Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers Pay Range in Kentucky
Pay distribution across experience levels
- 10th Percentile — Entry Level$38,670
- 25th Percentile — Junior$47,810
- 50th Percentile — Median$56,340
- 75th Percentile — Senior$70,020
- 90th Percentile — Top Earners$85,630
Half of Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers in Kentucky earn more than $56,340. The top 10% make $85,630 or more, while entry-level workers start around $38,670.
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers in Kentucky: Key Facts
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025
- Kentucky ranks 27th of 51 states for Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers pay, at $59,870 per year (0.3% above the U.S. average of $59,710).
- 31,760 people work as Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers in Kentucky — 1.5% of all U.S. Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers jobs.
- Location quotient 1.20: Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers jobs are more concentrated in Kentucky than in the U.S. overall.
- Pay range: the lowest-paid 10% earn under $38,670; the top 10% earn over $85,630.
- Hourly equivalent: $28.78 per hour (2,080 hours/year).
- The highest-paying state is Alaska at $69,520.
- Among transportation jobs in Kentucky, Airline Pilots Copilots and Flight Engineers pays the most ($302,340).
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers Job Market in Kentucky
Key factors affecting compensation
Kentucky's key industries are Manufacturing, Healthcare, Agriculture, and its job market is rated moderate. Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers here earn $59,870 on average, placing the state 27th nationally.
With a cost-of-living index of 0.83 (U.S. = 1.00), a Kentucky salary of $59,870 is roughly equivalent to $72,133 at the national average cost of living.
Compared with nearby states in the pay ranking, Kansas ($60,480), Tennessee ($60,440), Iowa ($60,070) 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 Kentucky
Related career salary benchmarks
- Airline Pilots Copilots and Flight Engineers $302,340/yr Kentucky +405.0% vs this role
- Commercial Pilots $168,100/yr Kentucky +180.8% vs this role
- Air Traffic Controllers $121,910/yr Kentucky +103.6% vs this role
- Transportation Inspectors $85,350/yr Kentucky +42.6% vs this role
- Locomotive Engineers $83,310/yr Kentucky +39.2% vs this role
- Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators $49,630/yr Kentucky 17.1% vs this role
- Light Truck Drivers $48,880/yr Kentucky 18.4% vs this role
- Laborers and Freight Stock Material Movers $41,960/yr Kentucky 29.9% vs this role
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this salary
What is the average Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers salary in Kentucky?
The average Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers salary in Kentucky is $59,870 per year (median $56,340), which is 0.3% above the national average of $59,710.
How does Kentucky rank for Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers pay?
Kentucky ranks 27th 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 Kentucky?
The lowest-paid 10% of Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers in Kentucky earn about $38,670 per year and the 25th percentile is $47,810.
How much do Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers make per hour in Kentucky?
About $28.78 per hour, based on the $59,870 annual average and 2,080 working hours per year.
How many Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers work in Kentucky?
BLS counts 31,760 Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers jobs in Kentucky (OEWS May 2025).
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