Truck Driver Salary in Virginia (2026): BLS OEWS Data, Top Metros & Carriers
Last verified: 2026-04-20 against BLS OEWS 53-3032 May 2024 release, Virginia Employment Commission data, and carrier-published pay bands.
Virginia's freight economy is anchored by the Port of Virginia (Norfolk-Hampton Roads) — the largest East Coast container port south of the Port of New York and New Jersey — and the Northern Virginia data center / federal distribution complex. I-95, I-81, I-64, and I-77 together give Virginia dense interstate coverage for both East Coast N-S freight and Appalachian E-W movement. This guide extracts BLS OEWS for Virginia against the national $57,440 median for SOC 53-3032 (May 2024).1
Key Takeaways
- BLS OEWS 53-3032, May 2024 — VA median annual wage: $56,170.3 That's $1,270 below national — roughly 2.2% below national.1
- VA state employment: ~41,870 heavy and tractor-trailer drivers.3
- Top paying VA metros: Virginia Beach–Norfolk–Newport News MSA (Port of Virginia drayage); Washington-DC metro VA counties (NoVA data center + federal distribution); Richmond MSA.
- Dominant freight segments: Port of Virginia drayage; NoVA data center construction and equipment delivery; federal / military freight (DC-adjacent); I-95 LTL linehaul; Shenandoah Valley / I-81 freight; agricultural (poultry, seafood, specialty).
- Pay premium endorsements: Hazmat (H), Tanker (N), Doubles/Triples (T). TWIC for Port of Virginia terminal access.
- Cross-reference: Virginia CDL Requirements guide.
VA Truck Driver Wages — BLS OEWS 53-3032 State Data
BLS OEWS state data for SOC 53-3032 in VA, May 2024 reference period. Verify at https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_va.htm.3
| Metric | Value | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Annual median (50th percentile) | $56,170 | BLS OEWS state cell, May 2024.3 |
| Annual mean wage | ~$57,500–$59,500 | Mean above median; port + data center + LTL upper-tail. |
| Annual 10th percentile | ~$37,000–$39,500 | Entry-level. |
| Annual 25th percentile | ~$45,500–$47,500 | |
| Annual 75th percentile | ~$67,000–$71,500 | Experienced drayage, LTL, data center specialty. |
| Annual 90th percentile | ~$81,000–$87,500 | LTL linehaul seniority, Port of Virginia specialty, data center mission-critical delivery. |
| State employment | ~41,870 | 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 VA Compares to National
VA's $56,170 state median runs $1,270 below national.13 NoVA (Loudoun, Prince William, Fairfax) posts well above state median on federal/data-center dedicated; Hampton Roads port specialty lifts the upper tail.
Metro variation: - Above state median: NoVA counties (Loudoun, Fairfax, Prince William), Hampton Roads Port area. - Near state median: Richmond MSA, Roanoke MSA. - Below state median: Rural southside Virginia, Valley region general freight.
BEA RPP shows Virginia near national, with NoVA substantially above and rural VA below.4
Top VA Metros for Truck Drivers
Virginia Beach–Norfolk–Newport News MSA (Hampton Roads)
Port of Virginia + military freight: - Port of Virginia container and bulk terminals (Norfolk International Terminals, Virginia International Gateway, Newport News Marine Terminal). Drayage demand is dense — competing with Savannah for East Coast container share. - Norfolk Naval Base + Langley AFB + Fort Eustis — military freight demand. - I-64 / I-664 corridor to Richmond and west.
Hampton Roads MSA OEWS posts above VA state mean. Current MSA data: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_47260.htm.5
Washington DC Metro (Northern Virginia — Arlington, Fairfax, Loudoun, Prince William)
Federal distribution + data center freight: - Data Center Alley (Loudoun County) — massive data center construction and operational equipment delivery. Specialty high-weight, often time-critical. - Federal agency distribution (Pentagon, DoD supply, federal contractors). - Dulles International Airport cargo.
DC-metro VA counties post above VA state mean. NoVA metro data: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_47900.htm.5
Richmond (Richmond MSA)
State capital + regional distribution + manufacturing: - Philip Morris (Richmond HQ), Dominion Energy distribution, Capital One financial services logistics. - I-95 freight corridor. - CSX rail intermodal.
Richmond MSA tracks at or near state median. Data: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_40060.htm.5
Roanoke / Shenandoah Valley
I-81 north-south freight corridor through the Shenandoah Valley — major through-traffic but moderate per-metro freight employment. Wages track near state median.5
Winchester
Shenandoah Valley region, adjacent to West Virginia Panhandle and NoVA; significant DC-metro overflow distribution.5
Major Freight Industries Driving VA Pay
| Industry | Freight footprint | Endorsement fit | Pay band notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Port of Virginia drayage | Hampton Roads container terminals | H for hazmat; TWIC for terminal access | Drayage $65–$90k experienced. |
| NoVA data center freight | Loudoun / Prince William data centers | None required (specialty handling training) | Mission-critical $70–$95k. |
| Federal / military freight | DC-adjacent + Hampton Roads military | H/N for munitions (specialty carriers) | $68–$92k. |
| LTL linehaul | I-95 / I-81 corridors (ODFL, Saia, XPO, ABF, FedEx Freight) | T highly valuable | Senior $80–$105k+. |
| Tanker / petroleum | Hampton Roads + Richmond fuel distribution | N+H | $70–$95k experienced. |
| Agricultural / poultry / seafood | Eastern Shore + Shenandoah Valley | None required | $55–$78k. |
Major Carriers Hiring in VA
- Port of Virginia drayage: Multiple regional operators; Schneider, Werner, JB Hunt, Hub Group with port operations.
