Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers Salary
In Indiana, heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers earn $60,290 at the median, or about $28.99 an hour. The range runs from $42K at the entry level to $79K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 91.81), which stretches that salary to about $65,668 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,144/month, or 28.3% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Indiana. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $60K get you in Indiana?
About heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers
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What this looks like in Indiana
Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers pay in Indiana tracks closely to the national median, $60K locally vs. $59K nationwide, a 3% difference. Rent runs $1,144/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 28.2% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 91.81 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 8% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Pay and costs are both near average, leaving limited margin for savings at the median wage.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Indiana
Entry-level heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers (10th percentile) start around $42K. Mid-career wages sit at $60K. Top earners bring in $79K or more, a $37K spread from bottom to top.
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers salary by metro in Indiana
12 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood | $62K | +3% | 20,480 |
| Fort Wayne | $59K | -2% | 4,210 |
| Muncie | $59K | -2% | 560 |
| Bloomington | $59K | -3% | 550 |
| Kokomo | $58K | -3% | 390 |
| Lafayette-West Lafayette | $58K | -3% | 1,410 |
| Michigan City-La Porte | $58K | -3% | 620 |
| Elkhart-Goshen | $58K | -4% | 1,690 |
| Columbus | $57K | -5% | 520 |
| South Bend-Mishawaka | $57K | -6% | 1,840 |
| Evansville | $56K | -8% | 1,750 |
| Terre Haute | $53K | -12% | 1,140 |
Showing 1–10 of 12 metros
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BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Indiana numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a heavy and tractor-trailer truck driver afford a 2BR apartment alone in Indiana?
Yes — at the median salary of $60K, rent takes 28.2% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,144/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers in Indiana?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers typically earn — is $42K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,524/month. At HUD’s $1,144/month FMR, rent would take 45% 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 Indiana?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $60K locally vs. $59K nationally, a 3% difference.
How does Indiana compare to the national average for heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers?
Indiana pays $60K median vs. the U.S. average of $59K — that’s +3%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 91.81), the purchasing-power equivalent is $66K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers make in Indiana?
The median is $60,290 a year, that works out to about $29 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $42,060, and experienced heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers can clear $79,000. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $60K enough to live in Indiana?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,054/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,144/month, which eats 28.2% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers salary go in Indiana?
Indiana has a Regional Price Parity of 91.81 (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 $65,668 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.