Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers Salary in Santa Cruz, CA

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA

Median annual salary $59,110 +2.9% vs national
Median hourly $28.42
10th percentile $41,450
90th percentile $79,070
Employed locally 730
National median $57,440

Compare Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers salary & buying power

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Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers
in
Santa Cruz, CA
vs

    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $41,450
    25th
    $47,770
    50th (median)
    $59,110
    75th
    $69,420
    90th
    $79,070

    Santa Cruz economic context

    Unemployment rate 5.90% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $109,266 2023 • Census ACS
    Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers salary vs area income 54% Median Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers salary is 46% below the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Lincoln, NE $92,890
    Fairbanks-College, AK $73,540
    Balance of Nevada nonmetropolitan area $73,500
    Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA $69,290
    San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $65,540
    New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ $65,220

    Nearby metros — Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $65,540
    San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $64,210
    Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN $62,430
    Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN $61,750
    Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH $61,530
    Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA $61,480

    Related occupations in Santa Cruz, CA

    OccupationMedian salary
    Stockers and Order Fillers $37,860
    Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand $41,170
    Light Truck Drivers $45,250
    Packers and Packagers, Hand $35,800
    First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors $60,550
    Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators $46,100

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers make per hour in Santa Cruz?

    The median hourly wage for Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers in Santa Cruz, CA is $28.42, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $39.17 or more per hour.

    Is Santa Cruz above or below average for Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers salaries?

    The median Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers salary in Santa Cruz, CA is 2.9% above the national median of $57,440. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers in Santa Cruz?

    Entry-level Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers (10th percentile) earn around $41,450 per year in Santa Cruz, CA. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $47,770.