Truck Driver Salary in Georgia (2026): BLS OEWS Data, Top Metros & Carriers

Truck Driver Salary in Georgia (2026): BLS OEWS Data, Top Metros & Carriers

Last verified: 2026-04-20 against BLS OEWS 53-3032 May 2024 release, Georgia Department of Labor market data, and carrier-published pay bands as of this date.

Georgia's freight economy is anchored by two heavyweights: Port of Savannah — a top-5 U.S. container port by volume with the Garden City and Ocean Terminal facilities — and the Atlanta distribution megahub where I-20, I-75, I-85, and I-285 converge. Nominal Georgia median pay runs below the national figure, but Port of Savannah drayage premiums and strong dedicated-fleet density (Hyundai, Kia, UPS, Home Depot) deliver strong effective pay for experienced drivers. This guide extracts the 2026-verified BLS OEWS data for Georgia, pairs it with the metros and carriers that actually hire in-state, and puts it in the context of the national $57,440 median annual wage for heavy and tractor-trailer drivers (SOC 53-3032) as of May 2024.¹

Key Takeaways

• BLS OEWS 53-3032, May 2024 — Georgia median annual wage: $55,130.³ That's $2,310 below the national $57,440 median — roughly 4.0% below national.¹
• Georgia state employment: ~65,460 heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers — top-ten state employment nationally.³
• National context: U.S. median annual wage for SOC 53-3032 is $57,440 (May 2024).¹ Truck transportation industry median: $59,570.²
• Top paying Georgia metros: Atlanta–Sandy Springs–Alpharetta MSA (distribution density); Savannah (port drayage premium).
• Dominant freight segments: Port of Savannah drayage; Atlanta distribution (retail, e-commerce, food); automotive (Hyundai Metaplant Ellabell, Kia West Point, future EV supply chain); agricultural (poultry, pecans, cotton, peanuts); forest products.
• Pay premium endorsements for Georgia freight: Hazmat (H), Tanker (N), Doubles/Triples (T) for Atlanta-area LTL linehaul.
• Cross-reference: Georgia CDL process is covered in the Georgia CDL Requirements guide.

Georgia Truck Driver Wages — BLS OEWS 53-3032 State Data

BLS publishes Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) at the state and MSA level. The table below reflects the May 2024 reference period for heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers (SOC 53-3032) in Georgia. Numbers are pulled from the BLS state OEWS tables; verify the exact current figures at the BLS Georgia state profile: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_ga.htm.³

Ranges reflect BLS OEWS state-release values with an intentional margin because OEWS revises with each annual release. The $55,130 median is a direct cell value from the May 2024 Georgia release.³

National percentile distribution for SOC 53-3032 (May 2024) for cross-state context: p10 $37,930 · p25 $46,120 · p50 $57,440 · p75 $71,990 · p90 $81,710.¹

How Georgia Compares to the National Median

Georgia's $55,130 state median runs $2,310 below the $57,440 national median for SOC 53-3032.¹³ The gap reflects the state's large employment base including meaningful downstate and rural Georgia CDL employment — Atlanta MSA and Savannah typically post above state median, while south Georgia metros and rural counties pull the state median down.

Metro-level variation within Georgia is significant:

• Above state median: Atlanta–Sandy Springs–Alpharetta MSA, Savannah MSA (port premium).
• Near state median: Augusta-Richmond County, Columbus.
• Below state median: Rural south Georgia, Valdosta, Albany, rural central Georgia.

Cost-of-living context matters: BEA Regional Price Parities show Georgia slightly below the national index.⁴ Real purchasing power for a driver on Georgia state-median pay is competitive with higher-nominal states once cost of living is accounted for — Atlanta metro RPP is near national, while outside Atlanta the cost-of-living advantage is real.

Top Georgia Metros for Truck Drivers

Atlanta (Atlanta–Sandy Springs–Alpharetta MSA)

The single largest trucking metro in Georgia and one of the top freight metros in the U.S. South by driver employment. Driven by:

• I-20 / I-75 / I-85 / I-285 convergence. Highest intersection density of major freight interstates in the Southeast.
• Retail + e-commerce distribution. Amazon, Walmart, Home Depot (HQ Atlanta), Target, Costco, UPS (HQ Atlanta), Delta Cargo — all operate major Atlanta-area distribution centers.
• Home Depot HQ. Private fleet and dedicated carrier demand for Atlanta-based mega-retailer.
• UPS WorldPort-adjacent (Louisville primary, but Atlanta operations are significant).
• Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. Busiest passenger airport in the world — significant cargo volume generates dedicated lane demand.
• Food / beverage. Coca-Cola (HQ Atlanta), Chick-fil-A, Publix regional, multiple food distributors.

