Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers Salary in State College, PA
In State College, PA, heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers earn $55,260 at the median — $26.57 an hour. The range runs from $42K at the entry level to $74K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 96.76), that's roughly $57,110 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,406/month — about 38% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $55K get you in State College?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by State College’s Regional Price Parity (96.76). 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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Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, State College, PA
Entry-level heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers (10th percentile) start around $42K. Mid-career wages sit at $55K. Top earners bring in $74K 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
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska | $65K | +13% | 3,240 |
| New Jersey | $65K | +13% | 49,450 |
| Washington | $64K | +11% | 40,700 |
| District of Columbia | $64K | +11% | 830 |
| Oregon | $61K | +7% | 24,720 |
| Minnesota | $61K | +6% | 38,530 |
| Nevada | $61K | +6% | 17,430 |
| Massachusetts | $61K | +6% | 32,170 |
| New York | $61K | +5% | 61,410 |
| Wyoming | $60K | +5% | 6,530 |
| Indiana | $60K | +5% | 57,870 |
| California | $60K | +4% | 211,740 |
| Illinois | $60K | +4% | 76,650 |
| Rhode Island | $60K | +4% | 3,260 |
| Utah | $60K | +4% | 24,280 |
| Hawaii | $59K | +3% | 4,100 |
| Montana | $59K | +3% | 7,050 |
| North Dakota | $59K | +3% | 10,510 |
| Connecticut | $59K | +2% | 15,860 |
| New Hampshire | $59K | +2% | 6,730 |
| Pennsylvania | $59K | +2% | 90,160 |
| Delaware | $59K | +2% | 5,950 |
| Ohio | $58K | +1% | 91,090 |
| Nebraska | $58K | +1% | 24,160 |
| Wisconsin | $57K | -0% | 52,980 |
| Maryland | $57K | -0% | 23,910 |
| Kansas | $57K | -1% | 23,250 |
| South Dakota | $57K | -1% | 5,990 |
| Georgia | $57K | -2% | 75,700 |
| Vermont | $56K | -2% | 3,370 |
| Tennessee | $56K | -3% | 63,130 |
| Kentucky | $56K | -3% | 33,430 |
| Michigan | $55K | -4% | 59,910 |
| Iowa | $55K | -4% | 37,430 |
| Virginia | $55K | -5% | 55,430 |
| Arizona | $54K | -7% | 42,270 |
| Idaho | $53K | -7% | 14,860 |
| Texas | $53K | -8% | 212,700 |
| Maine | $52K | -10% | 10,180 |
| Oklahoma | $52K | -10% | 29,080 |
| South Carolina | $52K | -10% | 32,700 |
| Mississippi | $51K | -12% | 25,490 |
| Missouri | $51K | -12% | 47,530 |
| Alabama | $50K | -13% | 37,490 |
| Florida | $50K | -13% | 105,730 |
| North Carolina | $50K | -14% | 64,610 |
| Arkansas | $50K | -14% | 32,290 |
| West Virginia | $49K | -15% | 11,560 |
| Louisiana | $49K | -15% | 26,260 |
| New Mexico | $48K | -16% | 10,850 |
Showing 1–10 of 50 states
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers salary changes
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Frequently asked questions
How much do heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers make in State College, PA?
The median is $55,260 a year, that works out to about $27 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $41,600, and experienced heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers can clear $74,150. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $55K enough to live in State College?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,729/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,406/month, which eats 37.7% 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 State College?
State College has a Regional Price Parity of 96.76 (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 $57,110 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.