Truck Driver Salary in Connecticut (2026): BLS OEWS Data, Top Metros & Carriers
Last verified: 2026-04-20 against the BLS OEWS 53-3032 May 2024 release (published March 2025).
Connecticut's trucking economy is dominated by NYC-metro adjacency on the southwest corner (Fairfield County feeds into the NYC commuter and freight network) and the Hartford insurance-and-pharmaceutical corridor across the middle of the state. The Port of New Haven is a small but active container and bulk port; I-95 along the southern coast and I-84 / I-91 through the center of the state are the primary freight spines.
Key Takeaways
- BLS OEWS 53-3032, May 2024 — Connecticut state median annual wage: $60,640. State employment: ~11,220 heavy and tractor-trailer drivers.2
- Connecticut median sits ~$3,200 above the national median on nominal — offset substantially by very high cost of living per BEA RPP.3
- Top paying Connecticut metros: Hartford–East Hartford–Middletown MSA, Bridgeport–Stamford–Norwalk MSA (NYC-metro adjacent), New Haven MSA.
- Distinguishing features: NYC-metro freight spillover (Fairfield County), Hartford insurance/pharmaceutical/Pratt & Whitney, Port of New Haven, Connecticut state income tax progressive up to ~6.99%.
Connecticut Truck Driver Wages — BLS OEWS 53-3032 State Data
Verify at https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_ct.htm.2
| Metric | Value | Source notes |
|---|---|---|
| Annual median wage (50th percentile) | $60,640 | BLS OEWS CT, May 2024 release. |
| State employment | ~11,220 | Small state total per BLS. |
| State vs national median | +$3,200 (+5.6%) | Connecticut sits in the p50-to-p75 national percentile band. |
OEWS revises annually.
How Connecticut Compares to the National Median
Connecticut's $60,640 median sits ~$3,200 above national. But BEA Regional Price Parities for Connecticut rank among the highest in the U.S., driven by Fairfield County housing costs adjacent to NYC metro.3 Real purchasing power lags nominal significantly in the southwest of the state. Hartford-area cost of living is more moderate; Eastern and Northern CT is comparatively affordable.
State income tax up to ~6.99% creates moderate wage tax drag.
Top Connecticut Metros for Truck Drivers
Hartford–East Hartford–Middletown MSA
- Insurance industry freight — The Hartford, Aetna, Travelers, Cigna supply chains + office freight.
- Pratt & Whitney + Sikorsky — aerospace logistics.
- Pharmaceutical cluster — Pfizer Groton-area.
- I-84 / I-91 intersection.
Data: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_25540.htm.4
Bridgeport–Stamford–Norwalk MSA
- NYC-metro adjacency — freight patterns mimic NYC operations.
- Finance and corporate HQ freight.
- Housing cost among the highest in the U.S. per BEA.3
Data: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_14860.htm.4
New Haven MSA
- Port of New Haven — small but active container, petroleum, and bulk.
- Yale University logistics.
- I-95 corridor.
Data: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_35300.htm.4
Major Freight Industries Driving Connecticut Pay
| Industry | Footprint | Endorsement fit | Pay band |
|---|---|---|---|
| NYC-metro adjacent LTL | Southwest CT | T required | $75–$105k+ experienced. |
| Insurance / office / pharma | Hartford | None | $55–$78k. |
| Aerospace (Pratt & Whitney, Sikorsky) | Hartford area | None | $58–$82k. |
| Port of New Haven drayage | New Haven | TWIC | $58–$82k. |
| Fuel / chemical tanker | Statewide | X (H+N) | $70–$98k. |
| Food service + grocery dedicated | Statewide | None | $58–$82k. |
Major Carriers Hiring in Connecticut
- LTL: Old Dominion, Saia, XPO, Estes, ABF Freight (Teamster), FedEx Freight, New England Motor Freight legacy successors.
- Regional: Schneider, Werner, CR England, NFI.
- Grocery dedicated: Stop & Shop, Big Y, Price Chopper, ShopRite spillover.
- Port drayage (New Haven): Small specialty drayage pool.
- Aerospace dedicated: Pratt & Whitney contractors, Sikorsky freight.
- Tanker: Kenan Advantage, Groendyke, Trimac.
Pay by Route Type Within Connecticut
- OTR: $58–$78k.
- Regional (CT/MA/RI/NY/NJ): $65–$90k.
- Local / home-daily: $55–$95k; NYC-metro adjacent P&D and specialty at upper end.
- Dedicated: $60–$85k; grocery dedicated at upper end.
FAQs
How much does a truck driver make in Connecticut in 2026? Connecticut state median is $60,640 for SOC 53-3032 per BLS OEWS May 2024, with ~11,220 drivers employed.2 State sits ~$3,200 above national median. Experienced drivers push $85,000–$105,000+ in NYC-metro LTL or specialty tanker.
What is the highest-paying trucking job in Connecticut? Senior LTL linehaul with OT (Old Dominion, Saia, ABF Teamster) in NYC-metro-adjacent lanes, or specialty X-endorsed tanker. $85,000–$105,000+ achievable.
Is Connecticut a good state for truck drivers? Nominal wages are above national; cost of living (especially in Fairfield County) materially offsets the advantage. Drivers in Hartford area or Eastern CT get better real purchasing power. Good choice for drivers willing to commute into NYC-metro freight.
How does Connecticut compare to Massachusetts? Massachusetts median ($62,870) is slightly above Connecticut's ($60,640) per CALC-13. Both have similar high cost of living profiles. Massachusetts has more port freight (Boston); Connecticut has more insurance/aerospace + NYC-metro adjacency.
What are the largest carriers hiring in Connecticut in 2026? Old Dominion, Saia, XPO, FedEx Freight, ABF Freight, Schneider, Werner, NFI, Stop & Shop grocery dedicated, Kenan Advantage.
Sources
-
BLS OEWS 53-3032 National. https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes533032.htm ↩
-
BLS OEWS Connecticut State. https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_ct.htm ↩↩↩
-
BEA Regional Price Parities. https://www.bea.gov/data/prices-inflation/regional-price-parities-state-and-metro-area ↩↩↩
-
BLS OEWS Metropolitan Area. Hartford MSA: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_25540.htm · Bridgeport-Stamford MSA: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_14860.htm · New Haven MSA: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_35300.htm · All CT MSAs: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oessrcma.htm ↩↩↩
