Truck Driver Salary in Alabama (2026): BLS OEWS Data, Top Metros & Carriers
Last verified: 2026-04-20 against BLS OEWS 53-3032 May 2024 release, Alabama Department of Labor data, and carrier-published pay bands.
Alabama produces over 1 million vehicles annually — Mercedes-Benz Vance, Honda Lincoln, Hyundai Montgomery, and Mazda-Toyota Huntsville anchor a major automotive manufacturing corridor. Add Port of Mobile (Gulf Coast container + bulk), I-65 (Louisville-Mobile), I-20 (Dallas-Atlanta), I-10 (Gulf Coast), and steel/coal/forest products freight. AL state median pay runs below national but specialty manufacturing and Port of Mobile offer strong upper tail. This guide extracts BLS OEWS for Alabama against the national $57,440 median for SOC 53-3032 (May 2024).1
Key Takeaways
- BLS OEWS 53-3032, May 2024 — AL median annual wage: $53,370.3 That's $4,070 below national — roughly 7.1% below national.1
- AL state employment: ~36,500 heavy and tractor-trailer drivers.3
- Top paying AL metros: Birmingham–Hoover MSA (steel + distribution); Mobile MSA (Port of Mobile); Huntsville MSA (Mazda-Toyota + aerospace).
- Dominant freight segments: Auto assembly (Mercedes Vance, Honda Lincoln, Hyundai Montgomery, Mazda-Toyota Huntsville) + tier-1 supplier network; Port of Mobile drayage; Birmingham steel industry; Alabama coal; forest products; I-65 / I-20 / I-10 OTR.
- Pay premium endorsements: Hazmat (H), Tanker (N), Doubles/Triples (T).
- Cross-reference: Alabama CDL Requirements guide.
AL Truck Driver Wages — BLS OEWS 53-3032 State Data
BLS OEWS state data for SOC 53-3032 in AL, May 2024 reference period. Verify at https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_al.htm.3
| Metric | Value | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Annual median (50th percentile) | $53,370 | BLS OEWS state cell, May 2024.3 |
| Annual mean wage | ~$54,500–$56,500 | Mean above median. |
| Annual 10th percentile | ~$35,500–$37,500 | Entry-level. |
| Annual 25th percentile | ~$43,500–$46,000 | |
| Annual 75th percentile | ~$64,500–$69,000 | Experienced auto-dedicated, LTL, port drayage. |
| Annual 90th percentile | ~$78,500–$85,000 | LTL linehaul seniority, auto-carrier specialty, Port of Mobile senior. |
| State employment | ~36,500 | Per BLS state OEWS.3 |
National percentile reference: p10 $37,930 · p25 $46,120 · p50 $57,440 · p75 $71,990 · p90 $81,710.1
How AL Compares to National
AL's $53,370 state median runs $4,070 below national.13 BEA RPP shows Alabama below national index — strong real purchasing power on AL median pay.4
Metro variation: - Above state median: Birmingham-Hoover MSA, Mobile MSA. - Near state median: Huntsville MSA, Montgomery. - Below state median: Tuscaloosa, rural AL.
Top AL Metros for Truck Drivers
Birmingham (Birmingham–Hoover MSA)
Largest AL trucking metro: - Steel industry (US Steel, Nucor, historical Birmingham steel heritage). - I-20 / I-59 / I-65 convergence. - Regions Financial HQ, Vulcan Materials HQ — logistics. - Amazon, Walmart, Target distribution.
Birmingham MSA OEWS above state mean. Current MSA data: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_13820.htm.5
Mobile (Mobile MSA)
Gulf Coast port: - Port of Mobile — Gulf container + bulk cargo. - Austal USA shipyard + Airbus Mobile aircraft assembly. - I-10 / I-65 corridor.
