Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers Salary
In Massachusetts, heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers earn $63,030 at the median, or about $30.3 an hour. The range runs from $47K at the entry level to $78K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 100.09), that's roughly $62,973 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $2,347/month, about 56.7% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Massachusetts. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $63K get you in Massachusetts?
About heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers
Sponsored links, AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
What this looks like in Massachusetts
Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers pay in Massachusetts tracks closely to the national median, $63K locally vs. $59K nationwide, a 7% difference. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $2,347/month, which is 56.9% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost of living (RPP 100.09) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Massachusetts
Entry-level heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers (10th percentile) start around $47K. Mid-career wages sit at $63K. Top earners bring in $78K or more, a $31K spread from bottom to top.
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers salary by metro in Massachusetts
6 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton | $64K | +2% | 20,090 |
| Barnstable Town | $63K | -0% | 840 |
| Worcester | $62K | -2% | 4,470 |
| Springfield | $61K | -3% | 2,400 |
| Amherst Town-Northampton | $61K | -3% | 470 |
| Pittsfield | $59K | -6% | 400 |
Compare to other states
Track heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Massachusetts numbers change.
Related careers in Transportation
Frequently asked questions
Can a heavy and tractor-trailer truck driver afford a 2BR apartment alone in Massachusetts?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $63K, rent takes 56.9% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,347/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,200/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers in Massachusetts?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers typically earn — is $47K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,825/month. At HUD’s $2,347/month FMR, rent would take 83% 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 Massachusetts?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $63K locally vs. $59K nationally, a 7% difference.
How does Massachusetts compare to the national average for heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers?
Massachusetts pays $63K median vs. the U.S. average of $59K — that’s +7%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 100.09), the purchasing-power equivalent is $63K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers make in Massachusetts?
The median is $63,030 a year, that works out to about $30 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $47,080, and experienced heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers can clear $78,480. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $63K enough to live in Massachusetts?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,128/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,347/month, which eats 56.9% 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 Massachusetts?
Massachusetts has a Regional Price Parity of 100.09 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers salary is worth about $62,973 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.