How Much Money Does a Truck Driver Make in a Year?
Truck drivers are responsible for safely transporting a variety of types of goods such as food, clothing and technical equipment from one location to another. The amount of money a truck driver makes in a year depends on his level of experience, the type of industry he works in and the location in which he lives.
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Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers
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Truck drivers who drive a combination tractor-trailer to transport goods, including livestock, earned an average salary of $39,260 a year as of May 2009, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The annual wage in the 10th percentile was $24,640, the wage in the 90th percentile was $56,970 and the median salary was $37,730 a year.
Light or Delivery Services Truck Drivers
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Truck drivers operating vans or trucks to pick up and deliver goods earned an average salary of $31,120 as of May 2009, reports the bureau. Salaries ranged from $17,370 in the 10th percentile to $51,700 in the 90th percentile, with $28,330 as the median salary.
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Industry
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The bureau states that most heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers worked in the industry of general freight trucking, where they earned an average salary of $41,010 a year. Those working in specialized freight trucking earned an average of $38,870, those employed by grocery and related product merchant wholesalers earned an average of $42,580 and those working in cement and concrete product manufacturing earned an average of $36,420.
The industry of couriers and express delivery services employed the highest number of light or delivery services truck drivers for an average salary of $45,780 annually. Drivers working for automotive parts, accessories and tire stores earned an average of $20,140 a year, those in the industry of general freight trucking earned an average of $35,930 a year and those working for grocery and related product merchant wholesalers earned an average income of $30,820.
Location
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Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers living in Alaska earned the highest wages of all states at an annual salary of $49,480 on average. Nevada ranked second with a salary average of $45,700. For light or delivery services truck drivers, Alaska was also the top paying state with a salary average of $36,170. Maryland followed, offering a salary average of $35,810 a year.
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References
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