Mobile MSA OEWS above state mean. Current MSA data: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_33660.htm.5
Huntsville (Huntsville MSA)
North Alabama tech + aerospace + new Mazda-Toyota plant: - Mazda-Toyota Huntsville — jointly-operated assembly plant + tier-1 supplier freight (one of the newest US auto plants). - Redstone Arsenal + NASA Marshall + Aerospace — specialty federal freight. - I-565 / I-65 access.
Huntsville MSA tracks near or above state median. Data: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_26620.htm.5
Montgomery (Montgomery MSA) + Auburn-Opelika
Hyundai Montgomery + Kia West Point (GA, adjacent) supply chain. Tracks near state median.5
Tuscaloosa
Mercedes-Benz Vance plant + University of Alabama. Mercedes is one of Alabama's largest auto plants. Tracks near state median.5
Major Freight Industries Driving AL Pay
| Industry | Freight footprint | Endorsement fit | Pay band notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Auto assembly (Mercedes/Honda/Hyundai/Mazda-Toyota) | Vance, Lincoln, Montgomery, Huntsville | Specialty training | Dedicated $65–$88k experienced. |
| Auto-carrier (finished vehicles) | Alabama plants + Port of Mobile export | Specialty training | $70–$92k experienced auto-carrier. |
| Port of Mobile drayage | Mobile container + bulk terminals | H for hazmat; TWIC for terminal | Drayage $58–$80k experienced. |
| LTL linehaul | Statewide (ODFL, Saia, XPO, ABF, FedEx Freight, Averitt) | T valuable | Senior $78–$98k+. |
| Steel (Birmingham) | Birmingham metro steel mills | Specialty flatbed | $60–$82k. |
| Coal / mining | Central AL | Specialty equipment | $58–$80k. |
| Forest products | Southern AL pine belt | Specialty flatbed | $58–$78k. |
| Aerospace (Airbus Mobile, NASA Huntsville) | Mobile + Huntsville | Specialty training + oversize | $65–$88k experienced. |
| Tanker / petroleum | Statewide fuel distribution | N+H | $68–$90k experienced. |
Major Carriers Hiring in AL
- Auto-carrier: Jack Cooper, Cassens Transport — serving Mercedes/Honda/Hyundai/Mazda-Toyota finished-vehicle distribution.
- LTL: Old Dominion, Saia, XPO Logistics, ABF Freight, FedEx Freight, Estes Express, R+L Carriers, Averitt Express, Southeastern Freight Lines.
- Mega OTR / Regional: Schneider, Werner, CR England, Covenant, Heartland, Knight-Swift.
- Dedicated / private fleet: Walmart Private Fleet, Target, Home Depot, Lowe's, Costco, Amazon, Mercedes/Honda/Hyundai/Mazda-Toyota dedicated suppliers, Publix regional.
- Port of Mobile: Multiple regional drayage operators.
- Aerospace dedicated: Airbus + Redstone specialty carriers.
- Steel: Flatbed specialty (Maverick, TMC, Melton regional).
- Tanker / petroleum: Kenan Advantage Group, Groendyke Transport, local fuel distributors.
- AL-HQ: Regions Financial logistics (Birmingham), Vulcan Materials (Birmingham).
Pay by Route Type
- OTR: $58–$78k.
- Regional (AL + GA/TN/MS/FL): $62–$82k.
- Local / home-daily: $50–$78k; Port of Mobile drayage $58–$80k.
- Dedicated: $62–$88k; auto-dedicated (Mercedes/Honda/Hyundai/Mazda-Toyota) at upper end.
- Auto-carrier: $70–$92k experienced specialty.
- LTL linehaul: $78–$98k+ senior.
- Owner-operator: variable $62–$130k net.
Use CPM → Annual Salary calculator + Lease vs Company vs Owner-Op calculator.
AL CDL and Licensing
Alabama CDL Requirements guide. Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) — not DMV. Class-tiered fees: $66.25 Class A, $56.25 Class B, $36.25 Class C. $20 class-upgrade skills test.
