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Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers salary in Lincoln, NE

Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers in the Lincoln, NE metropolitan area earn a median of $81,790 a year, an average of $73,050. About 4,530 people work in this occupation there. Figures are from the May 2025 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS).

Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers pay at a glance

Annual median wage
$81,790
Half earn more, half earn less
Annual mean wage
$73,050
Pulled up by top earners
10th percentile
$47,950
Bottom of the range
90th percentile
$81,790
Top of the range
People employed
4,530
In Lincoln metro area
Rent share of median wage
15.3%
Median rent ÷ median wage

What this wage buys in Lincoln

Rent from the ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates, compared with the wage above

Median gross rent
$1,045
per month, in Lincoln, NE
Income needed for median rent
$41,800
Keeps rent at 30% of gross pay
Median heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers wage
$81,790
95.7% above income needed for median rent
Rent as share of this wage
15.3%
12 months rent ÷ median wage
City median household income
$69,991
All households, not one occupation

Occupations are not paid the same everywhere, and this page does not explain why. It reports what the survey measured for the Lincoln area. Read the Lincoln, NE cost of living page for rent, income and the price level, or the methodology for how the numbers are compiled.

Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers pay in other cities

Median annual wage, same occupation, same survey

St. Louis, MO
-28.8%
Median $58,240
Mean $59,810
Employed 18,270
Median $65,040
Mean $69,020
Employed 65,100
Anchorage, AK
-19.1%
Median $66,190
Mean $67,560
Employed 1,620
Durham, NC
-34.9%
Median $53,280
Mean $56,200
Employed 2,130
Median $58,480
Mean $59,960
Employed 6,480
Median $57,880
Mean $59,050
Employed 14,620
Chandler, AZ
-26.9%
Median $59,770
Mean $59,790
Employed 30,480
Newark, NJ
-20.5%
Median $65,040
Mean $69,020
Employed 65,100

See heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers pay in every covered city.

Take-home pay calculator

Estimate your net pay after federal, state, and FICA taxes. Adjust filing status and allowances for your situation.

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Gross annual income $81,790 / year
$81,790
Federal income tax 2024 brackets, Single filing
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State income tax Nebraska (NE)
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FICA (Social Security + Medicare) 7.65% up to wage base
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Pre-tax deductions 401(k), HSA, etc.
$0
Take-home pay (annual) After all taxes
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Take-home per paycheck Monthly
—
Effective tax rate Total tax ÷ gross income
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Estimates use 2024 federal tax brackets, FICA rates (6.2% SS up to $168,600, 1.45% Medicare + 0.9% >$200k), and state rates from Tax Foundation. Does not include local taxes, AMT, or tax credits. Consult a tax professional for actual liability.

Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers salary in Lincoln, NE: FAQ

How much do heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers make in Lincoln, NE?

The median salary for heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers in the Lincoln, NE metro area is $81,790 a year (about $39 an hour for full-time work). The average is $73,050, pulled up by the top earners.

Is $81,790 a good salary for heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers in Lincoln, NE?

Yes. It is above the $41,800 needed to keep the median rent of $1,045 a month at 30% of gross income, and the median rent takes 15.3% of this wage.

What do the highest-paid heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers earn in Lincoln, NE?

The top 10% earn more than $81,790 a year, while the lowest-paid 10% earn less than $47,950.

How many heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers work in Lincoln, NE?

About 4,530 people work in this occupation in the Lincoln, NE metro area, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics.

Definitions used on this page

Annual median wage
The wage that half of the people in this occupation earn more than and half earn less than, for one year of work.
Annual mean wage
The average of all reported wages. It is higher than the median when a few very high earners pull it up.
Percentiles
The 10th percentile is the wage below which 10% of workers fall; the 90th is the wage above which only 10% rise. The gap between them shows how wide the pay range is.
Employment
The estimated number of jobs in this occupation in the metropolitan area, not the number of residents who hold it.

Sources and limits

Wages describe the metropolitan area, while rent and income describe the city boundaries. The two areas do not cover exactly the same ground. Wages are also averaged across a year and across every industry, so a specific employer can differ widely from the median shown here.