Truck Driver Salary in Minnesota (2026): BLS OEWS Data, Top Metros & Carriers
Last verified: 2026-04-20 against BLS OEWS 53-3032 May 2024 release, Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development data, and carrier-published pay bands.
Minnesota's freight economy is anchored by the Twin Cities (Minneapolis–St. Paul) — a major Upper Midwest intermodal and retail distribution hub, with Target, Best Buy, 3M, and Cargill all headquartered in the metro. Add I-94 east-west transcontinental, I-35 north-south (Canada-Mexico), the Duluth-Superior Great Lakes port (iron ore, grain, coal bulk), and significant agricultural hauling (soybeans, sugar beets, dairy). MN state median pay runs above national. This guide extracts BLS OEWS for Minnesota against the national $57,440 median for SOC 53-3032 (May 2024).1
Key Takeaways
- BLS OEWS 53-3032, May 2024 — MN median annual wage: $59,780.3 That's $2,340 above national — roughly 4.1% above national.1
- MN state employment: ~31,180 heavy and tractor-trailer drivers.3
- Top paying MN metros: Minneapolis–St. Paul–Bloomington MSA (Twin Cities distribution + Target/Best Buy/3M dedicated); Duluth MSA (Great Lakes bulk port).
- Dominant freight segments: Twin Cities intermodal (BNSF + CP Rail); Target HQ / Best Buy HQ / 3M HQ / Cargill HQ dedicated; Duluth-Superior port (iron ore, grain, coal); agricultural (soybeans, sugar beets — Red River Valley); medical device (Medtronic); I-94 / I-35 corridors.
- Pay premium endorsements: Hazmat (H), Tanker (N), Doubles/Triples (T).
- Cross-reference: Minnesota CDL Requirements guide.
MN Truck Driver Wages — BLS OEWS 53-3032 State Data
BLS OEWS state data for SOC 53-3032 in MN, May 2024 reference period. Verify at https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_mn.htm.3
| Metric | Value | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Annual median (50th percentile) | $59,780 | BLS OEWS state cell, May 2024.3 |
| Annual mean wage | ~$61,500–$63,500 | Mean above median; Twin Cities + LTL upper-tail. |
| Annual 10th percentile | ~$40,000–$42,000 | Entry-level. |
| Annual 25th percentile | ~$48,500–$51,000 | |
| Annual 75th percentile | ~$72,000–$76,500 | Experienced dedicated, LTL, intermodal. |
| Annual 90th percentile | ~$86,000–$93,000 | LTL linehaul seniority, specialty tanker, medical device dedicated. |
| State employment | ~31,180 | 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 MN Compares to National
MN's $59,780 state median runs $2,340 above national.13 Twin Cities HQ concentration (Target, Best Buy, 3M, Cargill, Medtronic, UnitedHealth Group) drives dense dedicated demand. BEA RPP shows Minnesota slightly above national, with Twin Cities near national and rural MN below.4
Metro variation: - Above state median: Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington MSA. - Near state median: Duluth MSA (port premium for specialty). - Below state median: Rural MN, smaller metros (Rochester, St. Cloud).
Top MN Metros for Truck Drivers
Twin Cities (Minneapolis–St. Paul–Bloomington MSA)
Dominant MN trucking metro: - Target HQ (Minneapolis), Best Buy HQ (Richfield), 3M HQ (Maplewood), Cargill HQ (Wayzata), UnitedHealth Group HQ (Minnetonka), Medtronic (Fridley) — dense dedicated freight demand. - BNSF + CP Rail intermodal at major Twin Cities yards. - I-94 / I-35 / I-494 / I-694 convergence. - MSP International Airport cargo. - Amazon, Walmart, Costco metro DCs.
Twin Cities MSA OEWS posts above MN state mean. Current MSA data: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_33460.htm.5
Duluth (Duluth MN-WI MSA)
Great Lakes port: - Duluth-Superior port — #1 Great Lakes port by tonnage. Iron ore, grain, coal, salt, other bulk. - Mining specialty (Iron Range iron ore). - I-35 north terminus — freight movement inland.
Duluth MSA OEWS near state median. Current MSA data: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_20260.htm.5
Rochester (Rochester MN MSA)
Mayo Clinic + medical device + specialty logistics. Smaller metro; tracks near state median.5
St. Cloud, Mankato
Secondary metros on I-94 / I-90. Typically near or below state median.5
Major Freight Industries Driving MN Pay
| Industry | Freight footprint | Endorsement fit | Pay band notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Twin Cities HQ dedicated (Target/Best Buy/3M/Cargill/Medtronic) | Metro-wide corporate dedicated | Specialty training for some | $68–$92k experienced dedicated. |
| Twin Cities intermodal | BNSF + CP Rail yards | H for hazmat; TWIC possible | Drayage $65–$85k experienced. |
| LTL linehaul | Statewide (ODFL, Saia, XPO, ABF, FedEx Freight) | T valuable | Senior $82–$105k+. |
| Medical device dedicated | Medtronic Fridley + Rochester Mayo-adjacent | Specialty training + cold-chain some | $70–$95k experienced. |
| Duluth-Superior bulk | Great Lakes port | N for bulk; H for hazmat | $62–$85k experienced. |
| Agricultural (Red River Valley soybean/sugar beet, dairy) | Rural MN | None required; reefer for dairy | Seasonal $58–$82k. |
| Iron Range mining | Northeast MN | Specialty equipment | $62–$85k. |
| Tanker / petroleum | Statewide fuel distribution | N+H | $72–$98k experienced. |
Major Carriers Hiring in MN
- LTL: Old Dominion, Saia, XPO Logistics, ABF Freight, FedEx Freight, Estes Express, R+L Carriers, Averitt.
