Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers pay in California
$62,020avg. a year
$29.82 an hour · 205,090 employed
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers in California earn an average of $62,020 a year. That is $2,310 (4%) more than the U.S. average of $59,710. The best-paying metro area is San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA at $70,730.
$60,230Median pay
$29.82Average hourly
+21%Avg. pay since 2020
#14Of 50 states + D.C.
Top-paying California metro areas
Average pay for heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers by metro area. Swipe to see all 25.
15,360 jobs
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
$70,730
$34.00 an hour
216,450 jobs
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA
$69,260
$33.30 an hour
340,230 jobs
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA
$64,130
$30.83 an hour
41,860 jobs
Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA
$63,580
$30.57 an hour
5600 jobs
Napa, CA
$63,210
$30.39 an hour
62,380 jobs
Vallejo, CA
$62,430
$30.02 an hour
710,960 jobs
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA
$62,060
$29.84 an hour
810,110 jobs
Stockton-Lodi, CA
$61,820
$29.72 an hour
961,270 jobs
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
$61,230
$29.44 an hour
10720 jobs
San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA
$60,260
$28.97 an hour
11750 jobs
Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
$60,240
$28.96 an hour
1210,440 jobs
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA
$60,180
$28.93 an hour
133,020 jobs
Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA
$59,210
$28.47 an hour
143,060 jobs
Visalia, CA
$58,610
$28.18 an hour
153,510 jobs
Modesto, CA
$58,500
$28.13 an hour
161,710 jobs
Merced, CA
$58,420
$28.09 an hour
171,790 jobs
Yuba City, CA
$58,000
$27.89 an hour
18650 jobs
Chico, CA
$57,110
$27.46 an hour
191,550 jobs
Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA
$56,630
$27.23 an hour
207,050 jobs
Bakersfield-Delano, CA
$56,530
$27.18 an hour
211,130 jobs
El Centro, CA
$56,410
$27.12 an hour
22940 jobs
Redding, CA
$56,330
$27.08 an hour
232,140 jobs
Salinas, CA
$56,250
$27.04 an hour
248,170 jobs
Fresno, CA
$55,990
$26.92 an hour
25810 jobs
Hanford-Corcoran, CA
$53,700
$25.82 an hour
Why people trust JobPayFacts
Official government dataEvery number comes from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wage survey of employers, not self-reported salaries.
Every state and city830 jobs across all 50 states, D.C. and 199 large metro areas.
Updated every yearNew figures each spring when BLS releases them. This site uses May 2025 data.
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers pay in California, charted
Pay over time
California, annual wage, May of each year
AverageMedian
Where California heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers work
Employment by metro area, May 2025
Average pay by state
May 2025 · California highlighted · tap a state
AKMEWIVTNHWAIDMTNDMNILMINYMAORNVWYSDIAINOHPANJCTRICAUTCONEMOKYWVVAMDDEAZNMKSARTNNCSCDCOKLAMSALGAHITXFL
Under $57k$57k–$60k$60k–$62k$62k+California
California vs. neighbors
Average pay, May 2025
| Area | Avg. pay | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| United States | $59,710 | $28.71 |
| California | $62,020 | $29.82 |
| Nevada | $65,010 | $31.25 |
| Oregon | $64,080 | $30.81 |
| Arizona | $58,870 | $28.30 |
Related jobs in California
- Light Truck Drivers$53,310
- Driver/Sales Workers$48,220
- Bus Drivers, School$60,520
- Shuttle Drivers and Chauffeurs$46,500
- Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity$66,930
- Motor Vehicle Operators, All Other$51,520
Average pay, California, May 2025
Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS
Questions and answers
How much do heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers make in California?
The average is $62,020 a year, and the median is $60,230. That is $2,310 (4%) more than the U.S. average of $59,710.
What is the hourly wage in California?
$29.82 an hour on average; the median is $28.96.
Where in California do they earn the most?
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($70,730), followed by San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA ($69,260). The lowest average among 25 metro areas with data is Hanford-Corcoran, CA ($53,700).
How does California rank?
California ranks #14 of 51 states (including D.C.) with published data for this job, by average pay.
Sources and notes. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 (trend: May 2020–May 2025), occupation code 53-3032. State rank compares average pay across states with published data. Metro figures cover metropolitan statistical areas; a metro area can cross state lines. See also the national heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers page. Wages are gross pay before taxes and don't include overtime premiums, tips, bonuses or benefits; self-employed workers aren't included. Year-to-year changes can partly reflect survey method changes, so treat the trend as a guide. How we use the data. JobPayFacts isn't affiliated with BLS.