing economy and proximity to interstate highways is a vital element of cross-country transportation.
- Charlotte, North Carolina. The fifth city in rating offers an average salary of $304,228 annually. Charlotte serves as a financial and distribution center, increasing its need for reliable shipping services.
Truck Drivers
Truckers employed by companies have opportunities to earn competitive salaries. Among the cities of cities with the top CDL salary, there are:
- Salt Lake City, Utah. Here tuckers’ salaries may total $109,588 per year. The city is a logistics and distribution center in the west of the U.S. that contributes to high wages.
- San Antonio, Texas. The next location proposes an average annual wage of $105,508. San Antonio’s strong economy and strategic location make it profitable for truckers.
- Louisville, Kentucky. Truck drivers can obtain an average salary of $104,201 per year. The demand is based on the city’s central location as a shipping hub for air freight.
- Dallas, Texas. Here an average annual salary for truck drivers is $103,477. With significant industrial and commercial activity, the city provides high demand for trucking.
- Atlanta, Georgia. Completing the top fixe, Atlanta offers an average annual salary for truck drivers at $100,767. The city is a vital transportation and logistics center in the southeastern U.S. This fact ensures stable and high-paying opportunities.
In conclusion, whether you own and run a truck or work for a company, you can ensure stable growth and income potential. Right location for trucking is essential element that will impact your earnings.
10 Highest Annual Salaries in the Trucking Industry
As we reviewed, the trucking industry offers various opportunities for drivers across different specialized roles. We prepared a list of 10 top paying CDL jobs. Still, the high salary also involves complexity, risk, and higher expertise.
1. Owner-operator truck drivers
Truckers who run their truck have the potential for significant incomes. They have more control over the workload and earnings, while the average salary is $264,811 annually. The entire range is from $123,500 per year to $390,000, depending on the routes, cargo types, and their ambitions. Still, owning the truck also means maintenance costs, insurance, and other business expenses. Top-3 cities for this position are San Matero, CA – $327,052 annually, Richmond, CA – $323,364, and Bellevue, WA – $318,571.
2. Oversize load truckers
Drivers who specialize in shipping oversized or overweight loads earn top salaries as additional skills and certification are required. Such loads can include heavy machinery, large construction items, and other oversize cargo that require special conditions and routes. The salary range is $35,000-167,000, while the average is $96,532 annually. With additional skills, drivers should have extra equipment and ensure timely communication with dispatchers and pilot cars. Across the U.S., the highest salary for oversize haul truckers is offered in Berkeley, CA – $121,955, Renton, WA – $118,524, and Santa Monica, CA – $117,575.
3. Team drivers
Truckers who work together to cover longer distances are next on the list of the highest-paying trucking jobs. With turns trucking, team drivers can move almost continuously, reducing delivery times. It provides higher efficiency that is the most essential values of trucking. The annual salary range is $50,000-$151,000, while the average totals $90,312 annually. Team drivers may obtain higher income in Rice Lake, WI – $132,749, Lake Forest, CA – $131,412, and Norristown, PA – $118,086.
4. Ice road truckers
It’s one of the most dangerous and demanding trucking jobs. The truckers navigate frozen routes to deliver essential cargo to remote locations. The high risks include driving over ice and extreme weather conditions. In addition to high risks and challenging conditions, ice road trucking is seasonally confined to a few months. So, drivers need to maximize their income during this period. The salary of ice road truckers may vary from $34,500 to $121,500 per year. The average totals $81,820 annually.
5. Long-haul drivers
Over-the road (OTR) truckers transport products over long distances. Often it involves shipping across multiple states. The position requires longer road time, careful time management, and strict delivery schedules. OTR drivers usually obtain $23,500-$104,000 per year. The average totals $71,196 annually.
Among the U.S., cities with the highest OTR truck driver salary are Berkeley, CA – $86,194 per year, Mount Vernon, WA – $83,499, and New York City, NY – $82,880.
6. Flatbed truck drivers
These truckers often handle large and irregularly shaped cargo that don’t fit in standard vans. It requires skills in securing cargo and navigating through traffic with minimized risks. Flatbed trucks usually ship wind turbine or oil rigs components, military machinery, farming equipment, and so on. The annual salary for flatbed truckers totals $64,014. Still, the offers on the market very from $32,500 to $101,500 per year.
The highest salary is proposed in San Fransisco, CA – $79,089 per year, San Jose, CA – $76,474, and Oakland, CA – $74,835.
7. Reefer truckers
Drivers of these trucks transport perishable goods that require temperature control. The position demand attention to detail and careful monitoring of the equipment. Reefer truckers often handle pharmaceuticals or temperature-sensitive cargo that is highly demanded. It provides job and salary stability. The average income for this job is $61,946 per year. However, the salary may vary in a range of $26,000-$92,000 per year. Higher annual income for reefer truckers is proposed in San Mateo, CA – $73,767 per year, Green River, WY – $72,935, and Daly City, CA – $72,816.
8. Hazardous materials truckers
Shipping of hazmat products, such as radioactive or flammable goods, chemicals, gases are important part for some industries. It requires specialized training and certification that affects the salary. The truckers should also comply with the strict regulations to minimize risks. The average annual salary totals $57,554. Still, it may vary from $31,000 to $110,000 per year. The highest salary for hazmat shipping is fixed in Berkeley, CA – $73,791 annually, Johnsonville, CA – $71,193, and Lynnwood, CA – $70,779.
9. Auto haulers
Car transporters ship vehicles from manufacturers to dealers or individuals. This position requires care to minimize damage risk and secure the vehicles properly. Auto haulers often work with high-value cargo. The salary is usually in the range of $24,000-$129,000 per year. The industry average is $55,857 annually.
The cities with auto hauling average salaries higher compared to the national are Lake Marcel-Stillwater, WA – $93,673 per year, Clay, CA – $87,013, and San Buenaventura, CA – $78,554.
10. Private fleet drivers
These truckers work for specific companies and transport only their goods. Businesses may propose higher salaries to attract skilled specialists. The range for the U.S. market is $18,500-$43,500 per year. The average payment is $29,992 annually. Still, it varies depending on the retailer. For example, Walmart announced the company’s truck salary range of $95,000-$110,000 per year. For private fleet drivers, the top cities with higher salaries are San Jose, CA – $37,757 annually, Vallejo, CA – $37,003, Oakland, CA – $36,931.
Conclusion
The U.S. trucking sector offers experienced drivers and newcomers different opportunities to increase their income. The positions with advanced skills and certification requirements also offer high pay with unique benefits. As the industry evolves, truckers who invest in training will be well-positioned to take advantage of most opportunities.
Contact Logity Dispatch to enhance your earnings and operational efficiency. We provide dispatch solutions to help you obtain high-paying loads and optimize your route. You can focus on driving with us while we handle logistics and load management.