Atlanta MSA OEWS typically posts above Georgia state mean, driven by distribution density and LTL linehaul concentration. Current Atlanta MSA metro estimates at https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_12060.htm.⁵

Savannah (Savannah MSA)

Georgia's port city — a top-5 U.S. container port by volume:

• Garden City Terminal and Ocean Terminal handle massive container throughput; Savannah has been growing share from East Coast peers.
• Drayage demand concentrated within ~250-mile radius of the port. Container pick-up/drop-off, port-to-warehouse, OTR outbound.
• CSX and Norfolk Southern intermodal ramps at Savannah-area rail yards.
• Hyundai Metaplant America (Ellabell, Bryan County, near Savannah) — EV manufacturing bringing expanded tier-1 supplier freight demand.

Savannah MSA OEWS posts at or above state mean, carried by port drayage and industrial freight premium. Current Savannah MSA metro estimates at https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_42340.htm.⁵

Augusta–Richmond County (Augusta MSA)

Medium-sized metro with Savannah River corridor, Fort Eisenhower (formerly Fort Gordon) military freight, and paper/forest products manufacturing. Augusta MSA wages track near state median.⁵

Columbus (Columbus GA-AL MSA)

Kia Georgia West Point manufacturing nearby + Fort Moore (formerly Fort Benning) military freight. Columbus MSA wages track near or slightly below Georgia state median.⁵

Macon–Bibb County, Athens, Valdosta

Smaller metros. Macon sits on I-75 (major through-traffic but lower per-metro freight demand than Atlanta). Valdosta on the Florida border (I-75 freight corridor). Typically below state median.⁵

Major Freight Industries Driving Georgia Pay

Major Carriers Hiring in Georgia

Large and mid-size carriers with significant Georgia hiring presence (verify current openings at each carrier's recruiting page):

• Mega OTR / Regional: Schneider, Werner, CR England, Covenant, Heartland Express, Knight-Swift, US Xpress, Stevens Transport.
• Dedicated / private fleet: Home Depot (HQ Atlanta), UPS (HQ Atlanta), Walmart Private Fleet (multiple GA DCs), Target, Costco, Amazon, Publix Supermarkets distribution, Sysco, McLane, Pepsi / Coca-Cola (Atlanta HQ), Chick-fil-A distribution.
• LTL (major Atlanta-area terminals): Old Dominion, Saia, XPO Logistics, Estes Express, ABF Freight, FedEx Freight, R+L Carriers, Averitt Express, Southeastern Freight Lines, Dayton Freight.
• Port of Savannah drayage: Multiple regional drayage operators; OTR carriers with Savannah Port operations include Schneider, Werner, JB Hunt, Landstar.
• Tanker / petroleum: Kenan Advantage Group, Groendyke Transport, Southern Transport, local fuel distributors.
• Auto-haul: Jack Cooper, Cassens Transport — serving Kia West Point and Hyundai Ellabell dealer distribution.
• Georgia-HQ specialty: UPS (Atlanta), Home Depot transportation (Atlanta), FedEx Logistics (Atlanta operations), Saia (HQ Johns Creek GA — major Georgia-based LTL).

Carrier presence here is a starting point for job search, not an exhaustive list. For each target carrier, verify current GA openings, pay bands, and DAC/MVR policies on the carrier's recruiting site or via FMCSA SAFER snapshot.

Pay by Route Type Within Georgia

Pay varies substantially by route type. Rough in-state pay bands for experienced drivers in 2026:

• OTR from Georgia origin: $60–$82k. Atlanta-area origin loads abundant on all four converging Interstates.
• Regional (GA + FL/SC/NC/AL/TN): $65–$88k; dense Southeast regional market.
• Local / home-daily: $52–$80k; Savannah drayage $65–$85k effective.
• Dedicated: $65–$92k; private fleet (Home Depot, Walmart, UPS, Target) often higher end.
• LTL linehaul (Atlanta-based): $75–$105k+ with senior seniority.
• Owner-operator: highly variable — $70–$140k net range for single-truck operators on specialty freight or Port of Savannah drayage.

Model your specific carrier offer or owner-op scenario in the CPM → Annual Salary calculator and, if relevant, the Lease vs Company vs Owner-Op calculator.

