Working in the trucking industry can be quite lucrative; the right job will result in higher truck driver salary, if you have the right experience, skills, license and certifications.
The appropriate truck driving jobs are going to result in more earnings and better benefits as a driver. These are among the top paying driving jobs, when you are looking for a career in the trucking industry.
10 Highest Paid Truck Driving Jobs
1. Liquid Hauler: $83,000 per year
Gas, chemicals, and other hazardous materials are dangerous to be around; further, they require immense skill for you to drive and haul them.
For this reason, working in this industry, you are going to earn more, and depending on the type of hazardous material, and company that you work for, the pay rate can be rather expensive.
The median salary for a liquid hazmat driver is just above $74,000 and a reported upper pay of over $120,000. (Source: Indeed.com)
2. Oversize Load Truck Driver: $68,000 per year
Driving double wide trucks, and over load trucks will also result in a higher pay rate. Not only do you need a special license, special training is also required for the job. In turn, you will need to learn how to drive certain trucks, and will be paid more for this skill.
The pay range for oversize load truck driver is between $45,000 to $108,000, with an annual average of $68,000. (Source: Ziprecruiter.com)
An income of $100K+ is feasible if you work your butt off and are willing to sacrifice your personal and family time.
3. Ice Road Trucker: $62,000 per year
Due to the conditions and dangerous road conditions, you can earn quite a bit in this field. In a few short months you can earn anywhere from $23K up to $113K, working only part of the year. It’s not a bad gig, however, the danger aspect of the job merits the high compensation. (Source: Ziprecruiter.com)
4. Specialty Car Hauler: $80,000 per year
Transporting cars that are damaged or need to be delivered to customers, is also a high paying job. If you deliver specialty, luxurious cars, you can earn even more when working in this field.
The median pay for a transport driver is just over $80,000, a reported high income of $147,000. The starting salary is around $54,000 for a driver with little experience in hauling cars. (Source: Glassdoor.com)
5. Dump Truck Driver: $47,000 per year
Transporting and working in the dump trucking industry is also a high paying job. You can find jobs in various locations, internationally, and you can work for small local companies, earning a high pay rate as well.
The salary range for dump truck drivers is $28,000 to $72,000, with an average of $47,380. You can also branch off into dump truck related jobs as owner operator, team driver, dispatcher or belly truck driver and make over $100,000 per year.
6. Mining Truck Driver: $80,000 per year
Deliveries, pick up, and other work in the mining industry is also quite lucrative. Drivers in the mining industry are also called Haul Truck Driver. You can work for large and small companies, or work as a contractor in this field.
Average annual compensation for Haul Truck Drivers is $80,000. Starting pay is around $55,000 to a high of $135,000. (Source: Glassdoor)
7. Team Drivers: $119,000 per year
The long driving distance, and working with other drivers, can also pay a higher rate. The burn out in this field is typically a problem, as you drive long distances, and will sometimes be limited in the amount you can drive, and where you can drive, by federal and state regulations.
The national average pay for Team Truck Drivers is $119,000, with a reported high salary of $239,000 per year. (Source: Ziprecruiter)
8. Owner Operator Truck Driver: $324,000
Owning your own trucking business means being responsible for all the operational expenses, however, being your own boss can be rewarding.
Independent truckers and owners can make an average of $324,000 a year depending on the miles driven, type of delivery, customer satisfaction, etc. The annual wage range is between $191,000 to $543,000. Talk about pay dirt!
9. Truck Driver Recruiter: $48,000 per year
In some instances, working for a trucking company, as opposed to being a driver, will earn you more money. If you recruit in the field, you are going to earn more, especially if you bring in great drivers.
You can make anywhere from $28,000 to $67,000 annually, with an average salary of $48,000. (Source: Ziprecruiter)
10. Truck Driving Instructor: $49,000 per year
Working in a trucking school may also allow you to earn some money. Not only do you stay in one location, and work with students, you don’t have to do the long hours, or dangerous roads, and can earn rather well.
The average pay for CDL driving instructors is $49,000 annually, but you can make over $72,000 per year with experience and great track record.
Conclusion
Depending on the job, benefits, and company, earnings will vary. These are a few of the top paid positions in the trucking industry. Also, acquiring your CDL, specifically Class A, allows you to have an edge over others.
TruckersTraining.com provide information, tools and resources to potential truck drivers in the U.S. We hope that you can use the content on the site to help you decide if want to drive trucks for a living.
