Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers Salary in Kentucky: $62,000 Average

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Average base salary, Kentucky

$62,000 / year

≈ $5,150 per month · $29.81 per hour

LocationOr metro area

BLS May 2025 state data for Kentucky · median $58,500

25th percentile
$49,500Average
$62,00075th percentile
$72,500

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, aged to 2026 using compounded market movement. State selections show BLS state-level figures where published. Actual pay varies with experience, industry, and organization size.

Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers salary by state

Alabama$58,000

Alaska$72,000

Arizona$61,000

Arkansas$59,500

California$64,000

Colorado$66,000

Connecticut$64,000

Delaware$59,500

District of Columbia$70,000

Florida$57,000

Georgia$60,000

Hawaii$63,000

Idaho$61,000

Illinois$64,500

Indiana$63,000

Iowa$62,000

Kansas$62,500

Kentucky$62,000

Louisiana$53,500

Maine$58,000

Maryland$62,500

Massachusetts$66,000

Michigan$58,500

Minnesota$66,000

Mississippi$58,000

Missouri$59,000

Montana$61,500

Nebraska$62,000

Nevada$67,500

New Hampshire$62,500

New Jersey$69,000

New Mexico$55,000

New York$68,000

North Carolina$58,000

North Dakota$65,500

Ohio$63,000

Oklahoma$59,500

Oregon$66,500

Pennsylvania$61,500

Rhode Island$61,500

South Carolina$57,500

South Dakota$60,500

Tennessee$62,500

Texas$60,000

Utah$63,000

Vermont$63,000

Virginia$60,000

Washington$70,500

West Virginia$54,500

Wisconsin$61,000

Wyoming$65,500

About this role

Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers is a professional role within the function in the Transportation and Material Moving job family.

Pay for this title reflects both its level and its scope; see our Title Level and Organization Responsibility guides for how WePayFairly defines them.

What Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driverss do

Typical education: High School Diploma

Check all load-related documentation for completeness and accuracy.
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.

Top skills: Operations Monitoring Operation and Control Monitoring Troubleshooting Time Management Speaking

Includes information from O*NET OnLine by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (CC BY 4.0).

Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers pay by experience level

Entry level$41,500

Typical starting pay (about the 10th percentile)

Early career$49,500

A few years in (about the 25th percentile)

Experienced$60,500

Mid-career median pay

Senior$71,500

Seasoned professionals (about the 75th percentile)

Top earners$82,000

Highest earners (about the 90th percentile)

Experience tiers are derived from the BLS wage percentile distribution for this occupation, aged to 2026. Actual pay varies by employer, location, and specialization.

Job outlook

+4%

projected change in jobs, 2024–2034

237,600

projected openings per year

Growing about as fast as average

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program (2024–2034). Openings include growth and replacement needs.

Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers salary by industry

Truck Transportation

900,880 workers

$63,500

Merchant Wholesalers, Nondurable Goods

174,610 workers

$63,500

Couriers and Messengers

106,710 workers

$67,000

Merchant Wholesalers, Nondurable Goods (4244 and 4248 only)

102,160 workers

$66,000

Couriers and Express Delivery Services

99,980 workers

$68,000

Warehousing and Storage

93,410 workers

$65,500

Warehousing and Storage

93,410 workers

$65,500

Merchant Wholesalers, Durable Goods

89,110 workers

$58,000

Specialty Trade Contractors

75,240 workers

$59,000

Nonmetallic Mineral Product Manufacturing

74,870 workers

$60,000

National sector-level figures, BLS OEWS May 2025, aged to 2026.

How this role compares

Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers pays 10% below the average across 53 roles in the Transportation and Material Moving job family (family average $69,000).

Similar-paying roles in Transportation and Material Moving

Tank Car, Truck, and Ship Loaders$62,000

Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity$62,500

Traffic Technician$64,500

Sailors and Marine Oilers$59,000

Motorboat Operator$58,500

Dredge Operator$58,000

Airfield Operations Specialist$66,000

Bridge and Lock Tenders$57,500

Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisor$67,500

Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors$54,500

Careers related to Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers

Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators$50,000

Light Truck Driver$50,500

Tank Car, Truck, and Ship Loaders$62,000

Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists$66,500

Loading and Moving Machine Operators, Underground Mining$73,500

Recycling and Reclamation Workers$44,000

Related occupations from O*NET OnLine, U.S. Department of Labor.

Frequently asked questions

How much does a Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers make?

The average base salary for a Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers in the United States is $62,000 per year, or about $29.81 per hour.

What is the typical salary range?

Pay typically falls between $49,500 and $71,500 per year (25th to 75th percentile) depending on experience, location, industry, and organization size.

How does this compare with other Transportation and Material Moving roles?

The Transportation and Material Moving job family averages $69,000 across 53 roles tracked by WePayFairly.

Need a defensible market price for this role?
WePayFairly data is compiled from published survey sources and maintained by compensation professionals.

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