Truck Driver Salary in Tennessee
Complete 2026 salary data for CDL and non-CDL truck drivers in Tennessee. Compare pay by license type, see cost of living adjustments, and find the highest-paying cities.
CDL-A Avg
$60,440
CDL-B Avg
$46,000
Non-CDL Avg
$49,120
Owner-Op Gross
$200,000
Salary Comparison by License Type
How Tennessee truck driver pay compares across CDL-A, CDL-B, non-CDL, and owner-operator categories.
Cost of Living in Tennessee
Tennessee's cost of living is 10% below the national average. Your salary stretches further here than in most states.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Pay
Nominal CDL-A Salary
$60,440
Adjusted Purchasing Power
$67,156
After adjusting for Tennessee's cost of living index of 90, a CDL-A salary of $60,440 provides the same purchasing power as $67,156 in an average-cost area. This means your money goes further in Tennessee than the raw salary suggests.
Which Tennessee metros pay best?
Our estimate for each of these markets, built from the Tennessee average scaled for metro size. Where two metros show the same number it is because they sit in the same population band — we do not hold data fine-grained enough to separate them, and we would rather say so than invent a difference.
Salary by City in Tennessee
Explore detailed truck driver salary data for individual cities in Tennessee, including cost of living adjustments, top employers, and local market trends.
| City | CDL-A Avg | Cost of Living | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nashville | $67,693 | 101 | Rising |
| Memphis | $65,275 | 86 | Rising |
| Knoxville | $62,858 | 88 | Rising |
| Chattanooga | $62,858 | 87 | Rising |
| Clarksville | $58,022 | 88 | Stable |
| Jackson | $58,022 | 88 | Stable |
| Savannah | $58,022 | 80 | Stable |
Salary Trend in Tennessee
Tennessee trucking pay is rising, led by Memphis (FedEx global hub) and Nashville's booming logistics sector. No state income tax makes take-home pay among the best in the Southeast.
Tennessee vs National Average
| Category | TN | National | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| CDL-A Average | $60,440 | $59,710 | +$730 |
| Cost of Living | 90 | 100 | -10 |
| Adjusted Pay | $67,156 | $59,710 | +$7,446 |
Driving jobs we are recruiting for in Tennessee
Pay on this page is the statewide picture. These are the actual seats we are filling in Tennessee, each with its own pay, home time and requirements.
OTR Dry Van Driver
$55,500 - $78,500/year · Out 2–3 weeks
OTR Reefer Driver
$60,500 - $85,500/year · Out 2–3 weeks
OTR Flatbed Driver
$62,500 - $88,000/year · Out 1–2 weeks
OTR Step Deck Driver
$63,500 - $89,500/year · Out 1–2 weeks
OTR Tanker Driver
$64,000 - $90,500/year · Out 1–2 weeks
OTR Hazmat Driver
$65,500 - $92,500/year · Out 1–2 weeks
OTR Car Hauler Driver
$66,500 - $94,500/year · Out 2–3 weeks
OTR Oversized Driver
$70,000 - $99,000/year · Out 2–3 weeks
Regional Intermodal Driver
$56,500 - $80,000/year · Home weekly
Local Box Truck Driver
$46,500 - $66,000/year · Home daily
Regional Dump Truck Driver
$53,000 - $74,500/year · Home most nights
Local Cement Mixer Driver
$53,500 - $75,500/year · Home daily
OTR Hotshot Driver
$58,000 - $81,500/year · Out 1–2 weeks
Regional Less Than Truckload Driver
$59,000 - $83,500/year · Home weekly
OTR Power Only Driver
$55,500 - $78,500/year · Out 2–3 weeks
Local Straight Truck Driver
$45,500 - $64,500/year · Home daily
Frequently Asked Questions About Trucking Pay in Tennessee
What is the average truck driver salary in Tennessee?
Tennessee CDL-A drivers average $60,440 with no state income tax. Memphis drivers earn the most as the home of FedEx's global superhub and a major Mississippi River port.
How does FedEx in Memphis affect TN trucking?
FedEx employs thousands of drivers directly and creates massive secondary demand for freight hauling to and from the Memphis superhub. Feeder drivers, linehaul operators, and local P&D drivers are in constant demand.
Why is Tennessee popular with truck drivers?
No state income tax, central location with access to I-40/I-65/I-24, low cost of living (90% index), and two major logistics hubs (Memphis and Nashville) make Tennessee one of the most driver-friendly states.
What does Tennessee pay at your experience level?
- No Experience / Student driver pay in Tennessee
- Entry Level driver pay in Tennessee
- Mid Level driver pay in Tennessee
- Experienced driver pay in Tennessee
- Veteran driver pay in Tennessee