- Mega OTR / Regional: Schneider, Werner, CR England, Heartland, Knight-Swift.
- Dedicated / private fleet: Target (major Minneapolis HQ logistics), Best Buy (Richfield HQ), 3M (Maplewood HQ logistics), Cargill (Wayzata HQ — major ag dedicated), Medtronic (Fridley), UnitedHealth distribution, Walmart Private Fleet (multiple MN DCs), Amazon, Supervalu / Cub Foods (regional grocery).
- Agricultural specialty: Cargill, various ag-specialty carriers.
- Iron Range / Duluth: CN Rail-adjacent, bulk-mining operators.
- Tanker / petroleum: Kenan Advantage Group, local fuel distributors.
- MN-HQ specialty: Target, Best Buy, 3M, Cargill, Medtronic, UnitedHealth Group — all generate significant MN-based dedicated freight demand.
Pay by Route Type
- OTR: $62–$84k. I-94 + I-35 origin loads.
- Regional (MN + WI/IA/ND/SD/IL): $66–$88k.
- Local / home-daily: $54–$85k; Twin Cities intermodal $65–$85k.
- Dedicated: $68–$95k; Target / Best Buy / 3M / Cargill / Medtronic often at upper end.
- LTL linehaul: $82–$105k+ senior.
- Medical device / Medtronic dedicated: $70–$95k specialty.
- Owner-operator: variable $68–$140k net.
Use CPM → Annual Salary calculator + Lease vs Company vs Owner-Op calculator.
MN CDL and Licensing
Minnesota CDL Requirements guide. MN DPS Driver and Vehicle Services (DVS); $72 total government fees; first 2 skills-test attempts free, $20 retest 3rd+.
FAQs
How much does a truck driver make in Minnesota in 2026? MN state median for SOC 53-3032 is $59,780 per BLS OEWS May 20243 — approximately 4.1% above national $57,440.1 Experienced drivers on specialty freight (senior LTL linehaul, Target/Best Buy/3M/Cargill/Medtronic dedicated, specialty tanker) push into $85–$105k. Entry-level drivers earn $42–$50k year one.
What is the highest-paying trucking job in Minnesota? Senior LTL linehaul with T endorsement at Twin Cities-area majors is commonly the highest-paying conventional CDL-A lane — experienced drivers exceed $85–$105k. Medical device dedicated (Medtronic/Mayo), specialty tanker (X-endorsed), and top-tier HQ dedicated (Target/Best Buy/3M/Cargill) can match.
Where in MN do truck drivers get paid the most? Twin Cities metro (Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington MSA) leads by a wide margin — HQ concentration, intermodal density, LTL terminals. Duluth tracks near state median on Great Lakes bulk specialty. Rochester on medical device premium. Rural MN below.
Is MN a good state for truck drivers? Yes — Twin Cities HQ concentration (Target, Best Buy, 3M, Cargill, Medtronic, UnitedHealth) creates dense dedicated freight demand. Intermodal density is strong. Winter driving is serious — extreme cold, wind, extended winter. Cost of living favorable in rural MN.
How does MN truck driver pay compare to Iowa? MN state median ($59,780) is above IA state median (typically ~$60,590 per BLS OEWS May 2024 — IA slightly higher). Both above or near national. MN's Twin Cities HQ concentration + medical device premium give strong upper tail; IA's agricultural and John Deere are parallel strengths.
Can I make six figures as a truck driver in Minnesota? Yes. Senior LTL linehaul; medical device dedicated (Medtronic/Mayo); Target/Best Buy/3M/Cargill dedicated; specialty tanker with X endorsement; Walmart Private Fleet; well-run owner-operator on specialty freight.
What are the largest carriers hiring in MN in 2026? Based on public recruiting: Target transportation (Minneapolis HQ), Best Buy (Richfield), 3M (Maplewood), Cargill (Wayzata), Schneider, Werner, Old Dominion, Saia, XPO, Walmart Private Fleet, Amazon (multiple MN DCs). Verify current pay bands via each recruiting portal.
Winter driving in MN — what's unique? Extreme cold (consistent subzero), heavy snow, lake-effect, high winds. Anti-gel diesel additives, block heaters, heated equipment all standard. MnDOT 511 essential. Winter driving skill is a table-stakes Minnesota requirement and a real safety differentiator.
Duluth-Superior port — what's the driver landscape? Great Lakes bulk — iron ore (Iron Range), grain, coal, salt. Seasonal (April–December shipping season during non-frozen months). Specialty bulk tanker and flatbed demand. CN Rail integration for inland transport.
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 — Minnesota."
https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_mn.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." Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington MSA:
https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_33460.htm· Duluth MN-WI MSA:https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_20260.htm· Rochester MN MSA:https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_40340.htm· All MN MSAs:https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oessrcma.htm↩↩↩↩
