Best 10 Places to Live as a Truck Driver


The city you live in plays a significant role in finding a trucking job, hence the importance of living in the best place for this career path. You should live in a city that is as close as possible to the place where you start your route.

Annual salary, rent, working conditions, and other benefits vary. Therefore, truck drivers need to know the best cities for their job success. Check out our 10 top cities to live in as truck drivers below.

10 Best Cities for Truckers

Below are our 10 best cities for truck drivers to live in based on the conditions highlighted above.

Atlanta, GA

The best city for truck driver jobs in the United States is Atlanta, Georgia. The city has the highest paying jobs, with an average salary of $64,000.

  • Percent of job postings (adjusted): 12.2% (Ranked 1st)
  • Normal yearly compensation: $64,000 (Ranked 1st)
  • Salary as a level of home cost: 23.3% (Ranked 6th)  

Charlotte, NC

Charlotte in North Carolina is the second-best place to live as a trucker. The average annual salary for truckers is $55,000.

  • Percent of job postings (adjusted): 10% (Ranked 5th)
  • Normal yearly compensation: $55,000 (Ranked 4th)
  • Salary as a level of home cost: 26.9% (Ranked 5th)

Columbus, OH

Columbus in Ohio State ranks third in both affordable rent and housing payments for truck drivers. The average annual salary is $49,000.

  • Percent of job postings (adjusted): 9.2% (Ranked 7nd)
  • Normal yearly compensation: $49,000 (Ranked 6th)
  • Salary as a level of home cost: 35% (Ranked 3rd)

Indianapolis, IN

Indianapolis in Indiana is the “Crossroads of America” because it is at the junction of four major Interstate highways. The average annual salary for truckers is $44,000. The low house costs help truckers in Indianapolis live a more comfortable lifestyle than in other cities.

  • Percent of job postings (adjusted): 11.9% (Ranked 2nd)
  • Normal yearly compensation: $44,000 (Ranked 9th)
  • Salary as a level of home cost: 38.3% (Ranked 2nd)

Chicago, IL

Many people know Chicago in Illinois State as a windy city but are unaware that it is a good location for a trucking career.

With an average salary of $61,000, drivers can earn high pay by working locally and regionally.

  • Percent of job postings (adjusted): 9.4% (Ranked 6th)
  • Normal yearly compensation: $61,000 (Ranked 2nd)
  • Salary as a level of home cost: 20.6% (Ranked 8th)

Houston, TX

In the United States, Houston in Texas is the fourth largest city, and one out of every ten job postings is for a truck driver. Drivers earn an average annual salary of $58,000 and may increase their income by accepting to carry international loads because Houston is in south Texas.

  • Percent of job postings (adjusted): 10% (Ranked 4th)
  • Normal yearly compensation: $58,000 (Ranked 3rd)
  • Salary as a level of home cost: 17.9% (Ranked 10th)

Kansas City, MO

Kansas City, Missouri is a good place for the truck driver to live. The average annual earning of a trucker is $47,000. Kansas City has more expressway paths than other cities, although with limited truck driving positions. Kansas City compensates for it with high salaries and low cost of living.

  • Percent of job postings (adjusted): 7% (Ranked 10th)
  • Normal yearly compensation: $47,000 (Ranked 8th)
  • Salary as a level of home cost: 39.5% (Ranked 1st)

Dallas, TX

Dallas in Texas is a perfect place for a professional truck driver. The average annual earning for truckers in the city is $52,000. Dallas positions as fifth for the biggest economy of a city in the United States with numerous employment for truckers.

  • 11% (Ranked 3rd)
  • $52,000 (Ranked 5th)
  • 18.4% (Ranked 9th)

Louisville, KY

Louisville is the largest top-of-the-line city in Kentucky, making it a sought-after city for American drivers to call home. With top schools, yearly celebrations, and city events, Louisville is a notable place to start a family. Truckers are paid an average annual salary of $40,000.

  • Percent of job postings (adjusted): 9% (Ranked 8th)
  • Normal yearly compensation: $40,000 (Ranked 10th)
  • Salary as a level of home cost: 30.7% (Ranked 4th)

Nashville, TN

Nashville, Tennessee rests in the center of America, making it an ideal area for trucking operations. The average annual salary for truckers is $48,000. Drivers from Nashville enjoy a significant increase in job openings and a higher than normal salary for families in the city. In addition to this, is low rent costs and great schools.

  • 8.8% (Ranked 9th)
  • $48,000 (Ranked 7th)
  • 21.6% (Ranked 7th)

Variables in Determining the Best Cities for Truck Drivers

  • Median annual rent
  • Availability of trucking jobs

Top Cities to Live as Truckers

Driving opportunities are so many in these cities, with one out of every ten state occupants being a truck driver. We advise you consider these cities as they will assist you in raising a family and also earn a reasonable salary.    

Dane Eyerly

Dane is a lifelong lover of semi-trucks and the trucking industry. He loves learning about semi-trucks, careers in the trucking industry, and the lifestyle of truckers. Dane also enjoys attending the Mid-America Trucking Show and Great American Trucking Show in Louisville, KY and his home town Dallas, TX. Click here to learn more about Dane.

Recent Posts