Tank Car, Truck, and Ship Loaders salary in the U.S.
Tank Car, Truck, and Ship Loaders in the U.S. earn a median of $58,870 a year ($28.30 an hour), based on BLS data for 10,700 workers.
Pay ranges from $39,460 for the lowest-paid 10% to $83,160 for the top 10%. The average (mean) salary is $59,970, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for tank car, truck, and ship loaders in the U.S.
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $39,460 | $18.97 |
| 25th percentile | $46,300 | $22.26 |
| Median | $58,870 | $28.30 |
| 75th percentile | $70,060 | $33.69 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $83,160 | $39.98 |
| Average (mean) | $59,970 | $28.83 |
Half of tank car, truck, and ship loaders 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 | $4,905.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,452.92 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,264.23 |
| Weekly | $1,132.12 |
| Hourly | $28.30 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $58,870 salary, see how much house you can afford at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Tank Car, Truck, and Ship Loaders salary by state
| State | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Maryland | $81,320 | 110 |
| South Carolina | $80,700 | 90 |
| Montana | $80,070 | 80 |
| Minnesota | $76,620 | n/a |
| Alabama | $75,450 | 240 |
| Oregon | $74,040 | n/a |
| Massachusetts | $71,750 | 140 |
| New Hampshire | $70,030 | 40 |
| California | $68,600 | 110 |
| New Jersey | $64,890 | 120 |
| North Dakota | $61,210 | 310 |
| Texas | $61,170 | 1,620 |
| Louisiana | $58,900 | 500 |
| Michigan | $57,900 | 200 |
| Missouri | $57,750 | 180 |
| Ohio | $57,700 | 820 |
| Wisconsin | $57,250 | 170 |
| West Virginia | $54,750 | 90 |
| Utah | $53,370 | n/a |
| Kentucky | $53,160 | 130 |
| Iowa | $51,450 | 180 |
| Colorado | $51,200 | 80 |
| Georgia | $51,160 | 50 |
| New York | $48,220 | 110 |
| Pennsylvania | $48,120 | 90 |
| New Mexico | $48,010 | 80 |
| Nebraska | $46,300 | n/a |
| Florida | $45,540 | 430 |
| Hawaii | $45,240 | n/a |
| North Carolina | $44,910 | 240 |
| Indiana | $44,310 | 250 |
| Idaho | $41,700 | 80 |
| Virginia | $41,190 | 60 |
| Oklahoma | $35,360 | 170 |
| Arkansas | $33,800 | 150 |
Best-paying metro areas for tank car, truck, and ship loaders
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Billings, MT | $83,390 | 50 |
| Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | $83,160 | 70 |
| Corpus Christi, TX | $81,920 | 60 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $77,490 | 80 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $76,850 | 200 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $64,890 | 120 |
| Lake Charles, LA | $63,170 | 40 |
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $63,100 | 60 |
| New Orleans-Metairie, LA | $62,200 | 210 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $61,420 | 1,460 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $61,220 | 970 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $60,950 | 320 |
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | $60,440 | 80 |
| Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux, LA | $57,940 | 60 |
| Columbus, OH | $57,030 | 50 |
Metro areas with the most tank car, truck, and ship loaders
| Metro area | Workers | Median salary |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 1,460 | $61,420 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | 970 | $61,220 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | 320 | $60,950 |
| New Orleans-Metairie, LA | 210 | $62,200 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 200 | $76,850 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | 120 | $50,380 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 120 | $64,890 |
| Baton Rouge, LA | 100 | $49,700 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | 80 | $77,490 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | 80 | $44,010 |
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | 80 | $60,440 |
| Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | 70 | $83,160 |
| Corpus Christi, TX | 60 | $81,920 |
| Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux, LA | 60 | $57,940 |
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | 60 | $63,100 |
Related jobs in the U.S.
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | $40,240 | $19.35 |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | $37,330 | $17.95 |
| Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators | $46,420 | $22.32 |
| Packers and Packagers, Hand | $36,280 | $17.44 |
| Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment | $35,830 | $17.23 |
| Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors | $49,690 | $23.89 |
| Crane and Tower Operators | $68,080 | $32.73 |
| Machine Feeders and Offbearers | $41,220 | $19.82 |
| Material Moving Workers, All Other | $41,800 | $20.10 |
| Conveyor Operators and Tenders | $42,420 | $20.39 |
| Wellhead Pumper | $69,960 | $33.63 |
| Pump Operators, Except Wellhead Pumpers | $61,770 | $29.70 |
| Gas Compressor and Gas Pumping Station Operators | $77,320 | $37.17 |
| Hoist and Winch Operators | $56,450 | $27.14 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 53-7121. 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 tank car, truck, and ship loaders make in the U.S.?
The median salary for tank car, truck, and ship loaders in the U.S. is $58,870 a year, or $28.30 an hour. Pay ranges from $39,460 for the lowest-paid 10% to $83,160 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid tank car, truck, and ship loaders make in the U.S.?
The top 10% of tank car, truck, and ship loaders in the U.S. earn at least $83,160 a year. The top 25% earn $70,060 or more.
What is the starting pay for tank car, truck, and ship loaders in the U.S.?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $39,460 a year, and a quarter of tank car, truck, and ship loaders earn $46,300 or less.
How many tank car, truck, and ship loaders work in the U.S.?
About 10,700 tank car, truck, and ship loaders are employed in the U.S., not counting the self-employed.