Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers salary in Kentucky
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers in Kentucky earn a median of $56,340 a year ($27.09 an hour), based on BLS data for 31,760 workers.
Pay ranges from $38,670 for the lowest-paid 10% to $85,630 for the top 10%. That is 4% lower than the national median of $58,640. Kentucky ranks 39th of 51 states for heavy and Tractor-Trailer truck drivers pay. There are 16 heavy and Tractor-Trailer truck drivers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.2× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $59,870, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for heavy and Tractor-Trailer truck drivers in Kentucky
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $38,670 | $18.59 |
| 25th percentile | $47,810 | $22.99 |
| Median | $56,340 | $27.09 |
| 75th percentile | $70,020 | $33.66 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $85,630 | $41.17 |
| Average (mean) | $59,870 | $28.78 |
Half of heavy and Tractor-Trailer truck drivers earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $4,695 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,347.50 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,166.92 |
| Weekly | $1,083.46 |
| Hourly | $27.09 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $56,340 salary, see how much house you can afford in Kentucky at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Work on vehicles? Look up safety recalls, the most reported problems and owner complaints for any car or truck by make, model and year on Car Recall Check — see the latest recalls and "do not drive" warnings.
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers salary in cities in Kentucky
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $60,590 | 13,820 |
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $59,000 | 10,820 |
| Lexington-Fayette, KY | $56,950 | 4,460 |
| Bowling Green, KY | $53,450 | 1,540 |
| Clarksville, TN-KY | $51,470 | 1,380 |
| Elizabethtown, KY | $50,680 | 560 |
| Owensboro, KY | $50,600 | 840 |
| Paducah, KY-IL | $50,520 | 660 |
| Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH | $50,050 | 2,330 |
Highest-paying states for heavy and Tractor-Trailer truck drivers
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Alaska | $70,100 |
| Washington | $64,760 |
| District of Columbia | $64,170 |
| New Jersey | $63,570 |
| Massachusetts | $63,030 |
| Nevada | $62,290 |
| New York | $62,050 |
| Minnesota | $61,990 |
| Oregon | $61,980 |
| Colorado | $61,500 |
See Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers pay in every state.
Related jobs in Kentucky
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Light Truck Driver | $43,230 | $20.78 |
| Bus Drivers, School | $44,830 | $21.55 |
| Driver/Sales Worker | $37,030 | $17.80 |
| Shuttle Drivers and Chauffeurs | $33,580 | $16.14 |
| Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity | $54,550 | $26.22 |
| Motor Vehicle Operators, All Other | $23,870 | $11.48 |
| Taxi Driver | $33,850 | $16.28 |
| Ambulance Drivers and Attendants, Except Emergency Medical Technicians | $32,850 | $15.79 |
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | $42,770 | $20.56 |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | $36,810 | $17.70 |
| Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators | $46,630 | $22.42 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors | $60,090 | $28.89 |
| Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers | $350,950 | — |
| Packers and Packagers, Hand | $36,850 | $17.72 |
More: Transportation and Material Moving Occupations · all salaries in Kentucky
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 53-3032. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a heavy and Tractor-Trailer truck drivers make in Kentucky?
The median salary for heavy and Tractor-Trailer truck drivers in Kentucky is $56,340 a year, or $27.09 an hour. Pay ranges from $38,670 for the lowest-paid 10% to $85,630 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid heavy and Tractor-Trailer truck drivers make in Kentucky?
The top 10% of heavy and Tractor-Trailer truck drivers in Kentucky earn at least $85,630 a year. The top 25% earn $70,020 or more.
What is the starting pay for heavy and Tractor-Trailer truck drivers in Kentucky?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $38,670 a year, and a quarter of heavy and Tractor-Trailer truck drivers earn $47,810 or less.
How many heavy and Tractor-Trailer truck drivers work in Kentucky?
About 31,760 heavy and Tractor-Trailer truck drivers are employed in Kentucky, not counting the self-employed.