Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers pay range in Chicago
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $41,300 a year or less, while the top 10% make $88,230 or more. The middle half of heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers in Chicago earn between $50,580 and $77,660.
- $41K10th
- $51K25th
- $62KMedian
- $78K75th
- $88K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $65,170 | $5,431 | $31.33 |
| Median | $62,300 | $5,192 | $29.95 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $50,580 | $4,215 | $24.32 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $77,660 | $6,472 | $37.34 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers pay in Chicago vs. Illinois and the U.S.
Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers in Chicago earn 4% more than the Illinois average ($62,430) and 9% more than the U.S. average ($59,710). At the median the gap is +6% against the U.S. median of $58,640.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago | $65,170 | $62,300 | $41,300 | $88,230 | 62,210 |
| Illinois | $62,430 | $60,320 | $39,710 | $86,300 | 84,200 |
| United States | $59,710 | $58,640 | $40,140 | $79,380 | 2,062,040 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers salary after taxes in Chicago
On the average salary of $65,170, a single filer in Chicago takes home about $51,459 a year, or $4,288 a month and $1,979 every two weeks. Taxes take 21% of gross pay.
The Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in IN | $52,619 | $4,385 |
| Working in IL | $51,459 | $4,288 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
Is Chicago a good place for heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Chicago area are 4% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 103.6), so the average $65,170 buys what about $62,908 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.1 times the median wage of all jobs in Chicago ($54,720). A typical home costs $353,998, or 5.4 years of this average salary before tax.
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers salary in other Illinois cities
Chicago ranks 1st of 8 Illinois metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Chicago$65,170
- Decatur$62,550
- Rockford$62,440
- Champaign$57,590
- Bloomington$57,410
- Springfield$55,790
- Peoria$55,020
- Kankakee$50,830
All Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers salaries in Illinois
Highest-paying cities for heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers
Iowa City, IA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($77,940).
- Iowa City, IA$77,940
- Lincoln, NE$73,050
- Fairbanks, AK$72,350
- Seattle, WA$71,980
- San Jose, CA$70,730
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Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers salary in Chicago: questions
How much do heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers make an hour in Chicago?
$31.33 an hour on average, and $29.95 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers salary in Chicago?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $41,300 a year and the 25th percentile is $50,580, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers take-home pay in Chicago?
About $51,459 a year ($4,288 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $65,170.
Do heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers earn more in Chicago than elsewhere?
The average here is 9% more than the U.S. average for this job ($59,710).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 53-3032; area Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN (16980). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.8%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.04, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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