Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers Pay Range in California
Pay distribution across experience levels
- 10th Percentile — Entry Level$41,830
- 25th Percentile — Junior$48,740
- 50th Percentile — Median$60,230
- 75th Percentile — Senior$72,330
- 90th Percentile — Top Earners$81,960
Half of Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers in California earn more than $60,230. The top 10% make $81,960 or more, while entry-level workers start around $41,830.
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers in California: Key Facts
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025
- California ranks 14th of 51 states for Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers pay, at $62,020 per year (3.9% above the U.S. average of $59,710).
- 205,090 people work as Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers in California — 9.9% of all U.S. Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers jobs.
- Location quotient 0.85: Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers jobs are less concentrated in California than in the U.S. overall.
- Pay range: the lowest-paid 10% earn under $41,830; the top 10% earn over $81,960.
- Hourly equivalent: $29.82 per hour (2,080 hours/year).
- The highest-paying state is Alaska at $69,520.
- Among transportation jobs in California, Airline Pilots Copilots and Flight Engineers pays the most ($310,190).
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers Job Market in California
Key factors affecting compensation
California's key industries are Technology, Entertainment, Agriculture, and its job market is rated very strong. Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers here earn $62,020 on average, placing the state 14th nationally.
With a cost-of-living index of 1.42 (U.S. = 1.00), a California salary of $62,020 is roughly equivalent to $43,676 at the national average cost of living.
Compared with nearby states in the pay ranking, Massachusetts ($63,570), North Dakota ($63,330), Wyoming ($63,180) are the closest alternatives for Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers weighing a move.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES) · May 2025
Other Transportation Jobs in California
Related career salary benchmarks
- Airline Pilots Copilots and Flight Engineers $310,190/yr California +400.1% vs this role
- Commercial Pilots $202,040/yr California +225.8% vs this role
- Air Traffic Controllers $156,910/yr California +153.0% vs this role
- Captains Mates and Pilots of Water Vessels $129,580/yr California +108.9% vs this role
- Transportation Inspectors $88,500/yr California +42.7% vs this role
- Locomotive Engineers $75,600/yr California +21.9% vs this role
- Light Truck Drivers $53,310/yr California 14.0% vs this role
- Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators $50,360/yr California 18.8% vs this role
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this salary
What is the average Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers salary in California?
The average Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers salary in California is $62,020 per year (median $60,230), which is 3.9% above the national average of $59,710.
How does California rank for Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers pay?
California ranks 14th out of 51 states. The highest-paying state is Alaska ($69,520/yr).
How much do entry-level Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers make in California?
The lowest-paid 10% of Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers in California earn about $41,830 per year and the 25th percentile is $48,740.
How much do Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers make per hour in California?
About $29.82 per hour, based on the $62,020 annual average and 2,080 working hours per year.
How many Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers work in California?
BLS counts 205,090 Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers jobs in California (OEWS May 2025).
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