Truck drivers do not earn the same paycheck everywhere, even when states share a border. In several parts of the country, average truck driver pay in one state clearly outpaces what drivers earn just across the state line. Understanding where those gaps are can help drivers target job searches and relocation decisions more strategically.
Why Some Neighboring States Pay More
Average truck driver pay in each state reflects freight demand, cost of living, local industries, and how many drivers compete for the same work. States with heavy freight flows, busy ports, or strong manufacturing often show higher mean wages than nearby states that rely more on low-margin or seasonal freight.
At the same time, some lower-pay neighboring states can offset smaller paychecks with lower housing costs, shorter commutes, or more predictable home time. Drivers comparing states need to look at both sides of the equation: gross pay and what that pay can buy locally.
Examples Of Big Pay Gaps Between Neighbor States
Public pay tables for heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers show several border pairs where average annual wages differ by thousands of dollars. Exact rankings shift over time, but the overall pattern of stronger and weaker pay regions along state borders remains consistent.
Below are examples of neighboring states where the higher-pay state has a clear edge over its neighbor, based on recent compiled averages from national labor statistics and trucking pay analyses. These figures are rounded and should always be checked against current data before making a move.
| Border region pair | Higher-pay state (approx. average truck driver pay) | Neighbor state (approx. average truck driver pay) | Why the gap exists |
| Pacific Northwest | Oregon: higher mean annual pay around the upper-50s to low-60s range | Idaho: lower mean yearly pay in the low-50s range | Oregon links major West Coast corridors and port-driven freight; Idaho leans more on regional and agricultural freight with fewer high-pay metro hubs. |
| Mountain West | Colorado: mean pay in the low-60s range | Kansas and Nebraska: mean pay typically in the low- to mid-50s | Colorado benefits from high-value freight, warehouse growth along the Front Range, and higher regional wages overall compared to some Plains states. |
| Upper Northeast | Massachusetts and Connecticut: mean pay in the low-60s range | Neighboring northern states such as Vermont and New Hampshire often have lower mean pay in the 50-thousand range | Dense freight markets, higher living costs, and strong regional less-than-truckload demand support higher wages in parts of coastal New England. |
| Mid-Atlantic | New Jersey and Pennsylvania: mean pay in the low-60s range for many drivers | Nearby Appalachian states, such as West Virginia, mean pay nearer the low-50s | Ports, rail intermodal yards, and major distribution centers around New York, Philadelphia, and other metros raise freight rates and wages. |
| Gulf region | Texas: one of the largest trucking workforces with a mean pay in the upper-50s range | Several neighboring states, such as Louisiana, Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Mississippi, mean pay is trending lower in the low-50s range | Texas combines high freight volume, energy sector demand, and major cross-border trade, which often lifts truck driver pay above nearby markets. |
| West Coast | California: mean pay is commonly in the low- to mid-60s according to recent surveys. | Some interior Western neighbors show average pay closer to the low-50s | Large ports, long-haul lanes, and dense population centers support higher freight rates and wages, even with more competition among drivers. |
These examples show gaps that can reach five to ten thousand dollars or more in average annual pay between border states. Actual numbers vary by carrier, experience, endorsements, and specific job type, so drivers should treat these as directional indicators instead of fixed guarantees.
How To Use Pay Gaps To Your Advantage
Truck drivers can turn these state-to-state pay differences into practical career moves by taking a structured approach. The goal is not just to chase the highest possible wage, but to find the best combination of pay, cost of living, and job stability.
- Compare current average pay in your home state with pay in bordering states using updated labor statistics and reputable trucking pay tools.
- Match those numbers with local housing and cost-of-living data to see where your take-home pay would stretch farther.
- Look at freight mix in each state: ports, intermodal hubs, agriculture, energy, or manufacturing can all change how steady work is.
- Check how many trucking jobs each state supports; a large driver workforce can signal strong, consistent demand.
- Focus on concrete offers from carriers that publish pay ranges, bonus structures, and benefits so you can verify how their numbers compare to state averages.
When drivers understand where pay beats neighboring states by the widest margin, they can decide whether a short move across a border, a switch from local to regional work, or a change in freight type makes sense. Search truck driver jobs near you on TruckDriversUSA to compare opportunities in these high-pay regions today.
