How Much Does Semi Truck Driver Make?

How Much Does Semi Truck Driver Make? Semi-truck drivers, also known as heavy truck drivers or tractor-trailer drivers, they drive trucks with or without trailers.

They transport materials, livestock, machinery, liquids, general freight, and sometimes hazardous substances over long distances between cities or across the country with a capacity of at least 26,001 pounds per gross vehicle weight (GVW).

They normally work away from home and may still away for a period extending from a few days to weeks at a time. This job requires driving continuously for many hours.

So, are you interested to know what is the average salary of a semi truck driver? Let me tell you in this article.

How Much Does a Semi Truck Driver Make?

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics in May 2011 they earn average salaries of $19.15 per hour, or $39,830.

In these days, the top paid 10 percent received $28.10 per hour or $58,440 per year. On the other hand, the lowest-paid 10 percent received less than $11.96 per hour or $24,880 per year.

In May 2015, the median annual salary for semi-truck driver was $40,260, applying the same previous statistics; the highest 10 percent earned more than $62,010.

On the other hand, the lowest 10 percent earned less than $26,240.

Recently in May 2019, semi truck driver salary in the United States $22.52 per hour, or $46,850 per year.

What Are Semi Truck Driver’s Salary Detectors?

What do you think a semi truck driver salary depends on?

It depends on the following:

• Education.
• Certifications.
• The number of years you have spent in your profession.
• Transport sector you work in, for example, forestry, freight or agriculture.
• Size and type of vehicle you drive.
• The region you work in.
• The company you work for.
• Additional skills

What Are The Most Populous Regions in The U.S. Offering Semi Truck Driver’s Jobs?

In which state you can find Semi truck jobs more available? According to Statistics made in May 2019:

• Texas:  showed an average pay of $ $22.09 per hour or $45,940 per year with a number of employments for this job equals 199,500 positions.

• California: showed an average pay of $23.29 per hour or $48,450 per year with a number of employments for this job equals 146,730 positions.

• Florida:  showed an average pay of $ $20.53 per hour or $42,700 per year with a number of employments for this job equals 92,530 positions.

• Pennsylvania: showed an average pay of $23.11 per hour or $48,060 per year with a number of employments for this job equals 86,370 positions.

• Ohio: showed an average pay of $22.48 per hour or $46,760 per year with a number of employments for this job equals 77,150 positions.

In which city you can find more Semi truck jobs available? According to Statistics made in May 2019:

• Chicago: containing just over 2 percent of the positions at average salaries of $23.08 per hour or $48,000 per year.

• Houston and Texas: containing just fewer than 2 percent of the jobs at an average pay of $18.15 per hour or $37,760 per year.

Who Are The Highest Employers for Semi Truck Driver’s Job?

Talking about the highest employers for semi-truck drivers, the highest employers in 2011 for semi-truck drivers was general freight trucking companies employing more than a third of the 1,508,620 positions at that time.

Workers received $19.83 per hour, or in another words $41,250 per year.

Who is The Highest Paying For Semi Truck Driver’s Job?

The highest-paying employers are Courier and express delivery services providing their employees with average salaries $27.32 per hour or $56,830 per year.  

Manufacturers of aerospace products and parts take second place with average salaries$27.09 per hour or $56,350 per year.

What Are The Top Paying States in the U.S. for Semi Truck Drivers?

What are the most paying sates for this occupation?

• Alaska: comes in the first place for the most paying state for this occupation with average salaries of $28.77 per hour or $59,840 per year.

• North Dakota: comes in second place with average salaries of $25.96 per hour or $53,990 per year.

• New York: comes in third place with average salaries of $25.58 per hour or $ 53,210 per year.

• District of Columbia: takes the fourth place with average salaries of $25.58 per hour or $53,200 per year.

• Wyoming: takes fifth place with average salaries of $25.29 per hour or $52,600 per year.

What Are The Needed Criteria To Become a Semi Truck Driver?

What qualifies you to become a semi-truck driver? Most companies require their semi-truck drivers to have a high school diploma or an equivalent degree.

You also have to attend a professional truck driving school.

In addition, you need to hold a license for the size and type of truck you intend to drive.

However, holding a commercial driver’s license (CDL) is needed as well.

What Are The Additional Criteria For Being a Semi Truck Driver?

Here you may ask a question, was this all about it? According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there are some indispensable qualities you should have such as:

Hand-eye coordination. 

If you are a heavy truck or tractor-trailer driver you must be able to coordinate your legs, hands, and eyes simultaneously

So that you will react appropriately to the situation around you and drive the vehicle safely.

Hearing ability. 

You need a good hearing. Federal regulations require that a driver be able to hear a forced whisper in one ear at 5 feet (with or without the use of a hearing aid).

Physical health. 

Federal regulations do not allow you to become a semi-truck driver if you have a medical condition, such as high blood pressure or epilepsy.

Visual ability. 

If you want to become a semi-truck driver you must be able to pass vision tests.

Federal regulations require you to have at least 20/40 vision with a 70-degree field of vision in each eye and the ability to distinguish the colors on a traffic light.

What a Company Provides a Semi Truck Driver With After Being Employed?

There is something waits you as a semi-truck driver after being accepted into your company.

Your company will provide you with on-the-job training, training extends between 1 to 3 months.

During this time, you will drive a truck under the supervision of a more experienced mentor, a driver in the passenger seat.

This period of on-the-job training is given so that you as a new driver will learn more about the specific type of truck you will drive and material you will transport.

Can Semi Truck Drivers Be Self-Employed?

You may wonder if you can be a semi-truck self-employed driver.

Some heavy truck drivers are self-employed contractors who own a vehicle and contract their services on a long or short-term basis, or they may eventually run a fleet of trucks and employ a number of truck drivers.

What is the Job Outlook?

What is expected for this job in the future? Actually the outlook for jobs among truck drivers in the U.S. is bright.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Job growth among semi-truck drivers is expected to grow by 21 % by 2020 compared with 2010.