Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers salary in Merced, CA
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers in the Merced, CA metro area earn a median of $55,630 a year ($26.75 an hour), based on BLS data for 1,710 workers.
Pay ranges from $36,470 for the lowest-paid 10% to $83,810 for the top 10%. That is 5% lower than the national median of $58,640. Pay here is 8% lower than the California statewide median of $60,230. There are 22 heavy and Tractor-Trailer truck drivers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.6× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $58,420, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for heavy and Tractor-Trailer truck drivers in Merced, CA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $36,470 | $17.54 |
| 25th percentile | $45,410 | $21.83 |
| Median | $55,630 | $26.75 |
| 75th percentile | $65,740 | $31.61 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $83,810 | $40.30 |
| Average (mean) | $58,420 | $28.09 |
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 | $4,635.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,317.92 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,139.62 |
| Weekly | $1,069.81 |
| Hourly | $26.75 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
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Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $70,730 | 5,360 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $66,450 | 16,450 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $62,620 | 1,860 |
| Vallejo, CA | $61,540 | 2,380 |
| Napa, CA | $60,860 | 600 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $60,810 | 10,960 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $60,580 | 40,230 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $60,470 | 10,110 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $60,380 | 720 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $60,340 | 61,270 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $59,780 | 10,440 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $59,500 | 750 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $59,120 | 3,020 |
| Modesto, CA | $58,330 | 3,510 |
| Yuba City, CA | $58,230 | 1,790 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $57,690 | 7,050 |
| Chico, CA | $57,480 | 650 |
| Redding, CA | $57,350 | 940 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $55,910 | 1,550 |
| Fresno, CA | $55,740 | 8,170 |
| El Centro, CA | $55,140 | 1,130 |
| Salinas, CA | $53,390 | 2,140 |
| Visalia, CA | $51,530 | 3,060 |
| Hanford-Corcoran, CA | $48,110 | 810 |
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 or the California statewide figures.
Related jobs in Merced, CA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Driver/Sales Worker | $49,290 | $23.70 |
| Bus Drivers, School | $61,580 | $29.61 |
| Light Truck Driver | $44,250 | $21.27 |
| Shuttle Drivers and Chauffeurs | $39,060 | $18.78 |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | $38,080 | $18.31 |
| Packers and Packagers, Hand | $34,320 | $16.50 |
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | $41,890 | $20.14 |
| Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators | $44,520 | $21.41 |
| Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment | $38,860 | $18.68 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors | $57,400 | $27.60 |
| Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors | $68,530 | $32.95 |
| Automotive and Watercraft Service Attendants | $36,940 | $17.76 |
| Machine Feeders and Offbearers | $41,930 | $20.16 |
| Conveyor Operators and Tenders | $62,970 | $30.28 |
More: Transportation and Material Moving Occupations · all salaries in Merced, CA
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 Merced, CA?
The median salary for heavy and Tractor-Trailer truck drivers in the Merced, CA metro area is $55,630 a year, or $26.75 an hour. Pay ranges from $36,470 for the lowest-paid 10% to $83,810 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid heavy and Tractor-Trailer truck drivers make in Merced, CA?
The top 10% of heavy and Tractor-Trailer truck drivers in the Merced, CA metro area earn at least $83,810 a year. The top 25% earn $65,740 or more.
What is the starting pay for heavy and Tractor-Trailer truck drivers in Merced, CA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $36,470 a year, and a quarter of heavy and Tractor-Trailer truck drivers earn $45,410 or less.
How many heavy and Tractor-Trailer truck drivers work in Merced, CA?
About 1,710 heavy and Tractor-Trailer truck drivers are employed in the Merced, CA metro area, not counting the self-employed.