Truck Driver Salary in New Hampshire (2026): BLS OEWS Data, Top Metros & Carriers
Last verified: 2026-04-20 against the BLS OEWS 53-3032 May 2024 release (published March 2025).
New Hampshire is a small-but-strategic trucking market: southern NH (Manchester, Nashua, Salem) sits in the Boston commuter/freight orbit, while I-93 and I-95 carry significant overnight freight into New England. No state income tax on wages is a meaningful take-home differentiator vs Massachusetts (~5% flat tax) for same-nominal drivers.
Key Takeaways
- BLS OEWS 53-3032, May 2024 — New Hampshire state median: $56,840. Employment: ~6,730.2
- NH median sits ~$600 below the national median — essentially at national nominal.
- Top paying metros: Manchester-Nashua MSA, Portsmouth (Seacoast) area, Concord MSA.
- Distinguishing features: No state income tax on wages, Boston-metro adjacency driving freight + commuter logistics, I-93 / I-95 / I-89 corridors.
New Hampshire Truck Driver Wages — BLS OEWS 53-3032 State Data
Verify at https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_nh.htm.2
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median wage | $56,840 |
| State employment | ~6,730 |
| State vs national median | −$600 (−1.0%) |
How New Hampshire Compares to the National Median
NH's $56,840 median is essentially at national.12 No state income tax on wages (NH taxes dividends/interest only) adds materially to take-home vs Massachusetts — a $56,840 NH driver keeps ~$2,800 more than same-wage MA driver.3
Top New Hampshire Metros for Truck Drivers
Manchester-Nashua MSA
- Boston-metro adjacency — southern NH is effectively north Boston freight.
- I-93 / I-293 corridor — primary Boston inbound/outbound.
- Distribution cluster — serves Greater Boston.
Data: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_31700.htm.4
Portsmouth (Seacoast)
- Portsmouth shipyard + Coast Guard.
- I-95 corridor to Boston + Maine.
Concord MSA
- State capital + regional distribution.
- I-89 / I-93 intersection.
Major Freight Industries
| Industry | Endorsement fit | Pay band |
|---|---|---|
| Boston-metro LTL overnight | T | $75–$100k+ experienced |
| Distribution to Greater Boston | None | $55–$82k |
| Seacoast port + shipyard | TWIC | $55–$80k |
| Food service / grocery dedicated | None | $55–$80k |
Major Carriers Hiring in New Hampshire
- LTL: Old Dominion, Saia, XPO, FedEx Freight, Estes, ABF Freight.
- Mega OTR: Schneider, Werner, CR England, NFI.
- Dedicated: Walmart Private Fleet, Hannaford / Market Basket distribution, Shaw's / Albertsons.
- Regional: A. Duie Pyle (PA-based but NE presence).
FAQs
How much does a truck driver make in New Hampshire in 2026? NH state median is $56,840 per BLS OEWS May 2024, with ~6,730 drivers employed.2 Essentially at national median. No state income tax means take-home is effectively above same-nominal drivers in MA/VT/ME.
Does NH's no state income tax really help drivers? Yes. For a $56,840 NH driver, the delta vs 5% MA state tax is ~$2,800 annually in take-home. Combined with Boston-adjacent freight pay potential, NH is an attractive real-pay market.
How does NH compare to Massachusetts? MA median ($62,870 per CALC-13) is higher than NH nominal, but MA has 5% state income tax plus higher cost of living especially near Boston. Many freight drivers live in southern NH and work Boston-metro freight — best of both.
What are the largest carriers hiring in NH in 2026? Old Dominion, Saia, XPO, FedEx Freight, Schneider, Werner, Walmart Private Fleet, Hannaford/Market Basket distribution.
Sources
-
BLS OEWS 53-3032 National. https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes533032.htm ↩
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BLS OEWS New Hampshire State. https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_nh.htm ↩↩↩↩
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BEA Regional Price Parities. https://www.bea.gov/data/prices-inflation/regional-price-parities-state-and-metro-area ↩
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BLS OEWS MSAs. Manchester-Nashua: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_31700.htm · All NH: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oessrcma.htm ↩
