Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers Salary
In Wisconsin, heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers earn $58,610 at the median, or about $28.18 an hour. The range runs from $45K at the entry level to $76K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 94.33), which stretches that salary to about $62,133 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,202/month, about 31.2% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Wisconsin. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $59K get you in Wisconsin?
About heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers
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What this looks like in Wisconsin
Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers pay in Wisconsin tracks closely to the national median, $59K locally vs. $59K nationwide, a 0% difference. Rent runs $1,202/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 30.6% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 94.33 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 6% 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, Wisconsin
Entry-level heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers (10th percentile) start around $45K. Mid-career wages sit at $59K. Top earners bring in $76K or more, a $31K spread from bottom to top.
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers salary by metro in Wisconsin
13 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenosha | $62K | +5% | 1,260 |
| La Crosse-Onalaska | $60K | +3% | 2,100 |
| Green Bay | $60K | +2% | 4,860 |
| Janesville-Beloit | $60K | +2% | 1,670 |
| Racine-Mount Pleasant | $60K | +2% | 1,620 |
| Madison | $60K | +2% | 4,160 |
| Milwaukee-Waukesha | $60K | +2% | 10,250 |
| Oshkosh-Neenah | $59K | +2% | 1,610 |
| Appleton | $59K | +0% | 1,980 |
| Wausau | $59K | -0% | 1,460 |
| Fond du Lac | $58K | -2% | 1,030 |
| Eau Claire | $57K | -2% | 1,480 |
| Sheboygan | $57K | -3% | 970 |
Showing 1–10 of 13 metros
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BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Wisconsin numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a heavy and tractor-trailer truck driver afford a 2BR apartment alone in Wisconsin?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $59K, rent takes 30.6% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,202/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 Wisconsin?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers typically earn — is $45K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,695/month. At HUD’s $1,202/month FMR, rent would take 45% 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 Wisconsin?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $59K locally vs. $59K nationally, a 0% difference.
How does Wisconsin compare to the national average for heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers?
Wisconsin pays $59K median vs. the U.S. average of $59K — that’s +0%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 94.33), the purchasing-power equivalent is $62K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers make in Wisconsin?
The median is $58,610 a year, that works out to about $28 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $44,920, and experienced heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers can clear $76,380. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $59K enough to live in Wisconsin?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,923/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,202/month, which eats 30.6% 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 Wisconsin?
Wisconsin has a Regional Price Parity of 94.33 (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 $62,133 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.