LocalSalaryHub Salary Report
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers in Des Moines, IA · Generated June 16, 2026
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers Salary in Des Moines, IA $60,720/yr
$60,720
Mean: $63,480
~$47,362 est. take-home
$29.19
Based on 2,080 hrs/yr
100
100 = national avg
Very affordable
Affordability score: 97/100
$1,604/mo
39%
Salary Distribution
Where the median falls between the 25th and 75th percentile.
25th %
$50,430
Median
$60,720
75th %
$74,040
Median is in the 44th percentile of the typical range
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers in other IA cities
Compare the same occupation across cities in IA.
About Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers salaries in Des Moines, IA
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers in Des Moines, IA earn a median of $60,720 per year, based on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics data. The mean salary is $63,480, which tends to skew higher because a small number of high earners pull the average up.
Most heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers in this area earn between $50,430 and $74,040. Where you land depends on experience, employer type, and whether you have in-demand specializations.
That works out to roughly $29.19 per hour assuming a standard 2,080-hour work year. Actual hourly pay may differ for part-time or contract roles.
Career Outlook
4% growth, but the real story is the shortage. The industry has been 50,000–80,000 drivers short for years. Companies are raising pay, offering signing bonuses, and improving home-time policies to attract drivers. Autonomous trucks aren't replacing drivers at scale anytime soon.
Worth knowing: Owner-operators (drivers who own their truck) can earn $150K–$200K gross, but expenses are high — truck payments, insurance, fuel, maintenance. Net take-home is usually $80K–$120K after costs.
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers Jobs in Des Moines, IA
Median: $60,720/yr — browse openings that fit.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average salary for a heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers in Des Moines?▾
The median — where half earn more and half earn less — is $60,720. The average (mean) is $63,480, which is higher because top earners pull it up.
How much does a heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers make per hour in Des Moines?▾
About $29.19/hour, based on a standard 2,080-hour work year. Part-time or overtime hours will change the actual rate.
What is the salary range for heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers in Des Moines?▾
The middle 50% earn between $50,430 and $74,040. Below $50,430 is typically entry-level; above $74,040 usually means significant experience or specialized skills.
Salary Conversion Table
How does $60,720 per year break down across different time periods?
| Period | Gross | Est. Take-Home |
|---|---|---|
| Yearly | $60,720 | $47,362 |
| Monthly | $5,060 | $3,947 |
| Biweekly | $2,335 | $1,822 |
| Weekly | $1,168 | $911 |
| Hourly (40h/wk) | $29.19 | $22.77 |
| Hourly (35h/wk) | $33.36 | $26.02 |
| Hourly (30h/wk) | $38.92 | $30.36 |
| Daily (8h) | $234 | $182 |
Take-home estimates use an effective tax rate of 22%. Actual amounts vary by filing status, deductions, and state tax.
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers: Highest-Paying Cities in the U.S.
Top 10 cities nationwide for heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers, based on BLS median salary data.
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See more salary data
More pages tied to this occupation and region.
- Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers salaries nationwide — the national median and the highest-paying metros for heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers across all states.
- All IA salary data — every occupation we cover in IA, ranked by median pay, plus the cities that pay the most.
- Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers in Lincoln, NE — the top-paying city for heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers in our dataset, in case you are weighing a move out of Des Moines.
- First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors salary overview — a closely related role (same SOC major group) with a national median of $60,722.