BLS wage data · May 2025 Transport & safety O*NET-SOC 53-3032 Tax year 2026

Truck Driver after tax: what $58,640 becomes in every state

The median wage for heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers reflects a middle ground in the industry rather than a starting point. While the BLS median sits at $58,640, individual earnings fluctuate based on experience, regional demand, and specific logistics contracts. Drivers often manage long hours and complex schedules, making it essential to understand how taxes affect the total compensation package. This overview examines how the same gross income changes significantly when crossing state lines due to varying fiscal policies.

Truck Driver take-home at $58,640 — strongest and weakest states

Same gross wage everywhere: $58,640 a year. The four states keeping the most and the four keeping the least, ranked by take-home. Rent is the Zillow ZORI metro average for that state and is clearly labelled as a rent figure, not a tax.

State	State tax	Federal	FICA	Take-home / year	Take-home / month	Rent / month	Left after rent
Alaska no state income tax	$0	$4,857	$4,486	$49,297	$4,108	—	—
Florida no state income tax	$0	$4,857	$4,486	$49,297	$4,108	$2,076	$24,385
Nevada no state income tax	$0	$4,857	$4,486	$49,297	$4,108	$1,742	$28,393
New Hampshire no state income tax	$0	$4,857	$4,486	$49,297	$4,108	—	—
South Carolina flat 6.00%	$3,518	$4,857	$4,486	$45,779	$3,815	$1,569	$26,951
Vermont planning estimate	$3,518	$4,857	$4,486	$45,779	$3,815	—	—
District of Columbia planning estimate	$3,812	$4,857	$4,486	$45,485	$3,790	$2,433	$16,289
Oregon planning estimate	$4,105	$4,857	$4,486	$45,192	$3,766	$1,818	$23,376

State income tax on wages is zero in Alaska, Florida, Nevada, New Hampshire, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, Wyoming — those states share the same take-home on this wage and only differ in what the local rent does to it.

Best and worst states for Truck Driver

Five states that keep the most of a $58,640 wage and five that keep the least. The full 51-state table follows.

All 51 states →

Highest take-home

State	State tax	Take-home	/ month
1. Alaska	$0	$49,297	$4,108
2. Florida	$0	$49,297	$4,108
3. Nevada	$0	$49,297	$4,108
4. New Hampshire	$0	$49,297	$4,108
5. South Dakota	$0	$49,297	$4,108

Lowest take-home

State	State tax	Take-home	/ month
1. Oregon	$4,105	$45,192	$3,766
2. District of Columbia	$3,812	$45,485	$3,790
3. Vermont	$3,518	$45,779	$3,815
4. South Carolina	$3,518	$45,779	$3,815
5. Minnesota	$3,518	$45,779	$3,815

The gap between Alaska and Oregon is $4,105 a year on an identical $58,640 wage.

Where Truck Driver pay sits nationally

BLS percentile wages for this occupation, and what each level leaves after 2026 federal, FICA and state tax in the best and the worst state on the page (Alaska and Oregon).

Wage level (BLS national)	Gross / year	Take-home in Alaska	Take-home in Oregon	Difference
10th percentile 'BLS national'	$40,140	$34,432	$31,622	$2,810
25th percentile 'BLS national'	$47,960	$40,716	$37,359	$3,357
Median 'BLS national'	$58,640	$49,297	$45,192	$4,105
75th percentile 'BLS national'	$69,120	$57,456	$52,618	$4,838
90th percentile 'BLS national'	$79,380	$64,673	$59,116	$5,557

Percentile wages are published BLS OEWS values for Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers; the take-home columns are the same engine used by every AfterTaxLab calculator. About 2,062,040 people work in this occupation nationwide.

How the state line moves this wage

The same $58,640 under different state tax models

State tax policies are the primary driver behind the variation in net pay for truck drivers. For instance, drivers in Oregon face a state tax bill of $4,105, which is the largest single state tax amount in this dataset. Conversely, workers in states without an income tax keep more of their earnings, leading to a wider disparity in available cash. When you compare an offer in a high-tax state to one in a state with no income tax, you are essentially evaluating how much of your paycheck remains after local obligations.

