Best U.S. states for truck drivers

A research took into account three key factors: job availability, sector demand, and average annual salary to discover the best states.

Truck drivers are essential across the United States to transport goods and services that keep the supply chain running. However, there are regions where truck driving jobs are in higher demand than others, offering better pay and greater availability of employment in the sector.

In order to identify which states offer the best opportunities for truck drivers, FreightRun conducted a study using data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The research took into account three key factors: job availability, sector demand, and average annual salary.

The best states to work as a truck driver

The data were combined to create an overall score of 100 to rank each state. Based on this, the states with the highest scores offer the best combination of job opportunities, demand, and pay for truck drivers. The list is as follows:

1. North Dakota

With a total score of 82.77 points, North Dakota ranks number 1. There is always a need for truck drivers due to the oil industry and agriculture, making job opportunities abundant in this state. Additionally, it has an annual salary averaging $58,680.

2. Nebraska

Nebraska ranks second with a score of 77.95. According to FreightRun’s data, 25,000 truck drivers are part of the workforce in Nebraska, transporting grains, livestock, and other agricultural components. The average annual salary in Nebraska is $58,680.

3. Wyoming

Third place goes to Wyoming, with a final score of 76.92. This state has the highest annual salary, averaging $60,030. While there is always job availability due to mining and energy companies, the demand is not as high as in the other two states.

4. Arkansas

Arkansas is a transportation hub with ample job availability for those in the trucking industry. It ranks fourth with a total of 67.06 points and an annual salary averaging $51,530.

5. Iowa

Iowa ranks fifth with a total score of 65.06. The state has a large corn and soybean market that keeps truck drivers in business. Its average annual salary is $53,470.

As can be seen, none of them achieves a perfect score, as the trucking industry still faces deficiencies in various areas. The list continues with five other states, whose scores are progressively lower. These are:

6. Mississippi: 62.83 points, average annual salary of $52,760
7. Indiana: 61.87 points, average annual salary of $57,710
8. Wisconsin: 61.76 points, average annual salary of $55,970
9. Tennessee: 61.24 points, average annual salary of $55,420
10. Texas: 60.32 points, average annual salary of $54,550

Each of these states offers various opportunities for truck drivers, and their position does not imply that they are bad places to develop within the industry. For example, Texas has the largest workforce, with approximately 212,000 truck drivers; however, the overall ranking places it in tenth place. Similarly, Wisconsin has a high salary, but the rest of the evaluations are low. This reflects that the trucking industry still has much to improve in order to provide fair opportunities to all its employees.