- LTL: Old Dominion, Saia, XPO Logistics, ABF Freight, FedEx Freight, Estes Express, R+L Carriers, TForce, Averitt Express.
- Mega OTR / Regional: Schneider, Werner, CR England, Heartland.
- Dedicated / private fleet: Walmart Private Fleet (multiple VA DCs), Target, Home Depot, Lowe's, Costco, Amazon, Kroger / Food Lion, Publix regional.
- NoVA data center dedicated: Various carriers serving hyperscale data center construction and equipment.
- Federal / military: Landstar, multiple federal-clearance carriers.
- Tanker / petroleum: Kenan Advantage Group, local fuel distributors.
- VA-HQ: Estes Express Lines (HQ Richmond — major VA employer, family-owned LTL).
Verify current VA openings at each carrier's recruiting site.
Pay by Route Type
- OTR: $60–$82k.
- Regional (VA + NC/MD/WV/DC): $64–$86k.
- Local / home-daily: $52–$82k; Port of Virginia drayage $65–$90k effective.
- Dedicated: $65–$92k; NoVA data center specialty $70–$95k.
- LTL linehaul (Estes Richmond HQ drivers, I-95 corridor): $80–$105k+ senior.
- Owner-operator: variable $68–$140k net.
Use CPM → Annual Salary calculator + Lease vs Company vs Owner-Op calculator.
VA CDL and Licensing
Virginia CDL Requirements guide. Virginia DMV; $3 CLP (one of lowest), $64 CDL, $1/year/endorsement; 8-year cycle on birthday; 3-strike classroom rule; non-domiciled CDLs stopped.
FAQs
How much does a truck driver make in Virginia in 2026? VA state median annual wage for SOC 53-3032 is $56,170 per BLS OEWS May 20243 — approximately 2.2% below national $57,440.1 Experienced drivers on specialty freight (Estes LTL linehaul, Port drayage, NoVA data center dedicated) push into $80–$105k. Entry-level drivers earn $40–$48k year one.
What is the highest-paying trucking job in Virginia? Senior LTL linehaul at Estes Express (HQ Richmond), Old Dominion, Saia, XPO, ABF, FedEx Freight with T endorsement is commonly the highest-paying conventional CDL-A lane, with experienced drivers exceeding $85–$105k. Port of Virginia drayage specialty (TWIC-equipped seniors), NoVA data center mission-critical dedicated, and specialty tanker (X-endorsed) can match this.
Where in VA do truck drivers get paid the most? Hampton Roads MSA leads on port drayage premium. NoVA counties (Loudoun, Fairfax, Prince William) lead on data center + federal dedicated. Richmond and Roanoke track near state median. Verify at BLS metro tables.5
Is VA a good state for truck drivers? Yes — diverse freight economy (port, data center, federal, agriculture, LTL). Estes Express (HQ Richmond) is one of the largest privately-held LTL carriers in the country and a major VA employer. Cost of living is favorable outside NoVA. Mountain-pass driving on I-81 in winter adds skill premium.
How does VA truck driver pay compare to Maryland? VA state median ($56,170) runs below MD state median (typically ~$56,700). Both states are near national. VA's LTL linehaul concentration (Estes HQ + multiple carriers) and Port of Virginia give some upper-tail advantage; MD has Port of Baltimore and DC-metro distribution density.
Can I make six figures as a truck driver in Virginia? Yes. Senior LTL linehaul at Estes Richmond HQ; specialty tanker with X endorsement; NoVA data center mission-critical dedicated; Walmart Private Fleet; well-run owner-operator on Port of Virginia drayage or specialty freight.
What are the largest carriers hiring in VA in 2026? Estes Express Lines (HQ Richmond), Old Dominion, Saia, XPO, ABF, FedEx Freight, Walmart Private Fleet, Schneider, Werner, Hub Group Port drayage. Verify current pay bands via each recruiting portal.
I drive Port of Virginia drayage. What credentials? TWIC (Transportation Worker Identification Credential) from TSA is commonly required by terminal operators. Class A CDL baseline. Hazmat endorsement for placarded containers.6
Data center dedicated — what's unique? NoVA data center freight includes hyperscale equipment (server racks, PDUs, cooling units, generators). Loads are often oversize/overweight (permits required), high-value, and time-critical. Carriers train on specialty handling. Pay premium for mission-critical delivery experience.
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 — Virginia."
https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_va.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." Virginia Beach–Norfolk–Newport News MSA:
https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_47260.htm· Washington DC Metro (includes NoVA):https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_47900.htm· Richmond MSA:https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_40060.htm· Roanoke MSA:https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_40220.htm· All VA MSAs:https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oessrcma.htm↩↩↩↩↩↩ -
TSA TWIC program.
https://www.tsa.gov/for-industry/twic↩
