Kansas has a large trucking workforce, but earnings can look different depending on where a job is based and how the position is structured. Current federal wage data provide a useful benchmark, while local market figures and employer type help show where individual opportunities may fall.
Nationally, heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers earned a median annual wage of $58,640 in May 2025. Kansas remains a particularly concentrated market for the occupation, giving drivers plenty of opportunities to compare beyond a single statewide number.
A Closer Look at the Kansas Market
Truck driving accounts for a larger share of employment in Kansas than it does across the country overall. That concentration reflects a market with positions spread across traditional motor carriers as well as manufacturers, wholesalers, and other businesses operating their own transportation fleets.
Because those jobs can use different schedules and compensation structures, published wage figures are most useful as a starting point. The actual earning potential of a position depends on more than its location, especially when mileage pay, hourly wages, guarantees, and additional compensation are involved.
Kansas City Pushes Above the National Median
The Kansas City metropolitan area provides one example of how earnings can change within the region. In May 2025, heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers across the metro earned an average of $29.74 per hour, or $61,850 annually.
The occupation was also 25% more concentrated in Kansas City than it was nationally, with 18,230 people employed in the field. Since the federal metropolitan area includes counties in both Kansas and Missouri, the $61,850 figure represents the broader Kansas City labor market rather than Kansas alone.
Even with that limitation, the data provide a useful comparison for anyone considering work near the state line because the metro operates as a connected employment market.
The Employer Behind the Job Matters
Location is only one part of the pay picture. National wage data show that median earnings also vary depending on the industry employing the driver.
Truck transportation reported a median annual wage of $60,320 in May 2025, while wholesale trade came in at $58,550. Manufacturing reported $56,570, followed by construction at $56,080.
Those differences can matter in Kansas because driving positions are available both with transportation companies and private fleets supporting other industries. Comparing similar types of employers can therefore provide a more meaningful benchmark than comparing every available job solely by its advertised annual earnings.
Compare How the Money Is Earned
An annual number can look competitive without showing what it takes to reach it. One position may rely heavily on mileage, while another combines hourly or mileage compensation with stop pay, detention, guarantees, or performance incentives.
For example, an advertised maximum does not show whether most drivers consistently reach that figure or whether it depends on a specific number of miles, bonuses, or other requirements. A lower headline number paired with more predictable compensation could produce a different result over a full year.
Breaking an offer into its individual pay components makes it easier to compare it with both published wage data and other jobs in the Kansas market.
Put an Offer in National Perspective
The national median of $58,640 is only the midpoint of a much wider earnings range. In May 2025, the lowest 10% of heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers earned less than $40,140, while the highest 10% earned more than $79,380.
That range provides additional context when evaluating a Kansas opportunity. Rather than asking whether an offer simply falls above or below the national median, drivers can look at where its realistic annual compensation sits within the broader occupation and whether the pay structure supports the amount being advertised.
For anyone considering a new position in Kansas, combining current wage benchmarks with the details of the actual compensation package provides a much clearer picture of what the job may be worth.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is truck driving a major occupation in Kansas?
Yes. Federal employment data show that heavy and tractor-trailer truck driving has a higher employment concentration in Kansas than it does nationally, meaning the occupation represents a larger share of jobs in the state.
What do truck drivers earn around Kansas City?
Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers in the Kansas City, Missouri-Kansas metropolitan area earned an average of $61,850 annually, or $29.74 per hour, in May 2025. Because the federal metro includes portions of both states, the figure represents the entire Kansas City labor market.
What is the national median truck driver pay?
Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers earned a national median annual wage of $58,640 in May 2025, which was equivalent to $28.19 per hour.
Why can advertised pay be higher than published wage data?
Job advertisements may include potential mileage, bonuses, incentives, and other compensation when presenting annual earnings. Published federal wage figures measure earnings across the occupation, so the two numbers are not always directly comparable.
