Average Truck Driver Salary in Raleigh, NC

The average Truck Driver in Raleigh, NC earns $54,020 per year. See how this compares to the national average and what it means for your budget.

Average Salary
$54020
Median Salary
$49510
vs. National
3.5% below
Real Pay (COL-adjusted)
$55034

“Real pay” adjusts the average for Raleigh’s cost of living (Regional Price Parity 98.157, U.S. average = 100) — what this salary is worth in national-average dollars.

What Truck Drivers actually earn in Raleigh

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

10th (entry) $38430
25th $44940
Median $49510
75th $59970
90th (top) $75580

7030 Truck Drivers employed in the Raleigh metro.

Can a Truck Driver afford a home in Raleigh?

Max home price under the 28% rule (housing ≤ 28% of gross), 10% down, 6.7% 30-yr rate. Median Raleigh home: $377800.

Earnings levelSalaryMax homeMedian home?
Entry (10th)$38430$15440441%
Median$49510$19892153%
Top (90th)$75580$30366580%

What’s this salary worth in another city?

What you earn (or want to compare)

Take-home pay for a Truck Driver in Raleigh

Estimated pay after federal, FICA, and NC 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.

Raleigh at a glance

Population470763
Median household income$82424
Median home value$377800
Median rent$1468/mo
Cost of living (RPP, U.S.=100)98.157
Bachelor’s degree or higher32.5%
Poverty rate11%

In Raleigh, NC, Truck Drivers earn a median of $49,510 a year — about 12% below the U.S. median of $55,990. Among the 50 metros tracked here for this role, that ranks #43.

What that pay is worth in Raleigh

Local prices run 98 on the BEA cost-of-living index (U.S. = 100), so a $54,020 salary is about break-even with the national average ($55,034 adjusted).

Can Truck Drivers afford a home in Raleigh?

A typical Raleigh home runs about $377,800 — 7.0 times the average Truck Driver salary, a stretch against the classic 3x rule of thumb. Median rent near $1,468/mo takes roughly 33% of gross pay — above the 30% comfort line.

The Truck Driver pay ladder in Raleigh

Entry-level (10th percentile) Truck Drivers earn about $38,430; the top 10% reach $75,580 — a $37,150 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 Raleigh

Raleigh employs roughly 7,030 Truck Drivers. It’s a sizable local market to build a career in.

Compare Raleigh with other cities

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

The average Truck Driver in Raleigh, NC earns about $54,020 per year, 3.5% below the national average of $55,990.

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

After federal and NC taxes, this $54,020 salary is worth about $43,938 a year - roughly $3,661 a month in take-home pay, an effective tax rate near 19%.

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

The top 10% of Truck Drivers in Raleigh earn about $75,580 a year, versus about $38,430 for the bottom 10%.

Can Truck Drivers afford a home in Raleigh?

A typical Raleigh home runs about $377,800 - roughly 7.0x this salary, a stretch by the 3x rule, so budgeting discipline matters.