Truck Driver Salary in Iowa
Complete 2026 salary data for CDL and non-CDL truck drivers in Iowa. Compare pay by license type, see cost of living adjustments, and find the highest-paying cities.
CDL-A Avg
$60,070
CDL-B Avg
$44,500
Non-CDL Avg
$46,700
Owner-Op Gross
$190,000
Salary Comparison by License Type
How Iowa truck driver pay compares across CDL-A, CDL-B, non-CDL, and owner-operator categories.
Cost of Living in Iowa
Iowa's cost of living is 11% below the national average. Your salary stretches further here than in most states.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Pay
Nominal CDL-A Salary
$60,070
Adjusted Purchasing Power
$67,494
After adjusting for Iowa's cost of living index of 89, a CDL-A salary of $60,070 provides the same purchasing power as $67,494 in an average-cost area. This means your money goes further in Iowa than the raw salary suggests.
Which Iowa metros pay best?
Our estimate for each of these markets, built from the Iowa average scaled for metro size. Where two metros show the same number it is because they sit in the same population band — we do not hold data fine-grained enough to separate them, and we would rather say so than invent a difference.
Salary by City in Iowa
Explore detailed truck driver salary data for individual cities in Iowa, including cost of living adjustments, top employers, and local market trends.
| City | CDL-A Avg | Cost of Living | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Des Moines | $62,473 | 89 | Stable |
| Cedar Rapids | $60,070 | 89 | Stable |
| Waterloo | $57,667 | 87 | Stable |
| Sioux City | $57,667 | 87 | Stable |
Salary Trend in Iowa
Iowa trucking wages are steady, anchored by agricultural commodities (corn, soybeans, pork) and I-80 corridor traffic. The state's central location supports cross-country freight lanes.
Iowa vs National Average
| Category | IA | National | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| CDL-A Average | $60,070 | $59,710 | +$360 |
| Cost of Living | 89 | 100 | -11 |
| Adjusted Pay | $67,494 | $59,710 | +$7,784 |
Driving jobs we are recruiting for in Iowa
Pay on this page is the statewide picture. These are the actual seats we are filling in Iowa, each with its own pay, home time and requirements.
OTR Dry Van Driver
$55,500 - $78,000/year · Out 2–3 weeks
OTR Reefer Driver
$60,000 - $85,000/year · Out 2–3 weeks
OTR Flatbed Driver
$62,000 - $87,500/year · Out 1–2 weeks
OTR Step Deck Driver
$63,000 - $89,000/year · Out 1–2 weeks
OTR Tanker Driver
$63,500 - $90,000/year · Out 1–2 weeks
OTR Hazmat Driver
$65,000 - $92,000/year · Out 1–2 weeks
OTR Car Hauler Driver
$66,500 - $93,500/year · Out 2–3 weeks
OTR Oversized Driver
$69,500 - $98,500/year · Out 2–3 weeks
Regional Intermodal Driver
$56,500 - $79,500/year · Home weekly
Local Box Truck Driver
$46,500 - $65,500/year · Home daily
Regional Dump Truck Driver
$52,500 - $74,000/year · Home most nights
Local Cement Mixer Driver
$53,000 - $75,000/year · Home daily
OTR Hotshot Driver
$57,500 - $81,000/year · Out 1–2 weeks
Regional Less Than Truckload Driver
$58,500 - $83,000/year · Home weekly
OTR Power Only Driver
$55,500 - $78,000/year · Out 2–3 weeks
Local Straight Truck Driver
$45,500 - $64,000/year · Home daily
Frequently Asked Questions About Trucking Pay in Iowa
What is the average trucker salary in Iowa?
Iowa CDL-A drivers average $60,070 annually. Adjusted for the 89% cost of living, the real purchasing power is $67,494, making Iowa one of the better states for driver take-home value.
What kind of freight moves through Iowa?
Iowa is a top agricultural state: corn, soybeans, pork, eggs, and ethanol dominate outbound freight. The I-80 corridor also carries heavy cross-country loads passing through Des Moines.
Are there good trucking companies based in Iowa?
Iowa is home to CRST International (Cedar Rapids), Hirschbach Motor Lines (Dubuque), TMC Transportation (Des Moines), and Ruan Transportation. All offer competitive pay and benefits packages.
What does Iowa pay at your experience level?
- No Experience / Student driver pay in Iowa
- Entry Level driver pay in Iowa
- Mid Level driver pay in Iowa
- Experienced driver pay in Iowa
- Veteran driver pay in Iowa