Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers Salary
In Joplin, MO-KS, heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers earn $47,430 at the median, or about $22.8 an hour. The range runs from $39K at the entry level to $72K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 85.72), which stretches that salary to about $55,331 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $947/month, or 29.3% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $47K get you in Joplin?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Joplin’s Regional Price Parity (85.72). 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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What this looks like in Joplin
Pay for heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers in Joplin runs about 19% below the U.S. median of $59K. Rent runs $947/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 29.4% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 85.72 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 14% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers in metros near Joplin, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| St. Louis | $58K | $61K |
| Kansas City | $60K | $65K |
| Springfield | $56K | $63K |
| Jefferson City | $49K | $56K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Joplin, MO-KS
Entry-level heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers (10th percentile) start around $39K. Mid-career wages sit at $47K. Top earners bring in $72K or more, a $33K 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
View Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska | $70K | +20% | 3,420 |
| Washington | $65K | +10% | 40,530 |
| District of Columbia | $64K | +9% | 830 |
| New Jersey | $64K | +8% | 47,980 |
| Massachusetts | $63K | +7% | 30,890 |
| Nevada | $62K | +6% | 15,010 |
| New York | $62K | +6% | 63,700 |
| Minnesota | $62K | +6% | 38,770 |
| Oregon | $62K | +6% | 23,970 |
| Colorado | $62K | +5% | 25,350 |
| North Dakota | $61K | +4% | 11,870 |
| Vermont | $61K | +4% | 3,560 |
| Utah | $61K | +3% | 25,060 |
| Connecticut | $60K | +3% | 15,740 |
| Illinois | $60K | +3% | 84,200 |
| Wyoming | $60K | +3% | 6,050 |
| Indiana | $60K | +3% | 59,090 |
| New Hampshire | $60K | +3% | 6,960 |
| California | $60K | +3% | 205,090 |
| Rhode Island | $60K | +3% | 3,620 |
| Hawaii | $60K | +2% | 4,070 |
| Ohio | $60K | +2% | 83,060 |
| Maryland | $59K | +1% | 29,150 |
| Kansas | $59K | +0% | 24,220 |
| Montana | $59K | +0% | 7,830 |
| Idaho | $59K | +0% | 15,920 |
| South Dakota | $59K | +0% | 6,470 |
| Tennessee | $59K | -0% | 64,890 |
| Wisconsin | $59K | -0% | 53,330 |
| Pennsylvania | $59K | -0% | 87,550 |
| Nebraska | $58K | -0% | 23,160 |
| Arizona | $58K | -1% | 40,150 |
| Iowa | $58K | -1% | 35,040 |
| Delaware | $58K | -2% | 9,040 |
| Michigan | $57K | -2% | 60,800 |
| Georgia | $57K | -3% | 74,840 |
| Maine | $57K | -3% | 9,980 |
| Virginia | $57K | -3% | 48,750 |
| Kentucky | $56K | -4% | 31,760 |
| Texas | $56K | -4% | 209,680 |
| Missouri | $55K | -7% | 47,760 |
| Oklahoma | $54K | -7% | 27,840 |
| Alabama | $52K | -11% | 36,650 |
| Mississippi | $52K | -12% | 24,160 |
| Arkansas | $52K | -12% | 32,220 |
| North Carolina | $52K | -12% | 62,400 |
| South Carolina | $51K | -13% | 34,170 |
| Florida | $51K | -14% | 112,920 |
| New Mexico | $51K | -14% | 11,820 |
| West Virginia | $49K | -16% | 12,190 |
| Louisiana | $49K | -16% | 28,540 |
Showing 1–10 of 51 (all 50 states + DC)
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Frequently asked questions
Can a heavy and tractor-trailer truck driver afford a 2BR apartment alone in Joplin?
Yes — at the median salary of $47K, rent takes 29.4% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $947/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 Joplin?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers typically earn — is $39K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,361/month. At HUD’s $947/month FMR, rent would take 40% 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 Joplin?
Local pay runs 19% below the national median — $47K here vs. $59K nationally. Cost of living is 14% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Joplin compare to the national average for heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers?
Joplin pays $47K median vs. the U.S. average of $59K — that’s -19%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 85.72), the purchasing-power equivalent is $55K — below the national median.
How much do heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers make in Joplin, MO-KS?
The median is $47,430 a year, that works out to about $23 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $39,350, and experienced heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers can clear $72,000. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $47K enough to live in Joplin?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,224/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $947/month, which eats 29.4% 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 Joplin?
Joplin has a Regional Price Parity of 85.72 (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 $55,331 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.