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Truckers are paid per mile, meaning they don't make money during loading and unloading. And yet, the real wages for owner-operator truck drivers in the United States are roughly $65,774-$85,637, according to results from a FindItParts survey.
“Knowing average fuel prices, driver wages, maintenance expenses, and other key statistics is a necessity, and by staying informed, you can make data-driven decisions,” according to FindItParts.
Key takeaways:
- Fleet owners spend an average of $104,445 per truck per year and $77,512 per driver per year.
- The state of Alaska has the highest average wages for heavy truck drivers at $65,870 and light truck drivers at $55,810.
- The city with the highest average base pay for truck drivers is Chicago, at $62,320 for heavy truck drivers and $52,280 for light truck drivers.
- Owner-operators make a median wage of roughly $186,016 per year, but their take-home wages are quite a bit lower after expenses.
- For food, truck stop overnight fees, and other life essentials like toiletries, fleet drivers typically get $69 per day when they're on the road for multiple days.
- While their annual mean wage is $57,760, fleet truck drivers take home less than that. The BLS reports that health insurance alone can cost between $1,560 per year for single drivers and $6,099 for drivers with family coverage. When calculating insurance alongside miscellaneous expenses not covered per diem, real wages may be closer to $47,000-$50,000 per year.
- Fleets spend roughly $104,445 per truck per year and $77,512 per driver per year on wages and benefits.
