Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers Career, Salary and Skills
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers have a BLS-reported national median annual wage of $58,640 based on the 2025 OEWS dataset, with reported national employment of 2,062,040. Wage data is published for 447 locations.
Occupation description
Drive a tractor-trailer combination or a truck with a capacity of at least 26,001 pounds Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW). May be required to unload truck. Requires commercial drivers' license. Includes tow truck drivers.
O*NET code
53-3032.00
Job zone
2
Typical education
High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)
Experience
Over 1 year, up to and including 2 years
National salary and employment
Median annual
$58,640
Hourly median
$28.19
Employment
2,062,040
Data year
2025
National salary distribution
Top skills
| Skill | Importance | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Operations Monitoring | 3.75 | 3.12 |
| Operation and Control | 3.75 | 3.62 |
| Monitoring | 3.12 | 3.00 |
| Troubleshooting | 3.00 | 2.88 |
| Reading Comprehension | 3.00 | 3.00 |
| Critical Thinking | 3.00 | 2.88 |
| Speaking | 3.00 | 2.88 |
| Time Management | 3.00 | 3.00 |
| Active Listening | 2.88 | 3.00 |
| Equipment Maintenance | 2.88 | 2.75 |
Typical tasks
- Inspect loads to ensure that cargo is secure.
- Check vehicles to ensure that mechanical, safety, and emergency equipment is in good working order.
- Crank trailer landing gear up or down to safely secure vehicles.
- Obtain receipts or signatures for delivered goods and collect payment for services when required.
- Maintain logs of working hours or of vehicle service or repair status, following applicable state and federal regulations.
- Read bills of lading to determine assignment details.
- Report vehicle defects, accidents, traffic violations, or damage to the vehicles.
- Check all load-related documentation for completeness and accuracy.
Technology
- 3M Post-it App
- ADP ezLaborManager
- ALK Technologies PC*Miler
- Computerized inventory tracking software
- ddlsoftware.com drivers daily log program DDL
- Eko
- Evernote
- Fog Line Software Truckn Pro
- Inventory tracking software
- MarcoSoft Quo Vadis
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office software
- Microsoft Outlook
- Microsoft Windows
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers salary by location
Areas with the highest reported employment for this occupation.
- Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers Salary in TXMedian $56,290 · Employment 209,680
- Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers Salary in CAMedian $60,230 · Employment 205,090
- Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers Salary in FLMedian $50,640 · Employment 112,920
- Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers Salary in PAMedian $58,580 · Employment 87,550
- Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers Salary in ILMedian $60,320 · Employment 84,200
- Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers Salary in OHMedian $59,800 · Employment 83,060
- Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers Salary in GAMedian $57,050 · Employment 74,840
- Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers Salary in New York, NYMedian $65,040 · Employment 65,100
- Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers Salary in TNMedian $58,620 · Employment 64,890
- Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers Salary in NYMedian $62,050 · Employment 63,700
- Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers Salary in NCMedian $51,530 · Employment 62,400
- Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers Salary in Chicago, ILMedian $62,300 · Employment 62,210
Related careers
- Pile Driver OperatorsNational median $73,300
- Crane and Tower OperatorsNational median $68,080
- Railroad Conductors and YardmastersNational median $78,000
- Bus Drivers, Transit and IntercityNational median $59,050
- Hoist and Winch OperatorsNational median $56,450
- Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and AmbulanceNational median $50,340
- Highway Maintenance WorkersNational median $50,260
- Locomotive EngineersNational median $81,410
Career and skills data: O*NET 31.0 (onetcenter.org). Salary and employment data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS, 2025 (bls.gov/oes). Figures are published survey estimates, not real-time market data.