Truck Driver
Salary, job outlook, education and requirements
Drive a tractor-trailer combination or a truck with a capacity of at least 26,001 pounds Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW). May be required to unload truck. Requires commercial drivers' license. Includes tow truck drivers.
Also called: CDL Driver (Commercial Driver's License Driver) · Driver · Line Haul Driver · Log Truck Driver · Over the Road Driver (OTR Driver) · Production Truck Driver · Road Driver · Semi Truck Driver
O*NET-SOC 53-3032.00 (Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers)
Truck Driver salary
Wages for heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers across all employers, 2025 data. The 10th percentile is typical entry-level pay; the 90th percentile reflects the most experienced and highest-paid workers.
National median hourly wage: $28.19.
Truck Driver pay by state
Ten largest states by population, annual wages.
| State | 10th percentile | Median | 90th percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | $41,830 | $60,230 | $81,960 |
| Texas | $38,150 | $56,290 | $79,400 |
| Florida | $37,700 | $50,640 | $74,330 |
| New York | $47,880 | $62,050 | $88,100 |
| Pennsylvania | $43,560 | $58,580 | $78,330 |
| Illinois | $39,710 | $60,320 | $86,300 |
| Ohio | $43,670 | $59,800 | $77,650 |
| Georgia | $38,150 | $57,050 | $77,900 |
| North Carolina | $39,400 | $51,530 | $76,360 |
| Michigan | $40,280 | $57,180 | $73,980 |
Truck Driver job outlook
- Employment is projected to go from 2,221,200 jobs in 2025 to 2,305,000 in 2035 (4% change).
- About 214,500 openings are projected each year, including jobs that open up as workers retire or change occupations.
- CareerOneStop outlook rating: Bright (Numerous Job Openings).
How to become a truck driver
- Typical entry education
- Postsecondary certificate
- Work experience
- No work experience
- On-the-job training
- Less than 1 month on-the-job training
Education level of current workers
- Less than high school diploma14.9%
- High school diploma or equivalent46.5%
- Some college, no degree22.4%
- Associate's degree7.1%
- Bachelor's degree7.3%
- Master's degree1.3%
- Doctoral or professional degree.4%
Related training programs
- Truck and Bus Driver/Commercial Vehicle Operator and Instructor
What does a truck driver do?
Common tasks
- Secure cargo for transport, using ropes, blocks, chain, binders, or covers.
- Follow appropriate safety procedures for transporting dangerous goods.
- Check all load-related documentation for completeness and accuracy.
- Inspect loads to ensure that cargo is secure.
- Check vehicles to ensure that mechanical, safety, and emergency equipment is in good working order.
- Obtain receipts or signatures for delivered goods and collect payment for services when required.
- Crank trailer landing gear up or down to safely secure vehicles.
- Maintain logs of working hours or of vehicle service or repair status, following applicable state and federal regulations.
- Read bills of lading to determine assignment details.
- Report vehicle defects, accidents, traffic violations, or damage to the vehicles.
Most important skills
- Operations Monitoring
- Watching gauges, dials, or display screens to make sure a machine is working.
- Operation and Control
- Using equipment or systems.
- Monitoring
- Keeping track of how well people and/or groups are doing in order to make improvements.
- Troubleshooting
- Figuring out what is causing equipment, machines, wiring, or computer programs to not work.
- Time Management
- Managing your time and the time of other people.
- Reading Comprehension
- Reading work-related information.
- Speaking
- Talking to others.
- Critical Thinking
- Thinking about the pros and cons of different ways to solve a problem.
Truck Driver certifications
The certifications CareerOneStop maps to this occupation. Requirements vary by employer and state.
- Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration · Advanced
- Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration · Advanced
- National Center for Construction Education and Research · Product/Equipment
- Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration · Advanced
- Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration · Advanced
- Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration · Advanced
- Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration · Advanced
Truck Driver jobs
Current federal openings from USAJOBS. For more logistics & supply jobs, including private-sector listings, see the Logistics & Supply jobs hub.
Job data from USAJOBS.gov. Careers.org is not affiliated with or endorsed by OPM.
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This page includes information from CareerOneStop, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (DOLETA), and the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED).
Source: CareerOneStop occupation profile for Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers. Wages are from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program; projections are national long-term projections.