Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers Salary
In Iowa, heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers earn $58,070 at the median, or about $27.92 an hour. The range runs from $42K at the entry level to $78K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 88.86), which stretches that salary to about $65,350 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,064/month, or 27.9% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Iowa. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $58K get you in Iowa?
About heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers
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What this looks like in Iowa
Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers pay in Iowa tracks closely to the national median, $58K locally vs. $59K nationwide, a 1% difference. Rent runs $1,064/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 27.9% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 88.86 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 11% 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, Iowa
Entry-level heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers (10th percentile) start around $42K. Mid-career wages sit at $58K. Top earners bring in $78K or more, a $36K spread from bottom to top.
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers salary by metro in Iowa
8 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Iowa City | $62K | +7% | 2,360 |
| Des Moines-West Des Moines | $61K | +5% | 7,840 |
| Cedar Rapids | $59K | +1% | 3,030 |
| Waterloo-Cedar Falls | $59K | +1% | 1,600 |
| Dubuque | $58K | +1% | 1,310 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island | $58K | +0% | 3,070 |
| Ames | $55K | -6% | 640 |
| Sioux City | $52K | -11% | 2,820 |
Compare to other states
Track heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Iowa numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a heavy and tractor-trailer truck driver afford a 2BR apartment alone in Iowa?
Yes — at the median salary of $58K, rent takes 27.9% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,064/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 Iowa?
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 $2,543/month. At HUD’s $1,064/month FMR, rent would take 42% 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 Iowa?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $58K locally vs. $59K nationally, a 1% difference.
How does Iowa compare to the national average for heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers?
Iowa pays $58K median vs. the U.S. average of $59K — that’s -1%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 88.86), the purchasing-power equivalent is $65K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers make in Iowa?
The median is $58,070 a year, that works out to about $28 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $42,390, and experienced heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers can clear $77,910. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $58K enough to live in Iowa?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,818/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,064/month, which eats 27.9% 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 Iowa?
Iowa has a Regional Price Parity of 88.86 (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 $65,350 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.