Truck Driver Salary in Washington (2026): BLS OEWS Data, Top Metros & Carriers
Last verified: 2026-04-20 against BLS OEWS 53-3032 May 2024 release, Washington State Employment Security Department data, and carrier-published pay bands.
Washington's freight economy is anchored by the Northwest Seaport Alliance (Port of Seattle + Port of Tacoma) — a top-5 U.S. container port — the I-5 Pacific corridor (California to Canada), Boeing manufacturing, and significant Eastern Washington agricultural hauling (apples, wheat, wine grapes, hops). Washington state median pay runs meaningfully above national. This guide extracts BLS OEWS for Washington against the national $57,440 median for SOC 53-3032 (May 2024).1
Key Takeaways
- BLS OEWS 53-3032, May 2024 — WA median annual wage: $60,290.3 That's $2,850 above national — roughly 5.0% above national.1
- WA state employment: ~31,220 heavy and tractor-trailer drivers.3
- Top paying WA metros: Seattle–Tacoma–Bellevue MSA (NW Seaport Alliance + Boeing); Spokane MSA (eastern distribution).
- Dominant freight segments: NW Seaport Alliance drayage; Boeing manufacturing (Everett, Renton) + aerospace tier-1; agricultural (apples, wheat, wine); Canadian cross-border (Blaine, Sumas); LTL linehaul (I-5 corridor).
- Pay premium endorsements: Hazmat (H), Tanker (N), Doubles/Triples (T). TWIC for port terminal access. FAST card for Canadian cross-border.
- Cross-reference: Washington CDL Requirements guide.
WA Truck Driver Wages — BLS OEWS 53-3032 State Data
BLS OEWS state data for SOC 53-3032 in WA, May 2024 reference period. Verify at https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_wa.htm.3
| Metric | Value | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Annual median (50th percentile) | $60,290 | BLS OEWS state cell, May 2024.3 |
| Annual mean wage | ~$62,000–$64,500 | Mean above median; port + Boeing + LTL upper-tail. |
| Annual 10th percentile | ~$40,000–$42,000 | Entry-level. |
| Annual 25th percentile | ~$48,500–$51,000 | |
| Annual 75th percentile | ~$72,500–$77,500 | Experienced drayage, LTL, aerospace dedicated. |
| Annual 90th percentile | ~$87,000–$95,000 | LTL linehaul seniority, port specialty, cross-border premium. |
| State employment | ~31,220 | 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 WA Compares to National
WA's $60,290 state median runs $2,850 above national.13 NW Seaport Alliance drayage concentration + Boeing aerospace dedicated + Canadian cross-border premium drive upper tail.
BEA RPP shows Washington slightly above national index.4 Cost-of-living offset is real in Seattle metro; Eastern WA (Spokane, Tri-Cities) lower cost of living than Seattle.
Metro variation: - Above state median: Seattle–Tacoma–Bellevue MSA. - Near state median: Spokane MSA, Tri-Cities (Kennewick-Pasco-Richland), Yakima. - Below state median: Rural Eastern WA, Peninsula region.
Top WA Metros for Truck Drivers
Seattle–Tacoma–Bellevue MSA
The single largest trucking metro in WA: - NW Seaport Alliance — Port of Seattle + Port of Tacoma combined. Top-5 US container port. Dense drayage. - Boeing manufacturing — Everett (widebody), Renton (737), Boeing Field. Major aerospace tier-1 supplier and finished-aircraft freight. - Amazon HQ + distribution — significant metro-wide DC footprint. - Microsoft Redmond campus logistics. - I-5 / I-90 / I-405 corridors.
Seattle MSA OEWS posts above WA state mean. Current MSA data: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_42660.htm.5
Tacoma-specific (Tacoma MD / Puget Sound)
Port of Tacoma side of NW Seaport Alliance. Industrial concentration + military freight (Joint Base Lewis-McChord). Tracks at or above state median. Tacoma MD data: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_45104.htm.5
Spokane (Spokane MSA)
Eastern Washington distribution + Inland Empire (Washington/Idaho) freight. I-90 transcontinental through Spokane. Tracks near state median.5
Tri-Cities (Kennewick–Pasco–Richland)
Agricultural hub (apples, wine grapes, potatoes) + Hanford nuclear cleanup freight + I-82 / I-84 freight. Tracks near state median.5
Yakima
Eastern WA agricultural hub (apples, hops, wine). Seasonal freight peaks at harvest. Tracks near or below state median.5
Major Freight Industries Driving WA Pay
| Industry | Freight footprint | Endorsement fit | Pay band notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| NW Seaport Alliance drayage | Seattle + Tacoma terminals | H for hazmat; TWIC for terminal access | Drayage $68–$95k experienced. |
| Boeing aerospace | Everett + Renton tier-1 supplier + finished aircraft | Oversize/overweight permits + specialty training | $70–$95k experienced. |
| Canadian cross-border | Blaine / Sumas ports of entry | FAST card + passport | Premium $72–$100k experienced. |
| Amazon / Microsoft logistics | Puget Sound metro DCs | None required | $65–$88k experienced. |
| LTL linehaul | I-5 corridor (ODFL, Saia, XPO, ABF, FedEx Freight) | T valuable | Senior $82–$105k+. |
| Agricultural / apple / wine | Yakima Valley, Wenatchee | None required | Seasonal $55–$82k. |
| Tanker / petroleum | Statewide fuel distribution | N+H | $72–$100k experienced. |
Major Carriers Hiring in WA
- NW Seaport drayage: Multiple regional operators; OTR carriers with port operations — Schneider, Werner, JB Hunt, Hub Group.