States such as Alaska, Florida, and Nevada offer a unique advantage to truck drivers by imposing no state income tax on earnings. Because federal taxes and FICA are identical in every state, the absence of a local levy means drivers in these regions retain a higher portion of their gross pay. A driver earning $58,640 in Alaska enjoys a take-home amount of $49,297. Choosing a base of operations in these tax-friendly locations can effectively increase your annual net income without requiring a change in your base gross salary.

All 51 states, ranked for Truck Driver

Every state and DC, ranked by take-home on the same $58,640 gross wage. Rent is the ZORI metro average for the metros published in that state.

#	State	State tax	Take-home / year	Effective total tax	Rent / month
1	Alaska AK	$0	$49,297	15.9%	—
2	Florida FL	$0	$49,297	15.9%	$2,076
3	Nevada NV	$0	$49,297	15.9%	$1,742
4	New Hampshire NH	$0	$49,297	15.9%	—
5	South Dakota SD	$0	$49,297	15.9%	—
6	Tennessee TN	$0	$49,297	15.9%	$1,607
7	Texas TX	$0	$49,297	15.9%	$1,587
8	Washington WA	$0	$49,297	15.9%	$2,278
9	Wyoming WY	$0	$49,297	15.9%	—
10	Arizona AZ	$1,466	$47,831	18.4%	$1,603
11	North Dakota ND	$1,701	$47,596	18.8%	—
12	Louisiana LA	$1,759	$47,538	18.9%	$1,598
13	Ohio OH	$1,759	$47,538	18.9%	$1,499
14	California CA	$1,774	$47,523	19.0%	$2,861
15	Indiana IN	$1,789	$47,508	19.0%	$1,552
16	Pennsylvania PA	$1,800	$47,497	19.0%	$1,690
17	Iowa IA	$2,228	$47,069	19.7%	—
18	Kentucky KY	$2,346	$46,951	19.9%	$1,348
19	Michigan MI	$2,492	$46,805	20.2%	$1,578
20	North Carolina NC	$2,492	$46,805	20.2%	$1,712
21	Arkansas AR	$2,580	$46,717	20.3%	—
22	Colorado CO	$2,580	$46,717	20.3%	$1,922
23	New York NY	$2,620	$46,677	20.4%	$2,200
24	Delaware DE	$2,639	$46,658	20.4%	—
25	Kansas KS	$2,639	$46,658	20.4%	—
26	Virginia VA	$2,639	$46,658	20.4%	$1,810
27	Utah UT	$2,668	$46,629	20.5%	$1,641
28	Mississippi MS	$2,756	$46,541	20.6%	—
29	Oklahoma OK	$2,785	$46,512	20.7%	$1,385
30	Missouri MO	$2,815	$46,482	20.7%	$1,486
31	West Virginia WV	$2,826	$46,471	20.8%	—
32	New Mexico NM	$2,873	$46,424	20.8%	—
33	Illinois IL	$2,903	$46,394	20.9%	$2,210
34	Alabama AL	$2,932	$46,365	20.9%	$1,433
35	Connecticut CT	$2,932	$46,365	20.9%	$2,462
36	Maryland MD	$2,932	$46,365	20.9%	$1,948
37	Massachusetts MA	$2,932	$46,365	20.9%	$2,599
38	Rhode Island RI	$2,932	$46,365	20.9%	$2,167
39	Wisconsin WI	$2,932	$46,365	20.9%	$1,563
40	Georgia GA	$3,043	$46,254	21.1%	$1,853
41	Nebraska NE	$3,049	$46,248	21.1%	$1,413
42	Maine ME	$3,225	$46,072	21.4%	—
43	New Jersey NJ	$3,225	$46,072	21.4%	—
44	Idaho ID	$3,340	$45,957	21.6%	—
45	Montana MT	$3,460	$45,837	21.8%	—
46	Hawaii HI	$3,518	$45,779	21.9%	$3,020
47	Minnesota MN	$3,518	$45,779	21.9%	$1,719
48	South Carolina SC	$3,518	$45,779	21.9%	$1,569
49	Vermont VT	$3,518	$45,779	21.9%	—
50	District of Columbia DC	$3,812	$45,485	22.4%	$2,433
51	Oregon OR	$4,105	$45,192	22.9%	$1,818

