Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers Salary in Bowling Green, KY
In Bowling Green, KY, heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers earn $51,200 at the median — $24.61 an hour. The range runs from $37K at the entry level to $72K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 90.18), which stretches that salary to about $56,775 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,153/month — about 34.3% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $51K get you in Bowling Green?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Bowling Green’s Regional Price Parity (90.18). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers
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Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Bowling Green, KY
Entry-level heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers (10th percentile) start around $37K. Mid-career wages sit at $51K. Top earners bring in $72K or more, a $34K spread from bottom to top.
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska | $65K | +13% | 3,240 |
| New Jersey | $65K | +13% | 49,450 |
| Washington | $64K | +11% | 40,700 |
| District of Columbia | $64K | +11% | 830 |
| Oregon | $61K | +7% | 24,720 |
| Minnesota | $61K | +6% | 38,530 |
| Nevada | $61K | +6% | 17,430 |
| Massachusetts | $61K | +6% | 32,170 |
| New York | $61K | +5% | 61,410 |
| Wyoming | $60K | +5% | 6,530 |
| Indiana | $60K | +5% | 57,870 |
| California | $60K | +4% | 211,740 |
| Illinois | $60K | +4% | 76,650 |
| Rhode Island | $60K | +4% | 3,260 |
| Utah | $60K | +4% | 24,280 |
| Hawaii | $59K | +3% | 4,100 |
| Montana | $59K | +3% | 7,050 |
| North Dakota | $59K | +3% | 10,510 |
| Connecticut | $59K | +2% | 15,860 |
| New Hampshire | $59K | +2% | 6,730 |
| Pennsylvania | $59K | +2% | 90,160 |
| Delaware | $59K | +2% | 5,950 |
| Ohio | $58K | +1% | 91,090 |
| Nebraska | $58K | +1% | 24,160 |
| Wisconsin | $57K | -0% | 52,980 |
| Maryland | $57K | -0% | 23,910 |
| Kansas | $57K | -1% | 23,250 |
| South Dakota | $57K | -1% | 5,990 |
| Georgia | $57K | -2% | 75,700 |
| Vermont | $56K | -2% | 3,370 |
| Tennessee | $56K | -3% | 63,130 |
| Kentucky | $56K | -3% | 33,430 |
| Michigan | $55K | -4% | 59,910 |
| Iowa | $55K | -4% | 37,430 |
| Virginia | $55K | -5% | 55,430 |
| Arizona | $54K | -7% | 42,270 |
| Idaho | $53K | -7% | 14,860 |
| Texas | $53K | -8% | 212,700 |
| Maine | $52K | -10% | 10,180 |
| Oklahoma | $52K | -10% | 29,080 |
| South Carolina | $52K | -10% | 32,700 |
| Mississippi | $51K | -12% | 25,490 |
| Missouri | $51K | -12% | 47,530 |
| Alabama | $50K | -13% | 37,490 |
| Florida | $50K | -13% | 105,730 |
| North Carolina | $50K | -14% | 64,610 |
| Arkansas | $50K | -14% | 32,290 |
| West Virginia | $49K | -15% | 11,560 |
| Louisiana | $49K | -15% | 26,260 |
| New Mexico | $48K | -16% | 10,850 |
Showing 1–10 of 50 states
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers salary changes
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Frequently asked questions
How much do heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers make in Bowling Green, KY?
The median is $51,200 a year, that works out to about $25 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $37,450, and experienced heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers can clear $71,670. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $51K enough to live in Bowling Green?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,428/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,153/month, which eats 33.6% 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 Bowling Green?
Bowling Green has a Regional Price Parity of 90.18 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers salary is worth about $56,775 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.