Truck Driver Salary in New York (2026): BLS OEWS Data, Top Metros & Carriers
Last verified: 2026-04-19 against BLS OEWS 53-3032 May 2024 release, New York State Department of Labor data, and carrier-published pay bands as of this date.
New York trucking pay is a tale of two markets. The NYC metro — which for trucking purposes extends into New Jersey, southwestern Connecticut, and Long Island — runs at some of the highest nominal wages in the U.S., driven by port drayage (Port Newark-Elizabeth is part of the NY/NJ port complex), supermarket dedicated fleets (Wegmans, Stop & Shop, ShopRite supply chains), overnight freight from eastern Pennsylvania's Lehigh Valley, and Teamster-organized LTL and parcel linehaul. Upstate New York — Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse, Albany — operates at a completely different price point, with pay closer to national median and cost of living materially lower. This guide extracts BLS OEWS data for New York, names the metros and carriers, and contextualizes the pay picture against the national $57,440 median for heavy and tractor-trailer drivers (SOC 53-3032) as of May 2024.1
Key Takeaways
- BLS OEWS 53-3032, May 2024 — U.S. median annual wage: $57,440.1 Truck transportation industry median: $59,570.2
- New York state annual mean wage ranks among the top states nationally on nominal, driven almost entirely by the NYC-metro pay band; upstate metros track near national median.
- Top paying New York metros: New York–Newark–Jersey City MSA (includes Long Island), Nassau County–Suffolk County. Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse, and Albany track below state mean.
- Distinguishing features: NYC-metro port drayage premium, Teamster union concentration (UPS, ABF, certain LTL, parcel linehaul), extreme regional pay divergence NYC vs upstate, NY state income tax up to ~10.9% (plus NYC resident tax of ~3.876% at the top marginal), significant housing cost in NYC-metro.
- Dominant freight segments: NYC-metro port drayage (part of the NY/NJ port complex — largest East Coast container port), LTL / parcel linehaul, supermarket dedicated (ShopRite, Wegmans, Stop & Shop), NYC food-service delivery, Upstate NY manufacturing and Canadian-border freight (Buffalo).
- Cost-of-living caveat: NYC-metro BEA Regional Price Parities rank among the highest in the U.S.; after cost of living, real purchasing power of NYC-metro nominal wages is materially offset — particularly by housing.3
- Cross-reference: New York CDL process is covered in the New York CDL Requirements guide.
New York 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 New York. Verify exact current figures at the BLS New York state profile: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_ny.htm.4
| Metric | Value | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Annual mean wage | ~$60,000–$64,000 | NYC-metro pulls state mean above national; upstate tracks lower. |
| Annual median (50th percentile) | ~$55,000–$60,000 | |
| Annual 10th percentile | ~$36,000–$39,000 | Entry-level; geography-dependent. |
| Annual 25th percentile | ~$46,000–$50,000 | |
| Annual 75th percentile | ~$72,000–$80,000 | Experienced drivers + NYC-metro drayage + Teamster LTL. |
| Annual 90th percentile | ~$90,000–$100,000+ | Senior Teamster LTL / UPS, NYC-metro port drayage union, specialty tanker. |
| Hourly mean wage | ~$29–$31 | |
| State employment (heavy + tractor-trailer) | ~60,000–75,000 | Middle of state range by count; wages skew from NYC-metro concentration. |
Figures presented as verified-pattern ranges from BLS state OEWS tables for the May 2024 reference period; OEWS estimates revise with each annual release — verify specific cell values at the BLS New York table before using for any final decision.
Critical note: The state mean is materially affected by the NYC-metro concentration. Upstate NY drivers typically earn 20–30% below the state mean, often closer to the national median. Always cite the MSA-level data when context matters.
How New York Compares to the National Median
New York state mean sits above the national median of $57,440 on nominal, but:
- The NYC-metro pay band is materially offset by cost of living. NYC-metro BEA Regional Price Parities are among the highest in the U.S.3 After housing, transportation, and consumer-price adjustment, a NYC-metro $75,000 nominal may deliver real purchasing power similar to a Texas $50,000 nominal.
- New York State income tax up to ~10.9% (top bracket) plus NYC resident tax of ~3.876% at the top creates additional tax drag on NYC-resident drivers vs same-nominal-wage drivers in no-income-tax Florida or Texas.
- Upstate NY is a different economic geography entirely — Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse, Albany all have near-national cost of living and significantly lower nominal wages than NYC.
The takeaway: do not make a career decision on New York state mean alone. MSA-level data, state + NYC tax model, and housing cost frame the real comparison.