The largest single state tax bill on this wage is in Oregon at $4,105; across the 51 states the average state tax is $2,272. Local city and county taxes, credits and itemised deductions are excluded from every figure.

What this means in practice for Truck Driver

Understanding your take-home pay requires looking beyond the gross figures presented in job offers. While federal taxes and FICA contributions remain consistent across every state, state-level income taxes create notable discrepancies in net earnings. For a driver earning the national median, these differences impact the actual amount available for living expenses and savings. Please note that this content is for educational purposes and does not constitute tax advice, as personal financial situations vary based on specific tax filings.

In practice, a higher paycheck does not always equate to better financial health if regional costs are ignored. Rent significantly impacts the amount of money a driver actually has left over each month. For example, in the District of Columbia, after paying $2,433/month in rent, a driver is left with $16,289 for the year. This demonstrates why it is crucial to analyze local housing markets alongside state tax rates before committing to a new trucking route or relocation.

A common mistake drivers make is focusing solely on the gross pay figure without considering the total regional financial burden. While $49,297 in net pay looks attractive in zero-tax states, the cost of living—specifically rent—can erode those gains quickly. Drivers should verify the specific state tax laws and local housing costs before accepting offers. Comparing net income after taxes and major living expenses provides a clearer picture of your actual purchasing power across different US regions.

Truck Driver pay after tax: common questions

Does the median wage represent what a new driver earns?

No, the median wage of $58,640 represents the middle of the current wage distribution for all drivers. Many new drivers start at lower percentiles, while experienced drivers with specialized certifications often earn more.

Are federal taxes different for drivers in different states?

Federal taxes and FICA withholdings are identical in every state. The total federal tax is $4,857 and FICA is $4,486, regardless of where you drive.

Do zero-tax states always provide the most money?

While zero-tax states like Nevada allow you to keep more of your gross pay, your final financial situation depends on local costs. High rent can offset the tax savings.

How much does state tax vary for this occupation?

The spread between the best and worst states for a driver at this wage is $4,105 a year. This is the difference between tax-free states and high-tax areas.

How does rent affect my net income calculation?

Rent is a major variable. In places like South Carolina, rent is $1,569/month, leaving $26,951 after a year of rent, which is vastly different from more expensive regions.

What should I verify before moving for a job?

Check the state income tax rate and local housing costs. A state tax bill of $4,105 can significantly impact your annual budget compared to states with no income tax.

Sources for this page

Wage data: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), national estimates, May 2025 — series OEUN000000000000053303213 (annual median) and OEUN000000000000053303204 (annual mean), retrieved 2026-09-21 via the BLS Public Data API v2 — https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_nat.htm · Occupation titles: O*NET 29.0 Database — https://www.onetcenter.org/database.html · Take-home figures: AfterTaxLab 2026 engine (/assets/js/tax-2026.js), single filer, no pre-tax contributions · Rents: Zillow Research ZORI (Metro), kamuya açık araştırma dosyası (Aug 2026).

Estimates for planning only — not tax advice. Tax year 2026, single filer, no pre-tax contributions, no city or county tax. Same engine as every AfterTaxLab calculator · methodology.

Truck Driver after tax: what $58,640 becomes in every state

Truck Driver take-home at $58,640 — strongest and weakest states

Best and worst states for Truck Driver

Where Truck Driver pay sits nationally

The same $58,640 under different state tax models

All 51 states, ranked for Truck Driver

What this means in practice for Truck Driver

Truck Driver pay after tax: common questions

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