Average Truck Driver Salary in Houston, TX

The average Truck Driver in Houston, TX earns $55,260 per year. See how this compares to the national average and what it means for your budget.

Average Salary
$55260
Median Salary
$50830
vs. National
1.3% below
Real Pay (COL-adjusted)
$56028

“Real pay” adjusts the average for Houston’s cost of living (Regional Price Parity 98.629, U.S. average = 100) — what this salary is worth in national-average dollars.

What Truck Drivers actually earn in Houston

The spread from entry-level (10th percentile) to top earners (90th), from BLS wage data.

10th (entry) $35390
25th $44970
Median $50830
75th $61720
90th (top) $76510

47590 Truck Drivers employed in the Houston metro.

Can a Truck Driver afford a home in Houston?

Max home price under the 28% rule (housing ≤ 28% of gross), 10% down, 6.7% 30-yr rate. Median Houston home: $253400.

Earnings levelSalaryMax homeMedian home?
Entry (10th)$35390$14219056%
Median$50830$20422481%
Top (90th)$76510$307401Yes

What’s this salary worth in another city?

What you earn (or want to compare)

Take-home pay for a Truck Driver in Houston

Estimated pay after federal, FICA, and TX state taxes (2026). Prefilled with the local average — adjust for your situation.

Estimate only — not tax advice. Tax year 2026, federal + FICA + state (single or married filing jointly). Excludes local/city income taxes (e.g., NYC, Philadelphia) and individual credits. See our methodology.

Houston at a glance

Population2300419
Median household income$62894
Median home value$253400
Median rent$1313/mo
Cost of living (RPP, U.S.=100)98.629
Bachelor’s degree or higher21.3%
Poverty rate19.4%

In Houston, TX, Truck Drivers earn a median of $50,830 a year — about 9% below the U.S. median of $55,990. Among the 50 metros tracked here for this role, that ranks #37.

What that pay is worth in Houston

Local prices run 99 on the BEA cost-of-living index (U.S. = 100), so a $55,260 salary is about break-even with the national average ($56,028 adjusted).

Can Truck Drivers afford a home in Houston?

A typical Houston home runs about $253,400 — 4.6 times the average Truck Driver salary, manageable against the classic 3x rule of thumb. Median rent near $1,313/mo takes roughly 29% of gross pay — within the 30% comfort line.

The Truck Driver pay ladder in Houston

Entry-level (10th percentile) Truck Drivers earn about $35,390; the top 10% reach $76,510 — a $41,120 spread, moderate for this field. Most of that gap comes down to experience, employer, and how hard you negotiate.

The Truck Driver job market in Houston

Houston employs roughly 47,590 Truck Drivers. It’s a sizable local market to build a career in.

Compare Houston with other cities

See the full Truck Driver salary by city ranking to weigh Houston against the other metros on both pay and cost-adjusted value, or use the cost-of-living calculator to compare any two cities directly.

Frequently asked questions

How much do Truck Drivers make in Houston?

The average Truck Driver in Houston, TX earns about $55,260 per year, 1.3% below the national average of $55,990.

What is the take-home pay for Truck Drivers in Houston after taxes?

After federal and TX taxes, this $55,260 salary is worth about $46,581 a year - roughly $3,881 a month in take-home pay, an effective tax rate near 16%.

What do the highest-paid Truck Drivers earn in Houston?

The top 10% of Truck Drivers in Houston earn about $76,510 a year, versus about $35,390 for the bottom 10%.

Can Truck Drivers afford a home in Houston?

A typical Houston home runs about $253,400 - roughly 4.6x this salary, within reach by the classic 3x rule of thumb.