Truck Driver Salary in Texas
Complete 2026 salary data for CDL and non-CDL truck drivers in Texas. Compare pay by license type, see cost of living adjustments, and find the highest-paying cities.
CDL-A Avg
$57,990
CDL-B Avg
$50,200
Non-CDL Avg
$46,950
Owner-Op Gross
$245,000
Salary Comparison by License Type
How Texas truck driver pay compares across CDL-A, CDL-B, non-CDL, and owner-operator categories.
Cost of Living in Texas
Texas's cost of living is 8% below the national average. Your salary stretches further here than in most states.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Pay
Nominal CDL-A Salary
$57,990
Adjusted Purchasing Power
$63,033
After adjusting for Texas's cost of living index of 92, a CDL-A salary of $57,990 provides the same purchasing power as $63,033 in an average-cost area. This means your money goes further in Texas than the raw salary suggests.
Which Texas metros pay best?
Our estimate for each of these markets, built from the Texas 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 Texas
Explore detailed truck driver salary data for individual cities in Texas, including cost of living adjustments, top employers, and local market trends.
| City | CDL-A Avg | Cost of Living | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dallas | $68,428 | 98 | Rising |
| Houston | $68,428 | 95 | Rising |
| San Antonio | $64,949 | 90 | Rising |
| Austin | $64,949 | 103 | Rising |
| El Paso | $60,310 | 86 | Rising |
| McAllen | $60,310 | 79 | Rising |
| Fort Worth | $60,310 | 96 | Rising |
| Laredo | $57,990 | 82 | Stable |
| Lubbock | $57,990 | 84 | Stable |
| Amarillo | $57,990 | 92 | Stable |
| Corpus Christi | $57,990 | 87 | Stable |
| Beaumont | $57,990 | 86 | Stable |
| Brownsville | $57,990 | 78 | Stable |
| Tyler | $57,990 | 85 | Stable |
| Waco | $57,990 | 83 | Stable |
| Midland | $55,670 | 97 | Stable |
| Abilene | $55,670 | 90 | Stable |
Salary Trend in Texas
Texas is one of the top trucking states with rising wages driven by energy sector hauling, cross-border trade through Laredo, massive DFW distribution growth, and Port of Houston activity.
Texas vs National Average
| Category | TX | National | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| CDL-A Average | $57,990 | $59,710 | $-1,720 |
| Cost of Living | 92 | 100 | -8 |
| Adjusted Pay | $63,033 | $59,710 | +$3,323 |
Driving jobs we are recruiting for in Texas
Pay on this page is the statewide picture. These are the actual seats we are filling in Texas, each with its own pay, home time and requirements.
OTR Reefer Driver
70¢ per mile · 3 weeks out, then 3–4 days off
OTR Dry Van Driver
$53,500 - $75,500/year · Out 2–3 weeks
OTR Reefer Driver
$58,000 - $82,000/year · Out 2–3 weeks
OTR Flatbed Driver
$60,000 - $84,500/year · Out 1–2 weeks
OTR Step Deck Driver
$61,000 - $86,000/year · Out 1–2 weeks
OTR Tanker Driver
$61,500 - $86,500/year · Out 1–2 weeks
OTR Hazmat Driver
$63,000 - $89,000/year · Out 1–2 weeks
OTR Car Hauler Driver
$64,000 - $90,500/year · Out 2–3 weeks
OTR Oversized Driver
$67,000 - $95,000/year · Out 2–3 weeks
Regional Intermodal Driver
$54,500 - $77,000/year · Home weekly
Local Box Truck Driver
$45,000 - $63,500/year · Home daily
Regional Dump Truck Driver
$50,500 - $71,500/year · Home most nights
Local Cement Mixer Driver
$51,000 - $72,500/year · Home daily
OTR Hotshot Driver
$55,500 - $78,500/year · Out 1–2 weeks
Regional Less Than Truckload Driver
$56,500 - $80,000/year · Home weekly
OTR Power Only Driver
$53,500 - $75,500/year · Out 2–3 weeks
Local Straight Truck Driver
$43,500 - $62,000/year · Home daily
Frequently Asked Questions About Trucking Pay in Texas
What is the average truck driver salary in Texas?
Texas CDL-A drivers average $57,990 with no state income tax. Houston and Dallas lead in pay. Adjusted for the 92% cost of living, Texas offers some of the best real wages nationally.
What makes Texas one of the best states for trucking?
No state income tax, massive freight volume (energy, cross-border, port, agriculture), low cost of living, and year-round driving conditions make Texas consistently ranked among the best states for truck drivers.
What types of trucking pay the most in Texas?
Oil field hauling in the Permian Basin, cross-border loads through Laredo, hazmat tanker work along the Gulf Coast, and oversized/heavy haul for energy equipment.
What does Texas pay at your experience level?
- No Experience / Student driver pay in Texas
- Entry Level driver pay in Texas
- Mid Level driver pay in Texas
- Experienced driver pay in Texas
- Veteran driver pay in Texas