Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers Salary
In Alaska, heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers earn $70,100 at the median, or about $33.7 an hour. The range runs from $48K at the entry level to $91K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 104.31), that's roughly $67,204 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,643/month, about 33.7% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Alaska. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $70K get you in Alaska?
About heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers
Sponsored links, AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
What this looks like in Alaska
Alaska sits well above the national pay line for heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers, local pay runs about 20% higher than the U.S. median of $59K. Rent runs $1,643/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 34.2% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost of living (RPP 104.31) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Alaska
Entry-level heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers (10th percentile) start around $48K. Mid-career wages sit at $70K. Top earners bring in $91K or more, a $43K spread from bottom to top.
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers salary by metro in Alaska
2 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fairbanks-College | $77K | +9% | 590 |
| Anchorage | $66K | -6% | 1,620 |
Compare to other states
Track heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Alaska numbers change.
Related careers in Transportation
Frequently asked questions
Can a heavy and tractor-trailer truck driver afford a 2BR apartment alone in Alaska?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $70K, rent takes 34.2% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,643/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,400/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers in Alaska?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers typically earn — is $48K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,885/month. At HUD’s $1,643/month FMR, rent would take 57% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is heavy and tractor-trailer truck driver a high-paying job in Alaska?
Local pay is 20% above the national median — $70K here vs. $59K nationally.
How does Alaska compare to the national average for heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers?
Alaska pays $70K median vs. the U.S. average of $59K — that’s +20%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 104.31), the purchasing-power equivalent is $67K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers make in Alaska?
The median is $70,100 a year, that works out to about $34 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $48,080, and experienced heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers can clear $90,610. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $70K enough to live in Alaska?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,809/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,643/month, which eats 34.2% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers salary go in Alaska?
Alaska has a Regional Price Parity of 104.31 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers salary is worth about $67,204 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.