Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers salary in North Carolina
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers in North Carolina earn a median of $51,530 a year ($24.77 an hour), based on BLS data for 62,400 workers.
Pay ranges from $39,400 for the lowest-paid 10% to $76,360 for the top 10%. That is 12% lower than the national median of $58,640. North Carolina ranks 46th of 51 states for heavy and Tractor-Trailer truck drivers pay. There are 13 heavy and Tractor-Trailer truck drivers per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $55,810, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for heavy and Tractor-Trailer truck drivers in North Carolina
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $39,400 | $18.94 |
| 25th percentile | $46,320 | $22.27 |
| Median | $51,530 | $24.77 |
| 75th percentile | $62,640 | $30.12 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $76,360 | $36.71 |
| Average (mean) | $55,810 | $26.83 |
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 | $4,294.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,147.08 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,981.92 |
| Weekly | $990.96 |
| Hourly | $24.77 |
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 cities in North Carolina
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Greensboro-High Point, NC | $58,480 | 6,480 |
| Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC | $57,460 | 3,050 |
| Burlington, NC | $56,290 | 1,020 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $56,120 | 18,700 |
| Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | $53,280 | 2,130 |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | $52,110 | 7,210 |
| Asheville, NC | $51,750 | 2,040 |
| Winston-Salem, NC | $51,320 | 3,480 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $50,460 | 7,460 |
| Fayetteville, NC | $49,980 | 1,400 |
| Greenville, NC | $48,980 | 500 |
| Pinehurst-Southern Pines, NC | $48,860 | 220 |
| Wilmington, NC | $48,850 | 1,840 |
| Rocky Mount, NC | $48,090 | 840 |
| Goldsboro, NC | $47,140 | 400 |
| Jacksonville, NC | $45,640 | 360 |
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 North Carolina
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Light Truck Driver | $39,910 | $19.19 |
| Driver/Sales Worker | $36,540 | $17.57 |
| Bus Drivers, School | $37,460 | $18.01 |
| Shuttle Drivers and Chauffeurs | $31,980 | $15.38 |
| Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity | $44,060 | $21.18 |
| Motor Vehicle Operators, All Other | $29,000 | $13.94 |
| Taxi Driver | $36,950 | $17.77 |
| Ambulance Drivers and Attendants, Except Emergency Medical Technicians | $32,450 | $15.60 |
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | $38,230 | $18.38 |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | $35,950 | $17.29 |
| Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators | $43,420 | $20.88 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors | $60,070 | $28.88 |
| Packers and Packagers, Hand | $34,360 | $16.52 |
| Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment | $33,470 | $16.09 |
More: Transportation and Material Moving Occupations · all salaries in North Carolina
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 North Carolina?
The median salary for heavy and Tractor-Trailer truck drivers in North Carolina is $51,530 a year, or $24.77 an hour. Pay ranges from $39,400 for the lowest-paid 10% to $76,360 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid heavy and Tractor-Trailer truck drivers make in North Carolina?
The top 10% of heavy and Tractor-Trailer truck drivers in North Carolina earn at least $76,360 a year. The top 25% earn $62,640 or more.
What is the starting pay for heavy and Tractor-Trailer truck drivers in North Carolina?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $39,400 a year, and a quarter of heavy and Tractor-Trailer truck drivers earn $46,320 or less.
How many heavy and Tractor-Trailer truck drivers work in North Carolina?
About 62,400 heavy and Tractor-Trailer truck drivers are employed in North Carolina, not counting the self-employed.