Salary comparison
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers: Lincoln vs San Jose
Lincoln, NE pays about 15.6% more for heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers on paper — $81,790 vs $70,730. But once you factor in what it costs to live there, Lincoln comes out ahead by $11,060 a year in real buying power.
Lincoln, NE
$81,790
$60,280
$81,790
$39.32
100
$81,790/yr
Median adjusted for local cost of living.
San Jose, CA
$70,730
$57,880
$80,120
$34.00
100
$70,730/yr
Median adjusted for local cost of living.
What the numbers mean in practice
The headline gap is $11,060 a year (15.6%) in favor of Lincoln. That is the raw salary difference before any living costs.
Lincoln runs a cost index of 100 against the national baseline of 100; San Jose sits at 100. After adjusting the median for those costs, Lincoln is the better deal by $11,060 a year — that is what each paycheck actually buys locally.
If you are weighing a move from San Jose to Lincoln for this role, the raise needs to beat 15.6% to come out ahead after living costs. Anything below that and you are earning more on paper but keeping less.
Common questions
Where do heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers earn more, Lincoln or San Jose?
Lincoln pays $81,790 on median — about 15.6% more than San Jose ($70,730). Based on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics.
Which city is the better deal after living costs?
Lincoln. Once you divide each median by the local cost index, Lincoln gives you roughly$81,790 of real buying power versus $70,730 in the other city.