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

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

Last verified: 2026-04-19 against BLS OEWS 53-3032 May 2024 release, Illinois Department of Employment Security labor market data, and carrier-published pay bands as of this date.

Illinois sits at the geographic center of American freight logistics — all six Class I railroads converge in the Chicago metro (BNSF, Union Pacific, CSX, Norfolk Southern, Canadian National, CPKC), making it the nation's premier intermodal hub. That concentration, paired with I-80 / I-55 / I-57 / I-94 convergence, drives Illinois median truck driver pay meaningfully above the national figure and creates one of the densest dedicated-carrier employment bases in the country. This guide extracts the 2026-verified BLS OEWS data for Illinois, 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 — Illinois median annual wage: $60,290.³ That's $2,850 above the national $57,440 median — roughly 5.0% above national.¹
• Illinois state employment: ~75,550 heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers — one of the top-five state totals nationally per BLS state OEWS.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 Illinois metros: Chicago–Naperville–Elgin MSA (intermodal + LTL linehaul premium); smaller metros (Rockford, Peoria, Springfield, Champaign-Urbana) track near state median.
• Dominant freight segments: intermodal drayage (Chicago's six Class I railroads), LTL linehaul (Old Dominion, Saia, XPO, ABF, FedEx Freight all run major Chicago-area terminals), private fleet (Walmart, Target, Home Depot, McMaster-Carr), manufacturing (Caterpillar, John Deere, Navistar), agricultural (corn/soybean seasonal).
• Pay premium endorsements for Illinois freight: Hazmat (H), Tanker (N), Doubles/Triples (T) — the T endorsement especially valuable for Chicago-based LTL linehaul.
• Cross-reference: Illinois CDL process is covered in the Illinois CDL Requirements guide.

Illinois 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 Illinois. Numbers are pulled from the BLS state OEWS tables; verify the exact current figures at the BLS Illinois state profile: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_il.htm.³

Ranges reflect BLS OEWS state-release values with an intentional margin because OEWS revises with each annual release. The $60,290 median is a direct cell value from the May 2024 Illinois 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 Illinois median sits 5% above p50 national, with upper-tail carriers in-state routinely pushing beyond national p90.

How Illinois Compares to the National Median

Illinois' $60,290 state median runs $2,850 above the $57,440 national median for SOC 53-3032.¹³ The premium reflects Chicago's unique position: the convergence of six Class I railroads creates persistent intermodal drayage demand, and the city hosts the densest concentration of LTL major-carrier terminals in the Midwest.

Metro-level variation within Illinois is meaningful:

• Above state median: Chicago–Naperville–Elgin MSA (intermodal, LTL linehaul, private fleet dedicated).
• Near state median: Rockford, Elgin-adjacent suburban counties, Joliet-adjacent logistics parks.
• Below state median: Downstate metros (Peoria, Springfield, Champaign-Urbana), rural Illinois.

Cost-of-living context matters: BEA Regional Price Parities show Illinois slightly above the national index, driven largely by Chicago. Outside Chicago, Illinois RPP is near-national or below.⁴ Real purchasing power for a driver on Illinois state-median pay is closer to national median pay — the 5% nominal premium narrows after cost-of-living adjustment, but Chicago intermodal drayage and LTL linehaul concentrations still deliver high real income because of overtime density and specialty premiums.

Top Illinois Metros for Truck Drivers

Chicago (Chicago–Naperville–Elgin MSA)

The single largest trucking metro in Illinois — and one of the top-three freight metros in the United States by driver employment. Driven by:

• Six Class I railroads converge here. BNSF's Logistics Park Chicago (Elwood), Union Pacific's Global III (Rochelle) and Global IV (Joliet), CSX Bedford Park, Norfolk Southern Landers, Canadian National Harvey, CPKC Bensenville — all operate major intermodal facilities in the metro. Drayage demand is among the densest nationally.
• O'Hare and Midway airports generate significant air cargo dedicated lanes.
• LTL linehaul density. Old Dominion, Saia, XPO, ABF, FedEx Freight, Estes, R+L Carriers, and multiple regional LTLs all operate substantial Chicago-area terminal networks. Senior LTL linehaul seniority pay bands are a major upper-tail contributor to Illinois state median.
• Retail / e-commerce distribution. Amazon, Walmart, Target, Home Depot, Lowe's, Costco, Ulta, Meijer, and many others operate major distribution centers throughout the six-county metro.
• Food and beverage dedicated. Pepsi, Coca-Cola, ADM, US Foods, Sysco all run significant Chicago-area operations.