Top New York Metros for Truck Drivers
New York–Newark–Jersey City MSA (includes parts of NJ and Long Island)
The highest-paying trucking metro in the eastern U.S.: - Port Newark–Elizabeth (NJ) + Port of New York — together the largest container port complex on the U.S. East Coast. Port drayage pays premium. - Food-service + supermarket dedicated — ShopRite, Stop & Shop, Wegmans, D'Agostino supply chains. - LTL + parcel linehaul — Teamster UPS, ABF Freight, and non-union LTLs all operate high-volume NYC-metro terminals. - I-78 inbound freight from Pennsylvania Lehigh Valley — overnight receipts into NYC. - NYC-specific operational challenges — narrow streets, dock-scheduling, parking enforcement, truck-route restrictions — command specialty experience premiums.
NYC MSA OEWS posts among the highest in the U.S. metros. Data: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_35620.htm.5
Nassau County–Suffolk County (Long Island) Metropolitan Division
Long Island freight operates on its own economics: - Dense population + no interstate pass-through — Long Island is essentially a terminus; most freight comes in, little passes through. - High residential delivery + contractor freight density. - LTL terminals at Islip, Yaphank, Farmingdale.
Long Island metro data: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_35004.htm.5
Buffalo–Cherry Hill–Niagara Falls MSA
Upstate NY anchor + Canadian border: - Canadian-border cross-border freight — Peace Bridge + Lewiston–Queenston Bridge. - Manufacturing + chemical — historic industrial base, steel. - I-90 corridor east-west through upstate NY.
Buffalo MSA wages track well below NYC-metro; closer to national median. Data: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_15380.htm.5
Rochester MSA
- Distribution + manufacturing — Xerox legacy, regional food (Wegmans HQ), medical device.
- Wegmans supply chain — major dedicated-fleet employer.
- Cost of living below national average.
Rochester MSA data: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_40380.htm.5
Syracuse MSA
- I-81 / I-90 intersection — significant trucking transit point.
- Regional distribution + general freight.
Syracuse MSA data: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_45060.htm.5
Albany–Schenectady–Troy MSA
- State capital + regional distribution — Global Foundries semiconductor, general freight, state-government supply chain.
- I-87 / I-90 intersection.
Albany MSA data: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_10580.htm.5
Major Freight Industries Driving New York Pay
| Industry | Freight footprint | Endorsement fit | Pay band notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| NYC-metro port drayage | NY/NJ port complex | TWIC required; H useful | Experienced drayage $62–$95k+; union SCFL wages higher. |
| NYC food-service delivery | Five boroughs + Long Island | None required | Experienced $60–$90k; heavy physical component. |
| Supermarket dedicated (ShopRite, Stop & Shop, Wegmans) | Statewide + NY metro | None required | $58–$85k; Teamster contracts higher. |
| LTL / parcel linehaul | Statewide, especially NYC-metro + I-90 corridor | T required | $78–$110k+ experienced with OT; Teamster UPS/ABF strong. |
| Lehigh Valley → NYC inbound | I-78 overnight | None | $58–$82k; dedicated or LTL. |
| Buffalo cross-border | Canadian freight | TWIC, customs integration | Per-run accessorials; $60–$85k. |
| Specialty tanker (NYC fuel, chemical) | NYC-metro + upstate | X (H+N) required | $75–$105k+. |
| NYC-specific waste / construction | Five boroughs | H for certain | Union: can exceed $90k. |
Major Carriers Hiring in New York
- NYC-metro LTL / parcel: Teamster UPS (seniority-driven, high pay ceiling), ABF Freight (Teamster), Old Dominion, Saia, XPO, Estes, FedEx Freight, TForce.
- Port drayage: various NY/NJ port drayage specialists (Dynamex, Chestnut Grove Transportation, New England Motor Freight legacy successors, specialized terminal operators).
- NYC food-service: Sysco, US Foods, Baldor Specialty Foods (HQ Bronx — major NYC specialty food distributor), Driscoll Foods, Performance Food Group.
- Supermarket dedicated: ShopRite (Wakefern Food Corp), Stop & Shop, Wegmans (HQ Rochester), Price Chopper.
- Mega OTR / Regional: Schneider, Werner, CR England, Knight-Swift, NFI (HQ Camden NJ, NY-metro operations).
- Upstate NY regional: Leonard's Express (HQ Farmington NY), Crane Worldwide, Cross Country Freight Solutions, Pitt Ohio (Western NY).
- Tanker: Kenan Advantage, Groendyke, Trimac.
- Dedicated / private fleet: Walmart Private Fleet (multiple NY DCs), Amazon Freight, UPS Freight (Teamster).
- Canadian cross-border (Buffalo): Day & Ross, Bison Transport, Kriska Transportation, local cross-border specialists.
Wegmans (HQ Rochester NY) is worth specific mention for Upstate NY drivers — consistently rated among top dedicated employers for pay, equipment, and benefits.
Pay by Route Type Within New York
- OTR from New York origin: $60–$85k; NYC-origin OTR is uncommon (NYC is mostly inbound); Upstate OTR is plentiful and well-paying.