FAQs
How much does a truck driver make in Alabama in 2026? AL state median for SOC 53-3032 is $53,370 per BLS OEWS May 20243 — approximately 7.1% below national $57,440.1 Experienced drivers on specialty freight (auto-dedicated, auto-carrier, senior LTL) push into $78–$98k. Entry-level drivers earn $38–$44k year one.
What is the highest-paying trucking job in Alabama? Senior LTL linehaul with T endorsement at Birmingham/Mobile-area majors — experienced drivers exceed $80–$98k. Auto-carrier specialty (Mercedes/Honda/Hyundai/Mazda-Toyota finished-vehicle + export via Port of Mobile) matches. Specialty tanker (X-endorsed) and aerospace dedicated (Airbus Mobile, Redstone) can match.
Where in AL do truck drivers get paid the most? Birmingham MSA leads on steel + distribution + LTL. Mobile MSA leads on Port of Mobile + Airbus aerospace. Huntsville on Mazda-Toyota + NASA/Redstone aerospace. Montgomery, Tuscaloosa on auto-dedicated. Rural AL below.
Is AL a good state for truck drivers? Yes — Alabama produces over 1M vehicles annually with four major OEMs. Port of Mobile is a growing Gulf Coast port. Multiple aerospace specialty (Airbus Mobile + NASA Marshall Huntsville). Cost of living among the most favorable in the country for real purchasing power.
How does AL truck driver pay compare to Mississippi? AL state median ($53,370) is above MS state median (typically $52,440). Both below national. AL's auto manufacturing + Port of Mobile + aerospace give stronger upper tail; MS has Port of Gulfport and Nissan Canton.
Can I make six figures as a truck driver in Alabama? Possible but less common than higher-pay states. Common paths: auto-carrier specialty; senior LTL linehaul; aerospace dedicated; specialty tanker with X endorsement; Walmart Private Fleet dedicated.
What are the largest carriers hiring in AL in 2026? Based on public recruiting: Jack Cooper (auto-carrier), Cassens Transport, Schneider, Werner, Old Dominion, Saia, XPO, Walmart Private Fleet, Amazon, Mercedes/Honda/Hyundai/Mazda-Toyota dedicated carriers. Verify current pay bands via each recruiting portal.
Alabama auto manufacturing — what's unique for drivers? Alabama has four major OEM assembly plants + one of highest per-capita auto production rates in the country. Auto-carrier (Jack Cooper, Cassens) finished-vehicle work + tier-1 dedicated from suppliers is one of the most concentrated auto-trucking markets in the US outside Detroit. Specialty pay + schedule stability typical.
Port of Mobile — what's the driver landscape? Mobile container + bulk + Airbus import/export specialty (Airbus A320 family assembly in Mobile). Port of Mobile drayage is less volume than Savannah/Charleston but has specialty work including auto export (Alabama-built cars exported via Mobile). TWIC commonly required.
Sources
-
BLS OEWS, "53-3032," May 2024 national.
https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes533032.htm↩↩↩↩↩ -
BLS OOH, "Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers — Pay."
https://www.bls.gov/ooh/transportation-and-material-moving/heavy-and-tractor-trailer-truck-drivers.htm#tab-5↩ -
BLS OEWS, "May 2024 State Estimates — Alabama."
https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_al.htm↩↩↩↩↩↩↩ -
U.S. BEA, "Regional Price Parities."
https://www.bea.gov/data/prices-inflation/regional-price-parities-state-and-metro-area↩ -
BLS OEWS, "May 2024 Metro Estimates." Birmingham-Hoover MSA:
https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_13820.htm· Mobile MSA:https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_33660.htm· Huntsville MSA:https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_26620.htm· Montgomery MSA:https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_33860.htm· Tuscaloosa MSA:https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_46220.htm· All AL MSAs:https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oessrcma.htm↩↩↩↩↩