Chicago MSA OEWS typically posts above Illinois state mean, driven by the intermodal drayage and LTL linehaul premium. Current Chicago MSA metro estimates at https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_16980.htm.⁵

Rockford (Rockford MSA)

Regional manufacturing and distribution hub anchored by aerospace (Collins Aerospace), automotive (Chrysler Belvidere historically + current supply chain), and general manufacturing. I-39 / I-90 corridor to Chicago and Wisconsin. Rockford MSA wages typically track near or slightly below Illinois state median.⁵

Peoria (Peoria MSA)

Downstate industrial metro — Caterpillar headquartered in Peoria drives significant tier-1 heavy-equipment freight. Smaller workforce than Chicago; wages track near or below Illinois state median. Caterpillar dedicated lanes offer specialty pay premiums.⁵

Metro East (St. Louis side: East St. Louis, Belleville, Collinsville)

The Illinois side of the St. Louis MSA participates in the St. Louis freight economy — Norfolk Southern intermodal at Memphis Junction, river barge interchange, Scott Air Force Base-adjacent freight. Typically tracks at or below Illinois state median but offers connection to St. Louis metro OTR pay.⁵

Champaign–Urbana, Springfield, Bloomington

Downstate metros. Lower density, typically below state median. State capital (Springfield) and university logistics (Champaign-Urbana with University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign) generate some specialty freight.⁵

Major Freight Industries Driving Illinois Pay

Major Carriers Hiring in Illinois

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

• Mega OTR / Regional: Schneider (Chicago-area terminal), Werner Enterprises (Chicago-area hubs), US Xpress, Knight-Swift, CRST, Covenant, Heartland Express, Prime (out-of-state but hires IL drivers), Crete Carrier.
• Dedicated / private fleet: Walmart Private Fleet (multiple IL DCs), Target, Home Depot, McLane (Chicago-area DCs), Sysco, Pepsi / Frito-Lay, US Foods, Coca-Cola, Meijer, Ulta.
• LTL (major Chicago-area terminals): Old Dominion, Saia, XPO Logistics, Estes Express, ABF Freight, FedEx Freight, R+L Carriers, TForce, Dayton Freight, Averitt Express.
• Intermodal / drayage specialists: Hub Group (HQ Oak Brook — IL-based major intermodal), Schneider Intermodal, JB Hunt Intermodal (major Chicago operation), NFI, STG Logistics.
• Tanker / petroleum: Kenan Advantage Group (Chicago operations), Superior Plus Energy, local fuel distributors.
• Auto-haul: Jack Cooper, Cassens Transport, United Road — serving Chicago-area dealer distribution.
• Chicago-HQ specialty: Hub Group (Oak Brook), Echo Global Logistics (brokerage with asset relationships), Coyote Logistics (Chicago HQ, brokerage + asset relationships).

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

Pay by Route Type Within Illinois

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

• OTR from Illinois origin: $65–$85k. Chicago-area origin loads out on all four major Interstates to abundant destinations.
• Regional (IL + WI/IA/IN/MO): $68–$90k; Chicago-centered regional is among the strongest regional markets in the country.
• Local / home-daily (Chicago metro): $55–$85k; drayage + local LTL pick-up/delivery bands. Intermodal drayage clusters around Elwood-Joliet.
• Dedicated: $68–$95k; private fleet (Walmart, Target, McLane) often at the higher end.
• LTL linehaul (Chicago-based): $75–$110k+ with senior seniority — among the highest common CDL-A pay bands in the state.
• Owner-operator: highly variable — $75–$160k net range for single-truck operators on specialty freight or intermodal 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.