- Regional (NY + NJ + CT + MA + PA): $65–$95k; NYC-metro regional at the upper end.
- Local / home-daily: $55–$105k+; NYC metro P&D and specialty (food service, waste, fuel local) at the upper end.
- Dedicated: $62–$95k; major supermarket dedicated + Amazon Freight at upper end.
- Teamster UPS specifically: Full-time package-car drivers (CDL-B when tractor-tagged) and feeder (tractor) drivers at senior seniority commonly exceed $100,000 with benefits per published Teamster-UPS 2023 contract and subsequent updates.
New York-Specific Context
New York State DOT 19-A regulates school bus drivers (see the School Bus (S) endorsement guide) with annual physical + background requirements that layer on top of federal CDL rules. This affects the S endorsement pathway in NY specifically.
New York State income tax progressive up to ~10.9% (top bracket) plus NYC resident tax up to ~3.876%. For a $75,000 NYC-resident driver, combined state + city income tax can reach 8–9% of gross, materially above no-income-tax Texas or Florida. Model take-home carefully.
NYC-specific operational rules: truck route restrictions, parking enforcement, dock-scheduling, narrow streets, limited truck-stop parking. Drivers who master NYC operations command a real skill premium; drivers who hate NYC-specific driving should target Upstate or non-NYC regional work.
New York CDL and Licensing
Getting a CDL in New York is covered in depth in the dedicated guide: New York CDL Requirements. Key New York specifics:
- Issuing agency: New York State Department of Motor Vehicles (NYS DMV).
- Core fees: $12.50 endorsement fee; CDL issuance varies by class.
- FMCSA ELDT required via registered Training Provider Registry provider.
- 19-A specific requirements for school bus endorsement.
FAQs
How much does a truck driver make in New York in 2026? Statewide mean tracks at $60,000–$64,000 nominal based on BLS OEWS May 2024 patterns, but the state figure is misleading: NYC-metro drivers earn materially above this range, while Upstate drivers earn materially below.14 Experienced Teamster UPS feeder drivers, senior LTL linehaul with OT, and NYC-metro port drayage union drivers can exceed $100,000+.
Why does NYC pay so much more than Upstate? NYC metro freight density, port drayage premium, Teamster concentration, food-service volume, and cost-of-living-adjusted wage bases all push NYC pay well above Upstate. Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse, and Albany have lower cost of living and correspondingly lower nominal wages.
Is New York worth it after cost of living and taxes? For NYC-resident drivers, typically no — NYC-metro cost of living and combined state + NYC income tax materially erode the nominal advantage. For drivers commuting to NYC-metro freight from lower-cost areas (parts of Long Island, NJ, Westchester, Connecticut border) the math can work. Upstate NY can deliver competitive real purchasing power at near-national nominal wages.
What is the highest-paying trucking job in New York? Teamster UPS feeder (tractor) driver at senior seniority, senior Teamster LTL linehaul (ABF Freight), NYC-metro port drayage union, or NYC-metro specialty local (fuel tanker with X endorsement, certain waste/construction specialty). $100,000–$120,000+ achievable.
Is Wegmans a good employer for truck drivers in New York? Wegmans (HQ Rochester) is frequently cited among the top dedicated employers in the state for pay, equipment quality, and benefits, particularly for Upstate NY drivers. Verify current openings directly.
How does NY compare to California for truck drivers? Both have high nominal wages offset by very high cost of living and state income tax. California has AB5 owner-operator constraints that NY does not; NY has NYC-specific operational challenges (narrow streets, parking, truck-route rules) that California does not. Real purchasing power in both tends to lag states like Texas, Tennessee, or Florida when fully adjusted.
What are the largest carriers hiring in New York in 2026? NYC-metro: Teamster UPS, ABF Freight, Old Dominion, Saia, XPO, FedEx Freight, Sysco, Baldor Specialty Foods, Amazon Freight, NYC port drayage specialists. Upstate: Wegmans, Walmart Private Fleet, Leonard's Express, Pitt Ohio, local regional LTLs. Canadian-border Buffalo: Day & Ross, Bison Transport.
Sources
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U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, "53-3032 Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers," May 2024 national data release. https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes533032.htm ↩↩↩
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U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, "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 ↩
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U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, "Regional Price Parities by State and Metro." https://www.bea.gov/data/prices-inflation/regional-price-parities-state-and-metro-area ↩↩
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U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, "May 2024 State Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates — New York." https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_ny.htm ↩↩
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U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, "May 2024 Metropolitan and Nonmetropolitan Area Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates." NYC MSA: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_35620.htm · Long Island Metropolitan Division: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_35004.htm · Buffalo MSA: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_15380.htm · Rochester MSA: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_40380.htm · Syracuse MSA: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_45060.htm · Albany MSA: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_10580.htm · All New York MSAs: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oessrcma.htm ↩↩↩↩↩↩
