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

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

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

Texas employs one of the largest populations of heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers in the U.S., anchored by the Houston petrochemical corridor, the Dallas–Fort Worth distribution megahub, the I-35 / I-10 / I-20 interstate backbone, and the Laredo–El Paso cross-border freight complex. This guide extracts the 2026-verified Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data for Texas, pairs it with the top metros and the carriers that actually hire in-state, and puts it in the context of the national $57,440 median annual wage reported 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
• Texas state employment: one of the largest in the U.S. for heavy and tractor-trailer drivers — typically in the top three nationwide by headcount, per BLS state-level OEWS tables.³
• Texas state annual wage pattern is close to national; state median tracks near the national figure, with Houston and DFW MSAs above state median and smaller metros below.
• Top paying Texas metros: Houston, DFW, San Antonio for general freight; Laredo and El Paso carry border-freight premiums on cross-border dispatches.
• Dominant freight segments: petroleum / petrochemical (Gulf Coast); cross-border (Laredo is the #1 U.S.–Mexico land port by truck freight value); distribution/general merchandise (DFW); oilfield (Permian Basin); automotive (Arlington, San Antonio); refrigerated (produce corridors).
• Pay premium endorsements for Texas freight: Hazmat (H), Tanker (N), and especially the Hazmat + Tanker (X) combination unlock the highest-paying common Texas lanes (bulk fuel and chemical tanker).
• Cross-reference: Texas CDL process is covered in the Texas CDL Requirements guide.

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

Figures above are presented as verified-pattern ranges from BLS state OEWS tables for the May 2024 reference period; for the exact cell value on any given date, cite the current BLS Texas state table above. Ranges, not point estimates, are used intentionally — OEWS estimates revise with each annual release.

How Texas Compares to the National Median

The national median annual wage for heavy and tractor-trailer drivers (SOC 53-3032) was $57,440 as of May 2024, with the truck transportation industry median at $59,570.¹² Texas state median tracks close to that national figure, with meaningful variation across metros:

• Above state median: Houston, DFW, San Antonio (strong petroleum/chemical + distribution corridors).
• Near state median: Austin, El Paso.
• Below state median: Rural East Texas, West Texas excluding Permian, Valley (Brownsville, McAllen) for general freight — though Valley produce/border work can exceed median on specific lanes.

Cost-of-living context is genuinely favorable vs. coastal states. BEA Regional Price Parities for Texas are near the national index (100.0), slightly below for most non-major-metro areas, meaning Texas driver pay often delivers higher real purchasing power per dollar earned than coastal-state equivalents with similar nominal pay.⁴

Top Texas Metros for Truck Drivers

Houston (Houston–The Woodlands–Sugar Land MSA)

The single largest trucking metro in Texas by both employment and pay band, driven by: - Port of Houston — second-largest tonnage port in the U.S.; heavy intermodal drayage, container work, and project cargo. - Petrochemical corridor — La Porte, Baytown, Texas City, Pasadena concentrate refineries, bulk chemical, and tanker terminals. Hazmat + Tanker (X) work is abundant. - Distribution — significant dry van + refrigerated freight between the Gulf Coast and national distribution networks.

Houston MSA OEWS typically posts above the state mean, driven by the specialty tanker and chemical premium. Current city metro estimates available at https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_26420.htm.⁵

Dallas–Fort Worth (Dallas–Fort Worth–Arlington MSA)

The largest inland freight megahub in the U.S. South: - Amazon, FedEx, UPS, Walmart, Home Depot, Lowe's, Costco — all operate major DFW distribution centers. - Alliance Global Logistics Hub (north Fort Worth) — BNSF intermodal + air freight + warehouse cluster. - I-35, I-20, I-30, I-45, I-635 convergence — highest intersection density of major freight interstates in the South. - Dedicated and private-fleet density — Walmart Private Fleet, Sysco, Pepsi, JB Hunt DCS all run significant DFW operations.

DFW MSA OEWS pay tracks at or slightly above state mean. Current data: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_19100.htm.⁵

San Antonio (San Antonio–New Braunfels MSA)

Automotive + general distribution: - Toyota Manufacturing Texas (San Antonio plant) — dedicated auto-haul and parts freight. - Holt Cat, USAA, HEB distribution — major in-metro freight generators. - I-10 west + I-35 south corridor.

San Antonio MSA wages track close to state median. Data: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_41700.htm.⁵

Laredo (Laredo MSA)

The #1 U.S.–Mexico land port by truck freight value, handling a meaningful share of all U.S.–Mexico surface trade. Unique freight profile: - Cross-border drayage between Laredo bonded warehouses and Mexican manufacturing zones. - Short-haul cross-border runs ($200–$500 paid per short run depending on contract type). - Customs-broker integration adds process complexity but premium rates per run.

Laredo MSA OEWS sometimes posts near state median on headline wage, but per-hour effective pay on cross-border runs is often above state headline because of run density and accessorial structure.⁵

El Paso (El Paso MSA)

Second-largest U.S.–Mexico cross-border freight metro in Texas, paired with I-10 east-west connectivity. Smaller than Laredo for pure cross-border but significant for western U.S. distribution chains.

Permian Basin (Midland–Odessa MSAs)

Oilfield-services freight — not classified as general trucking in OEWS but significant driver employment: - Frac water hauling (N endorsement), sand and proppant, oilfield equipment moves. - Pay bands often exceed general state median when oil prices are elevated; cyclical with energy commodity prices.

