Average Truck Driver Salary in Memphis, TN

The average Truck Driver in Memphis, TN earns $59,370 per year. See how this compares to the national average and what it means for your budget.

Average Salary
$59370
Median Salary
$58050
vs. National
6.0% above
Real Pay (COL-adjusted)
$64407

“Real pay” adjusts the average for Memphis’s cost of living (Regional Price Parity 92.179, U.S. average = 100) — what this salary is worth in national-average dollars.

What Truck Drivers actually earn in Memphis

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

10th (entry) $36080
25th $45340
Median $58050
75th $74740
90th (top) $84390

16890 Truck Drivers employed in the Memphis metro.

Can a Truck Driver afford a home in Memphis?

Max home price under the 28% rule (housing ≤ 28% of gross), 10% down, 6.7% 30-yr rate. Median Memphis home: $157100.

Earnings levelSalaryMax homeMedian home?
Entry (10th)$36080$14496292%
Median$58050$233233Yes
Top (90th)$84390$339061Yes

What’s this salary worth in another city?

What you earn (or want to compare)

Take-home pay for a Truck Driver in Memphis

Estimated pay after federal, FICA, and TN 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.

Memphis at a glance

Population629063
Median household income$51211
Median home value$157100
Median rent$1123/mo
Cost of living (RPP, U.S.=100)92.179
Bachelor’s degree or higher16.9%
Poverty rate22%

In Memphis, TN, Truck Drivers earn a median of $58,050 a year — about 4% above the U.S. median of $55,990. Among the 50 metros tracked here for this role, that ranks #13.

What that pay is worth in Memphis

Local prices run 92 on the BEA cost-of-living index (U.S. = 100), so a $59,370 salary stretches further than the sticker number — about $64,407 in national-average buying power.

Can Truck Drivers afford a home in Memphis?

A typical Memphis home runs about $157,100 — 2.6 times the average Truck Driver salary, very affordable against the classic 3x rule of thumb. Median rent near $1,123/mo takes roughly 23% of gross pay — within the 30% comfort line.

The Truck Driver pay ladder in Memphis

Entry-level (10th percentile) Truck Drivers earn about $36,080; the top 10% reach $84,390 — a $48,310 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 Memphis

Memphis employs roughly 16,890 Truck Drivers. It’s a sizable local market to build a career in.

Compare Memphis with other cities

See the full Truck Driver salary by city ranking to weigh Memphis 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 Memphis?

The average Truck Driver in Memphis, TN earns about $59,370 per year, 6.0% above the national average of $55,990.

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

After federal and TN taxes, this $59,370 salary is worth about $49,883 a year - roughly $4,156 a month in take-home pay, an effective tax rate near 16%.

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

The top 10% of Truck Drivers in Memphis earn about $84,390 a year, versus about $36,080 for the bottom 10%.

Can Truck Drivers afford a home in Memphis?

A typical Memphis home runs about $157,100 - roughly 2.6x this salary, within reach by the classic 3x rule of thumb.