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COL-adjusted ranking

Best Cities for Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driverss by Take-Home Pay

The cities that pay Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driverss the most on paper aren't usually the best deals once rent and prices are factored in. Lincoln ranks first with a COL-adjusted equivalent of $89,310/year, better purchasing power than Lincoln's higher nominal pay of $81,790. San Francisco and New York dominate the headline salary lists for most occupations, but they don't crack the COL-adjusted top 10 here. The table below uses BLS OEWS May 2025 salary data and BEA Regional Price Parities.

Highest nominal pay

#1 Lincoln$81,790
#2 Fairbanks-College$76,560
#3 Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue$71,240

Best purchasing power

#1 Lincoln$89,310
#2 Morristown$77,964
#3 Fairbanks-College$74,179

Top 25 metros by purchasing power

Ranked by COL-adjusted salary. Metros with fewer than 100 employed heavy and tractor-trailer truck driverss excluded.

Rank
Metro
Nominal
COL-adj.
#1
Lincoln
17% rent burden
$81,790
$89,310
#2
Morristown
20% rent burden
$67,330
$77,964
#3
Fairbanks-College
26% rent burden
$76,560
$74,179
#4
Dothan
18% rent burden
$61,900
$73,840
#5
St. Cloud
23% rent burden
$61,960
$70,706
#6
Grand Island
21% rent burden
$60,810
$70,171
#7
Minot
20% rent burden
$61,030
$70,125
#8
Eagle Pass
20% rent burden
$58,600
$69,920
#9
Duluth
24% rent burden
$60,970
$68,683
#10
Grand Forks
22% rent burden
$59,360
$68,498
#11
Rochester
27% rent burden
$62,180
$68,465
#12
Memphis
24% rent burden
$63,070
$68,420
#13
Bismarck
23% rent burden
$62,000
$68,117
#14
Decatur
19% rent burden
$59,390
$68,100
#15
Iowa City
19% rent burden
$61,960
$67,708
#16
Waterloo-Cedar Falls
21% rent burden
$58,730
$67,459
#17
Sioux Falls
23% rent burden
$60,820
$67,108
#18
Dubuque
22% rent burden
$58,470
$66,953
#19
Decatur
22% rent burden
$59,100
$66,840
#20
Muncie
21% rent burden
$58,810
$66,716
#21
Rapid City
27% rent burden
$59,110
$66,297
#22
Topeka
22% rent burden
$58,870
$66,280
#23
Des Moines-West Des Moines
26% rent burden
$60,720
$66,216
#24
Cedar Rapids
19% rent burden
$58,900
$66,210
#25
Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers
27% rent burden
$60,480
$66,207

COL-adjusted = nominal salary divided by (BEA RPP divided by 100). Rent burden = annual 2BR FMR as % of nominal salary. Sources: BLS OEWS May 2025, BEA Regional Price Parities, HUD Fair Market Rents.

Common questions

What does "COL-adjusted pay" mean for Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driverss?

COL-adjusted pay divides the BLS median salary by the BEA Regional Price Parity index (100 = national average). A salary of $81,790 in a city with RPP 120 has the same purchasing power as $68,158 at national average prices.

Why doesn't New York or San Francisco top this list?

Both cities pay above-average salaries, but rent and everyday costs eat most of that premium. A heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers in New York might earn 30% more but pay 60-80% more in rent. The net result is often less purchasing power than mid-cost metros.

How is purchasing power calculated?

Purchasing power equals nominal median salary divided by (BEA RPP divided by 100). BEA's Regional Price Parities measure relative price levels across metro areas, updated annually from the National Income and Product Accounts.

What's the most affordable metro for Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driverss?

Lincoln has one of the lowest rent burdens for Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driverss in this dataset. HUD FMR for a 2-bedroom is $1,141/month, with a median salary of $81,790.

Where do Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driverss get paid the most in nominal terms?

Lincoln pays the highest nominal median salary at $81,790/year, per BLS OEWS May 2025. But check the COL-adjusted column before accepting any relocation offer.

National salary breakdown for Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck DriverssView →How to become a heavy and tractor-trailer truck driversGuide →Compare two cities side by sideCompare →