Truck Driver Salary in Missouri (2026): BLS OEWS Data, Top Metros & Carriers
Last verified: 2026-04-20 against BLS OEWS 53-3032 May 2024 release, Missouri Economic Research and Information Center data, and carrier-published pay bands.
Missouri's freight economy centers on two metropolitan hubs: St. Louis (where I-44, I-55, I-64, and I-70 converge) and Kansas City (major BNSF and UP intermodal, split across the MO-KS state line). Add Boeing defense manufacturing in St. Louis, Mississippi and Missouri river freight, and significant agricultural hauling, and Missouri sits as a major Midwestern trucking state. This guide extracts BLS OEWS for Missouri against the national $57,440 median for SOC 53-3032 (May 2024).1
Key Takeaways
- BLS OEWS 53-3032, May 2024 — MO median annual wage: $54,780.3 That's $2,660 below national — roughly 4.6% below national.1
- MO state employment: ~47,480 heavy and tractor-trailer drivers — top-ten state employment.3
- Top paying MO metros: St. Louis MSA (MO-IL multi-state; major convergence); Kansas City MSA (MO-KS multi-state; major intermodal).
- Dominant freight segments: St. Louis 4-Interstate convergence; Kansas City intermodal (BNSF, UP); Mississippi/Missouri River inland ports; Boeing defense manufacturing; automotive (historical + current supply chain); agricultural (corn, soybeans, cattle, hogs).
- Pay premium endorsements: Hazmat (H), Tanker (N), Doubles/Triples (T).
- Cross-reference: Missouri CDL Requirements guide.
MO Truck Driver Wages — BLS OEWS 53-3032 State Data
BLS OEWS state data for SOC 53-3032 in MO, May 2024 reference period. Verify at https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_mo.htm.3
| Metric | Value | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Annual median (50th percentile) | $54,780 | BLS OEWS state cell, May 2024.3 |
| Annual mean wage | ~$56,000–$58,000 | Mean above median. |
| Annual 10th percentile | ~$36,500–$38,500 | Entry-level. |
| Annual 25th percentile | ~$44,500–$47,000 | |
| Annual 75th percentile | ~$66,000–$70,500 | Experienced dedicated, intermodal, LTL. |
| Annual 90th percentile | ~$79,500–$86,000 | LTL linehaul seniority, specialty tanker, Boeing dedicated. |
| State employment | ~47,480 | 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 MO Compares to National
MO's $54,780 state median runs $2,660 below national.13 BEA RPP shows Missouri below national — strong real purchasing power on MO median pay.4
Metro variation: - Above state median: St. Louis MSA, Kansas City MSA. - Near state median: Springfield MO, Columbia. - Below state median: Rural MO, Joplin.
Top MO Metros for Truck Drivers
St. Louis (St. Louis MO-IL MSA)
The freight-convergence hub: - I-44 (OKC-STL), I-55 (NOLA-Chicago), I-64 (KY-STL), I-70 (DC-Calif) converge at or near St. Louis. - Boeing Defense, Space & Security (formerly McDonnell-Douglas site) — major aerospace freight. - Anheuser-Busch InBev brewery HQ + distribution. - Mississippi River inland port — bulk commodities. - Union Pacific + CSX intermodal operations.
St. Louis MSA OEWS posts above MO state mean. Current MSA data: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_41180.htm.5
Kansas City (Kansas City MO-KS MSA)
Major intermodal hub: - BNSF + Union Pacific + KCS intermodal facilities (mostly on Kansas side but MO drivers serve both). - Amazon, FedEx, UPS distribution. - Ford Kansas City Assembly (Claycomo) — Ford transit and F-150 production. - Hallmark Cards + related.
KC MSA OEWS posts above MO state mean. Current MSA data: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_28140.htm.5
Springfield MO (Springfield MO MSA)
Southwest Missouri — I-44 corridor + Bass Pro Shops HQ + O'Reilly Auto Parts HQ. Dedicated carrier demand for O'Reilly distribution. Tracks near state median.5
Columbia, Jefferson City, Joplin
Smaller metros. Columbia (University of Missouri) + Jefferson City (state capital) + Joplin (SW MO on I-44). Typically below state median.5
Major Freight Industries Driving MO Pay
| Industry | Freight footprint | Endorsement fit | Pay band notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| St. Louis 4-Interstate convergence | Metro-wide | None required; H helps | $60–$85k experienced OTR/regional. |
| Kansas City intermodal | KC metro BNSF/UP/KCS ramps | H for hazmat; TWIC possible | Drayage $62–$82k experienced. |
| Boeing defense St. Louis | McDonnell-Douglas site + suppliers | Specialty training | $68–$92k experienced. |
| Automotive (Ford Claycomo, GM historical) | KC Ford Assembly + tier-1 | Specialty training | $65–$88k experienced. |
| LTL linehaul | Statewide (ODFL, Saia, XPO, ABF, FedEx Freight, YRC/Yellow historical KC) | T valuable | Senior $78–$100k+. |
| Mississippi/Missouri River bulk | STL river ports + tributary | N for bulk | $60–$82k. |
| Agricultural / livestock | Statewide grain, cattle, hogs | None required | Seasonal $55–$78k. |
| Tanker / petroleum | Statewide fuel distribution | N+H | $68–$92k experienced. |
| O'Reilly Auto Parts distribution | Springfield MO HQ + distribution | None required | Dedicated $60–$82k. |
Major Carriers Hiring in MO
- Mega OTR / Regional: Schneider, Werner, CR England, Covenant, Prime Inc. (HQ Springfield MO — major MO employer), Heartland Express, Knight-Swift, USA Truck (historically).