Major Freight Industries Driving Texas Pay

Major Carriers Hiring in Texas

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

• Mega OTR / Regional: Schneider (multiple TX terminals), Werner Enterprises (HQ Nebraska, TX regional strong), CR England, Heartland Express, Covenant Transport, Knight-Swift (HQ Phoenix, TX regional), Stevens Transport (HQ Dallas — strong local presence).
• Dedicated / private fleet: Walmart Private Fleet (multiple TX DCs), Sysco (TX regional hubs), Pepsi / Frito-Lay (statewide), UPS Freight / TForce, FedEx Freight, McLane (HQ Temple, TX — massive in-state presence), HEB distribution.
• LTL: Old Dominion, Saia, XPO Logistics, Estes Express, ABF Freight, FedEx Freight, R+L Carriers — all with major TX terminal networks.
• Flatbed / specialty: Maverick Transportation (HQ Arkansas, strong TX lanes), Melton Truck Lines, TMC Transportation.
• Tanker / petroleum: Kenan Advantage Group, Groendyke Transport (strong TX operations), Trimac Transportation, RKA Petroleum, local fuel distributors (Pilot Flying J, Love's, major independent haulers).
• Auto-haul: Jack Cooper, Cassens Transport (Toyota Manufacturing Texas serves), United Road.
• Cross-border specialist: Central Transport Mexico, Landstar Ligon (cross-border-capable), multiple Laredo-based custom operators.

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

Pay by Route Type Within Texas

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

• OTR from Texas origin: $62–$85k; I-35, I-10, I-20 all converge in TX making outbound OTR loads plentiful.
• Regional (Texas + LA/OK/NM/AR/LA/MS): $68–$90k.
• Local / home-daily: $50–$85k; petroleum local exceeds range at $80–$110k+ with X endorsement.
• Dedicated: $65–$95k; private fleet (Walmart, McLane, HEB, Sysco) often higher end.
• Owner-operator: highly variable — $70–$150k net range for single-truck operators depending on lane, carrier, and lease/ownership structure.

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.

Texas CDL and Licensing

Getting a CDL in Texas is covered in depth in the dedicated guide: Texas CDL Requirements: Classes, Fees, ELDT, and the DPS Process. Key Texas specifics that affect pay eligibility:

• Issuing agency: Texas DPS (not DMV).
• Core fees: $97 new CDL, $25 CLP, $61 CDL with Hazmat.
• 14-day CLP holding period before skills test.
• FMCSA ELDT required via registered Training Provider Registry provider.
• 8-year renewal cycle.

For drivers targeting the highest Texas pay bands (petroleum / chemical X-endorsed lanes), the endorsement add-on process is covered in the Hazmat (H) guide, Tanker (N) guide, and the combined X endorsement guide.

FAQs

How much does a truck driver make in Texas in 2026? The Texas state median annual wage for heavy and tractor-trailer drivers (SOC 53-3032) tracks close to the national $57,440 median reported by BLS OEWS for May 2024.¹ Experienced drivers on specialty freight (bulk fuel tanker, chemical tanker, LTL linehaul at majors) push into the $75–$110k range. Entry-level drivers in their first year typically earn in the $40–$50k range.

What is the highest-paying trucking job in Texas? Bulk fuel and chemical tanker work — requiring the X (Hazmat + Tanker) endorsement combination — is the highest-paying common CDL lane in Texas, concentrated on the Houston petrochemical corridor. Experienced X-endorsed drivers commonly gross $75–$110k+ in 2026 with strong benefits. Senior LTL linehaul (Old Dominion, Saia) can match or exceed this with OT.

Where in Texas do truck drivers get paid the most? Houston MSA typically leads the state on pay due to petrochemical concentration. DFW follows on distribution density. Laredo posts premium effective per-hour pay on cross-border lanes despite a lower headline metro wage. Verify current metro figures at the BLS MSA table for each Texas MSA.⁵

Is Texas a good state for truck drivers? For most drivers, yes — Texas combines a large freight base (I-35, I-10, I-20, Gulf Coast ports, Mexico-border freight), lower cost of living than coastal states, and concentrated hiring by mega-carriers, dedicated fleets, and specialty tanker operations. Nominal pay tracks near the national median; real purchasing power is typically higher than in coastal high-pay states.

How does Texas truck driver pay compare to California? California's nominal mean typically exceeds Texas nominal mean for heavy and tractor-trailer drivers, primarily driven by port drayage and cost-of-living-adjusted wage bases. However, after accounting for state-level cost of living (BEA Regional Price Parities), Texas often delivers higher real purchasing power for comparable experience bands. See the forthcoming California state salary guide for the full comparison.

Can I make six figures as a truck driver in Texas? Yes, but it typically requires specialty freight or specialty experience. Common paths: X-endorsed bulk petroleum / chemical tanker; senior LTL linehaul at Old Dominion or Saia; top-tier private fleet dedicated (Walmart Private Fleet, McLane); well-run owner-operator business on specialty freight. Mainstream dry-van OTR rarely reaches six figures in Texas without aggressive mileage + accessorials + bonuses.

What are the largest carriers hiring in Texas in 2026? Based on public recruiting activity: Schneider, Werner, CR England, Stevens Transport (HQ Dallas), McLane (HQ Temple), Walmart Private Fleet, Sysco, Kenan Advantage (tanker), Old Dominion, Saia, Maverick Transportation. Always verify current openings and pay bands via the carrier's recruiting portal.

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