Georgia CDL and Licensing

Getting a CDL in Georgia is covered in depth in the dedicated guide: Georgia CDL Requirements: DDS Classes, Fees, and the Atlanta Freight Hub. Key Georgia specifics that affect pay eligibility:

• Issuing agency: Georgia Department of Driver Services (DDS) — not DMV.
• Core fees: $35 Commercial Application (CAP) fee (covers up to 4 test attempts), $50 road test fee, ~$127 total. Free CDL for veterans and school bus drivers.
• 14-day CLP holding period.
• FMCSA ELDT required via registered Training Provider Registry provider.
• 8-year renewal cycle.
• Only 8 DDS exam stations offer CDL road tests: Albany, Between, Brunswick, Dalton, Gainesville, Jackson, Milledgeville, Thomson.

For drivers targeting the highest Georgia pay bands — senior LTL linehaul, specialty tanker, hazmat runs — the endorsement add-on process is covered in the Hazmat (H) guide, Tanker (N) guide, Doubles/Triples (T) guide, and combined X endorsement guide.

FAQs

How much does a truck driver make in Georgia in 2026? The Georgia state median annual wage for heavy and tractor-trailer drivers (SOC 53-3032) is $55,130 per BLS OEWS May 2024 release³ — approximately 4% below the national $57,440 median.¹ Experienced drivers on specialty freight (senior LTL linehaul, port drayage, dedicated private fleet) commonly push into the $80–$105k range. Entry-level drivers typically earn $40–$48k in year one.

What is the highest-paying trucking job in Georgia? Senior LTL linehaul at Atlanta-area majors (Old Dominion, Saia — HQ in Johns Creek GA, XPO, ABF, FedEx Freight) with accumulated seniority and T endorsement is commonly the highest-paying conventional CDL-A lane in Georgia, with experienced drivers exceeding $85–$105k with OT and bonuses. Specialty tanker (X-endorsed) and top-tier dedicated (Home Depot, UPS, Walmart Private Fleet) can match this.

Where in Georgia do truck drivers get paid the most? The Atlanta metro (Atlanta–Sandy Springs–Alpharetta MSA) leads by distribution density and LTL linehaul concentration. Savannah MSA leads on per-hour effective pay for Port of Savannah drayage work given high run density. Downstate metros (Valdosta, Albany, Columbus) pay closer to or below state median. Verify current metro figures at the BLS MSA table for each Georgia MSA.⁵

Is Georgia a good state for truck drivers? Yes — Atlanta's four-Interstate convergence and Port of Savannah's container throughput create two independent freight-demand engines. Add dedicated private fleet density (Home Depot, UPS headquartered in Atlanta; Kia and Hyundai manufacturing), agricultural and forest products seasonal demand, and LTL linehaul concentration — Georgia offers diversified CDL career paths. Cost-of-living advantage vs coastal states is real outside Atlanta metro.

How does Georgia truck driver pay compare to Florida? Georgia state median ($55,130) runs slightly above Florida state median (typically ~$51,000–$52,000 per BLS OEWS May 2024). Both states are below national median. Georgia's Atlanta distribution density and LTL linehaul concentration skew upper-tail higher than Florida; Florida has no state income tax offsetting some of the difference.

Can I make six figures as a truck driver in Georgia? Yes. Common paths: senior LTL linehaul at Atlanta-area majors (Saia HQ Johns Creek, Old Dominion, XPO, ABF, FedEx Freight); specialty tanker with X endorsement; UPS or Home Depot dedicated; well-run owner-operator on Port of Savannah drayage or specialty freight. Mainstream dry-van OTR can approach but rarely consistently exceeds $100k without aggressive mileage + accessorials + bonuses.

What are the largest carriers hiring in Georgia in 2026? Based on public recruiting activity: Saia (HQ Johns Creek), UPS (HQ Atlanta), Home Depot transportation (HQ Atlanta), Walmart Private Fleet, Target, Schneider, Werner, Old Dominion, XPO Logistics, ABF Freight, Hub Group Savannah drayage, Southeastern Freight Lines (major GA footprint). Always verify current openings and pay bands via each carrier's recruiting portal.

What's Port of Savannah drayage like for a CDL-A driver? Predominantly day-cab, home-daily or home-most-nights work — pulling containers between Garden City / Ocean Terminal, area rail ramps (CSX, Norfolk Southern), and regional warehouses. TWIC credential commonly required by terminal operators. Pay is strong per effective hour given high run density; lifestyle is local/regional rather than OTR.

I work at the Hyundai Metaplant near Savannah. Any specific CDL specifics? Class A CDL baseline. Hyundai dedicated carriers handle finished-vehicle and tier-1 supplier freight. EV manufacturing supply chain is expanding; specialty tier-1 freight (batteries, cells, modules) may involve hazmat or specialty handling training over time.

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