Truck driver wages in Oregon sit above the national median, but earnings vary depending on where in the state a driver works. Current wage data put the Portland area at the higher end of Oregon’s major markets, while Salem and Albany remain relatively close to the statewide median and several southern Oregon markets fall below it.
According to the latest Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, employee heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers in Oregon earn a median of $61,980 per year, or $29.80 per hour. The national median for the same occupation is $58,640, putting Oregon about $3,300 higher.
Across the state, the middle 50% earn between $54,870 and $72,870. At the 90th percentile, annual wages reach $81,220 or more. These estimates cover wage and salary employees and do not include self-employed owner-operators.
Portland Leads Oregon’s Major Markets
The Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro metro has a median truck driver wage of $63,800, or $30.67 per hour. That puts the regional median nearly $1,800 above Oregon overall and more than $5,000 above the national figure.
Wages stretch higher at the upper end as well. The 75th percentile reaches $75,840, while the 90th percentile is $85,590.
One distinction is important when using Portland as a benchmark. The BLS metro extends across the state line into southwest Washington, so these figures represent the broader Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro labor market rather than Oregon employers alone.
Salem and Albany Stay Near the Statewide Median
Salem’s median of $60,580 is about $1,400 below the Oregon median, while Albany comes in close behind at $60,180.
Albany is also a good example of why average and median wages should not be used interchangeably. Its mean annual wage is $62,020, but its median is $60,180. A mean can be influenced by wages toward either end of the range, while the median identifies the midpoint of the local wage distribution.
For drivers comparing opportunities in the Willamette Valley, the medians provide a more consistent benchmark. Salem reaches $67,080 at the 75th percentile and $77,630 at the 90th, while Albany reaches $70,600 and $78,540 at those same points.
Eugene and Southern Oregon Fall Below the Statewide Figure
Eugene-Springfield has a median annual wage of $58,480, putting it almost exactly in line with the $58,640 national median but about $3,500 below Oregon overall.
The difference continues farther south. Medford has a median of $58,220, while Grants Pass comes in at $58,980. Although those figures are relatively close, the upper ends of the local wage ranges differ. Medford reaches $71,550 at the 75th percentile, compared with $63,010 in Grants Pass.
A local median should therefore be treated as a benchmark rather than a ceiling. Individual jobs can fall well above or below it depending on the employer, freight, route, experience and compensation structure.
Bend Remains Competitive with Larger Oregon Markets
Bend has a median of $61,220, putting it just $760 below the statewide figure and above Salem, Albany, Eugene-Springfield, Medford and Grants Pass.
The 75th percentile reaches $71,050, while the 90th percentile is $75,940. Portland maintains the highest median among the major markets compared here, but Bend’s numbers show that wages near the statewide level are not limited to the Portland area.
Oregon Truck Driver Pay by Area
| Area | Median Hourly Wage | Median Annual Wage | 75th Percentile | 90th Percentile |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro | $30.67 | $63,800 | $75,840 | $85,590 |
| Oregon statewide | $29.80 | $61,980 | $72,870 | $81,220 |
| Bend | $29.43 | $61,220 | $71,050 | $75,940 |
| Salem | $29.12 | $60,580 | $67,080 | $77,630 |
| Albany | $28.94 | $60,180 | $70,600 | $78,540 |
| Coast Oregon nonmetro | $28.58 | $59,450 | $71,350 | $92,280 |
| Grants Pass | $28.35 | $58,980 | $63,010 | $73,810 |
| Central Oregon nonmetro | $28.32 | $58,900 | $64,960 | $76,650 |
| Eugene-Springfield | $28.11 | $58,480 | $65,120 | $73,520 |
| Eastern Oregon nonmetro | $28.03 | $58,300 | $63,740 | $76,490 |
| Medford | $27.99 | $58,220 | $71,550 | $76,810 |
Putting an Oregon Job Offer in Context
These figures are most useful as reference points when comparing actual job offers. A $60,000 annual wage estimate, for example, sits below the median in Portland and Bend but slightly above the median in Eugene-Springfield and Medford.
The comparison becomes less direct when a position is primarily paid by the mile. BLS notes that heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers are commonly paid based on mileage plus bonuses, while the federal wage estimates can include guaranteed pay and certain incentive or production bonuses. Overtime, nonproduction bonuses and employer-paid benefits are not included.
That makes the local figures a useful starting point rather than a complete measure of a trucking job. A position with a lower projected annual wage may come with a different home-time schedule or benefits package, while mileage, guaranteed pay and other compensation can push another job above the local median.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Oregon’s truck driver wage data include owner-operators?
No. BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics cover wage and salary employees and exclude self-employed workers. An owner-operator should not use the $61,980 Oregon median as an estimate of typical owner-operator earnings.
Does the Portland figure only represent jobs in Oregon?
No. BLS defines this labor market as Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA, so the $63,800 median includes the broader metropolitan area on both sides of the Oregon-Washington border.
Does BLS separate local, regional and OTR driver wages in these figures?
No. The geographic estimates cover the heavy and tractor-trailer truck driver occupation across each labor market. They do not provide separate local, regional and OTR wage figures within each Oregon area.
What types of compensation are included in BLS wage estimates?
BLS includes base pay, guaranteed pay, hazardous-duty pay and incentive pay such as production bonuses. Overtime, shift differentials, nonproduction bonuses and employer-paid benefits are excluded, so the estimates do not represent every dollar or benefit that may be part of a driver’s total compensation.
Why can an advertised trucking job pay more than the local median?
The median is the midpoint of wages across employees in that market, not a maximum or expected offer from every carrier. Experience, employer, freight, route and compensation structure can put an individual position above or below the local figure.
The TDUSA editorial team creates practical, driver focused content covering trucking news, industry updates, safety, regulations, and career information for professional truck drivers across the United States. Each article is built to reflect real world experience, industry developments, and information drivers can use on and off the road.
Last Updated: October 5, 2026
