Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers Salary
In Lincoln, NE, heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers earn $81,790 at the median, or about $39.32 an hour. The range runs from $48K at the entry level to $82K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 91.58), which stretches that salary to about $89,310 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,141/month, or 22.1% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $82K get you in Lincoln?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Lincoln’s Regional Price Parity (91.58). 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 Lincoln
Lincoln sits well above the national pay line for heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers, local pay runs about 39% higher than the U.S. median of $59K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,141/month, 22% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 91.58 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 8% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Combined with manageable housing costs, Lincoln offers a genuinely strong financial position for heavy and tractor-trailer truck driverss at the median.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers in metros near Lincoln, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Omaha | $58K | $63K |
| Grand Island | $61K | $70K |
| St. Louis | $58K | $61K |
| Kansas City | $60K | $65K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Lincoln, NE
Entry-level heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers (10th percentile) start around $48K. Mid-career wages sit at $82K. Top earners bring in $82K 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
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)
Track heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers salary changes
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Frequently asked questions
Can a heavy and tractor-trailer truck driver afford a 2BR apartment alone in Lincoln?
Yes — at the median salary of $82K, rent takes 22% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,141/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 Lincoln?
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 $2,877/month. At HUD’s $1,141/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 Lincoln?
Local pay is 39% above the national median — $82K here vs. $59K nationally.
How does Lincoln compare to the national average for heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers?
Lincoln pays $82K median vs. the U.S. average of $59K — that’s +39%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 91.58), the purchasing-power equivalent is $89K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers make in Lincoln, NE?
The median is $81,790 a year, that works out to about $39 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $47,950, and experienced heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers can clear $81,790. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $82K enough to live in Lincoln?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,190/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,141/month, which eats 22% 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 Lincoln?
Lincoln has a Regional Price Parity of 91.58 (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 $89,310 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.