- LTL: Old Dominion, Saia, XPO Logistics, ABF Freight, FedEx Freight, Estes Express, Yellow/YRC (historically KC-based), Dayton Freight, Averitt.
- Dedicated / private fleet: Walmart Private Fleet, Target, Home Depot, Costco, Amazon, O'Reilly Auto Parts distribution (Springfield MO HQ).
- Intermodal (KC): Multiple regional operators; Hub Group, JB Hunt Intermodal with KC operations.
- Auto-haul: Jack Cooper, Cassens Transport — serving Ford Claycomo + area dealer distribution.
- Tanker / petroleum: Kenan Advantage Group, local fuel distributors.
- MO-HQ specialty: Prime Inc. (Springfield — major OTR), O'Reilly Auto Parts (Springfield), AB InBev logistics (St. Louis), Boeing defense freight.
Pay by Route Type
- OTR: $60–$82k. STL and KC origin loads on four converging Interstates.
- Regional (MO + KS/IL/IA/NE/AR): $64–$85k.
- Local / home-daily: $50–$80k; KC intermodal drayage $62–$82k.
- Dedicated: $64–$90k; auto-dedicated (Ford Claycomo) $65–$88k.
- LTL linehaul: $78–$100k+ senior.
- Prime Inc. Springfield: Company driver bands + lease-operator programs — variable.
- Owner-operator: variable $65–$135k net.
Use CPM → Annual Salary calculator + Lease vs Company vs Owner-Op calculator.
MO CDL and Licensing
Missouri CDL Requirements guide. Missouri Department of Revenue; $44 CLP (bundled $25 exam + $10 transaction + $9 processing); ~$83 CDL first-time; age-tiered validity (6 years for 21-69; 3 years for 18-20 and 70+).
FAQs
How much does a truck driver make in Missouri in 2026? MO state median for SOC 53-3032 is $54,780 per BLS OEWS May 20243 — approximately 4.6% below national $57,440.1 Experienced drivers on specialty freight (senior LTL, Boeing dedicated, auto-dedicated, KC intermodal) push into $78–$100k. Entry-level drivers earn $38–$46k year one.
What is the highest-paying trucking job in Missouri? Senior LTL linehaul at St. Louis / KC area majors with T endorsement is commonly the highest-paying conventional CDL-A lane — experienced drivers exceed $82–$100k. Boeing defense dedicated, Ford Claycomo auto-dedicated, specialty tanker (X-endorsed) can match.
Where in MO do truck drivers get paid the most? St. Louis MSA (4-Interstate convergence + Boeing) and Kansas City MSA (intermodal + Ford + distribution) lead. Springfield (O'Reilly + Prime Inc. HQ) tracks near state median. Rural MO below.
Is MO a good state for truck drivers? Yes — Prime Inc. HQ in Springfield is one of the largest reefer carriers in the country + major MO employer. O'Reilly Auto Parts HQ in Springfield + AB InBev HQ in STL + Boeing STL add HQ/dedicated density. St. Louis 4-Interstate convergence delivers abundant OTR opportunities. Cost of living favorable.
How does MO truck driver pay compare to Kansas? MO state median ($54,780) is close to KS state median (typically ~$57,000 per BLS OEWS May 2024 — KS slightly higher). Both states share the KC metro and similar cost-of-living profile. Prime Inc. (Springfield MO HQ) gives MO some specialty upper-tail.
Can I make six figures as a truck driver in Missouri? Yes. Senior LTL linehaul at STL/KC majors; Prime Inc. senior reefer specialty; Boeing defense dedicated; Ford Claycomo auto-dedicated; specialty tanker with X endorsement; specialty owner-operator.
What are the largest carriers hiring in MO in 2026? Prime Inc. (Springfield HQ), Schneider, Werner, Old Dominion, Saia, XPO, FedEx Freight, Walmart Private Fleet, O'Reilly Auto Parts (Springfield), Ford Claycomo dedicated carriers, Boeing defense specialty freight carriers. Verify current pay bands via each recruiting portal.
I drive for Prime Inc. What's unique? Prime Inc. is one of the largest reefer-focused OTR carriers in the US, HQ Springfield MO. Known for the Prime Driver Training program and substantial lease-operator program. Company drivers and lease operators have significant MO-based presence. Specialty reefer freight offers training premium.
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 — Missouri."
https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_mo.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." St. Louis MO-IL MSA:
https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_41180.htm· Kansas City MO-KS MSA:https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_28140.htm· Springfield MO MSA:https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_44180.htm· Columbia MO:https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_17860.htm· All MO MSAs:https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oessrcma.htm↩↩↩↩