- LTL: Old Dominion, Saia, XPO Logistics, ABF Freight, FedEx Freight, Estes Express, R+L Carriers.
- Mega OTR / Regional: Schneider, Werner, CR England, Covenant, Heartland.
- Dedicated / private fleet: Walmart Private Fleet, Target, Amazon, Costco (HQ Issaquah WA — major WA employer), Microsoft logistics, Boeing logistics.
- Aerospace specialty: Carriers specialized in aircraft component transport.
- Canadian cross-border: Mullen Transportation, Transport Bourret, US carriers with WA-BC corridor operations.
- Tanker / petroleum: Kenan Advantage Group, local fuel distributors.
- WA-HQ: Costco (Issaquah), Boeing logistics.
Pay by Route Type
- OTR: $64–$84k.
- Regional (WA + OR/ID/MT/BC): $68–$90k.
- Local / home-daily: $54–$85k; Seattle/Tacoma drayage $68–$95k effective.
- Dedicated: $68–$95k; Costco / Amazon dedicated often at upper end.
- Canadian cross-border: $72–$100k experienced with FAST card.
- LTL linehaul: $82–$105k+ senior.
- Owner-operator: variable $72–$150k net.
Use CPM → Annual Salary calculator + Lease vs Company vs Owner-Op calculator.
WA CDL and Licensing
Washington CDL Requirements guide. WA Department of Licensing (DOL); $40 CLP, $175 skills test (covers 2 attempts), $102 CDL, $17 per endorsement, $317 total government fees; 60-day renewal grace.
FAQs
How much does a truck driver make in Washington in 2026? WA state median for SOC 53-3032 is $60,290 per BLS OEWS May 20243 — approximately 5% above national $57,440.1 Experienced drivers on specialty freight (senior LTL, port drayage, Canadian cross-border, Boeing dedicated) push into $85–$105k. Entry-level drivers earn $42–$50k year one.
What is the highest-paying trucking job in Washington? Senior LTL linehaul at I-5-corridor majors, Canadian cross-border specialty (with FAST card), NW Seaport Alliance drayage seniors, and Boeing aerospace specialty are all top-tier WA CDL-A lanes — experienced drivers commonly exceed $85–$105k.
Where in WA do truck drivers get paid the most? Seattle–Tacoma–Bellevue MSA leads on NW Seaport Alliance drayage, Boeing aerospace, and Amazon/Microsoft dedicated. Spokane and Tri-Cities track near state median. Rural Eastern WA below.
Is WA a good state for truck drivers? Yes — diverse freight economy with port, aerospace, tech distribution, agricultural, and Canadian cross-border opportunities. Costco HQ Issaquah is a major WA employer. Mountain-pass winter driving (Snoqualmie, Stevens, White) is a real skill premium. High nominal pay but Seattle cost of living significant.
How does WA truck driver pay compare to Oregon? WA state median ($60,290) runs above OR state median (typically ~$61,920 per BLS OEWS May 2024 after OR's 2025 fee increase landscape). Actually OR posts slightly higher on median but WA's upper tail (NW Seaport Alliance, Boeing) can exceed OR's. Real purchasing power varies by specific metro and lifestyle.
Can I make six figures as a truck driver in Washington? Yes. Senior LTL linehaul; Canadian cross-border (FAST card); NW Seaport drayage specialty; Boeing aerospace dedicated; Costco / Amazon / Microsoft private fleet; specialty tanker with X endorsement.
What are the largest carriers hiring in WA in 2026? Costco (Issaquah HQ), Walmart Private Fleet, Target, Amazon, Old Dominion, Saia, XPO, ABF, FedEx Freight, Schneider, Werner, Hub Group NW Seaport drayage, Boeing logistics. Verify current pay bands via each recruiting portal.
I drive NW Seaport Alliance drayage. What credentials? TWIC commonly required for Seattle/Tacoma terminal secure-area access. Class A CDL baseline. Hazmat for placarded containers.6
Mountain-pass winter driving — what's unique? Snoqualmie Pass (I-90), Stevens Pass (US-2), and other passes trigger chain requirements during winter. WSDOT 511 monitoring essential. Winter driving skill commands real pay 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 — Washington."
https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_wa.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." Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue MSA:
https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_42660.htm· Tacoma-Lakewood MD:https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_45104.htm· Spokane MSA:https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_44060.htm· All WA MSAs:https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oessrcma.htm↩↩↩↩↩ -
TSA TWIC program.
https://www.tsa.gov/for-industry/twic↩