Illinois CDL and Licensing

Getting a CDL in Illinois is covered in depth in the dedicated guide: Illinois CDL Requirements: ILSOS Classes, Fees, and the Chicago Freight Landscape. Key Illinois specifics that affect pay eligibility:

• Issuing agency: Illinois Secretary of State (ILSOS) — not DMV.
• Core fees: transaction-specific ($50 first-time CLP, $60 CDL renewal/transfer, $65 with motorcycle, $5 add/change endorsement).
• 14-day CLP holding period (federal minimum).
• FMCSA ELDT required via registered Training Provider Registry provider.
• 4-year renewal cycle; in-person renewal only.
• IL Fast Pass skills-test scheduling system.

For drivers targeting the highest Illinois pay bands — LTL linehaul, intermodal drayage hazmat runs, specialty tanker — 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 Illinois in 2026? The Illinois state median annual wage for heavy and tractor-trailer drivers (SOC 53-3032) is $60,290 per BLS OEWS May 2024 release³ — approximately 5% above the national $57,440 median.¹ Experienced drivers on specialty freight (senior LTL linehaul at Old Dominion or Saia, specialty tanker, dedicated private fleet) commonly push into the $85–$110k range. Entry-level drivers in their first year typically earn in the $42–$50k range.

What is the highest-paying trucking job in Illinois? Senior LTL linehaul at Chicago-area majors (Old Dominion, Saia, XPO, ABF, FedEx Freight) with accumulated seniority and T (doubles/triples) endorsement is commonly the highest-paying conventional CDL-A lane in Illinois, with experienced linehaul drivers exceeding $90–$110k with OT and bonuses. Specialty tanker (X-endorsed petroleum or chemical) and specialty dedicated (Walmart Private Fleet, top-tier auto-carrier) can match this.

Where in Illinois do truck drivers get paid the most? The Chicago metro (Chicago–Naperville–Elgin MSA) leads by a wide margin, driven by intermodal drayage density, LTL linehaul concentration, and private fleet DCs. Downstate metros (Peoria, Springfield, Champaign-Urbana) pay closer to or below state median. Verify current metro figures at the BLS MSA table for each Illinois MSA.⁵

Is Illinois a good state for truck drivers? For intermodal drivers and LTL linehaul, yes — it's arguably the best state in the country given the six-railroad convergence and dense LTL carrier presence. For general OTR, Illinois offers strong origin loads in every direction on I-80, I-55, I-57, and I-94. Chicago-metro cost of living is a real factor; downstate Illinois has low cost of living and commensurately lower pay.

How does Illinois truck driver pay compare to Texas? Illinois' state median ($60,290) tops Texas' state median (typically ~$55,800 per BLS OEWS May 2024). The intermodal / LTL concentration in Chicago drives Illinois' upper tail. However, Texas offers lower cost of living (especially outside major metros) and no state income tax, so real purchasing power can favor Texas depending on the driver's role and location.

Can I make six figures as a truck driver in Illinois? Yes. Common paths: senior LTL linehaul at Old Dominion / Saia / XPO / ABF / FedEx Freight Chicago-area terminals; specialty tanker with X endorsement; Walmart Private Fleet / top-tier dedicated private fleet; well-run owner-operator on intermodal 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 Illinois in 2026? Based on public recruiting activity: Hub Group (Oak Brook HQ), Schneider, Werner, Hub Group Intermodal, JB Hunt Intermodal, Old Dominion, Saia, XPO Logistics, Walmart Private Fleet, McLane, Sysco, Kenan Advantage (tanker), FedEx Freight, Knight-Swift. Always verify current openings and pay bands via each carrier's recruiting portal.

What's the Chicago intermodal driver lifestyle like? Predominantly day-cab, home-daily or home-most-nights work — pulling containers between rail yards and warehouses across Cook, DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry, and Will counties. High run density, lots of short stops, tolling structure on the Illinois Tollway adds complexity. Pay is strong per effective hour, but the lifestyle is closer to local/regional than OTR.

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