Top 10 Highest-Paying Industries for Truck Drivers

In 1980, the average truck driver salary added up to more than $100,000 in today’s dollars. The industry has changed a lot in that time, so you may find yourself wondering just how much you can make as a truck driver these days, and the truth is, that answer can have quite a few variables, and today, we’d like to address one of those; the industry in which you work.

A recent analysis of Bureau of Labor Statistics conducted by Truckinginfo.net has revealed which industries pay heavy truckers the most annually, with median wages being used as the primary determining factor in their rankings. Self-employed and contract drivers were not included in the report due to the fact that they operate a bit differently than traditional industry employees.

10. Natural Gas Distribution
    Transporting compressed natural gas between stations and customer locations.
    Median annual wage for drivers: $61,090
    Employee drivers in the industry: 200
11. Communications Equipment Manufacturing
    Transporting large quantities of small equipment like cell phones or larger cargos of more specialized tools such as satellites.
    Median annual wage for drivers: $61,100
    Employee drivers in the industry: 50
12. Spectator Sports
    Hauling venue supplies or other equipment needed for stadiums, arenas, and other large-capacity venues.
    Median annual wage for drivers: $61,110
    Employee drivers in the industry: 260
13. Medical and Diagnostic Laboratories
    Moving large equipment such as CTY scanners and X-ray machines as well as smaller supplies like blood tests or urinalysis materials.
    Median annual wage for drivers: $61,360
    Employee drivers in the industry: 90
14. Couriers and express delivery services
    Picking up and delivering trailers of parcels, often between service centers and local delivery sites.
    Median annual wage for drivers: $62,160
    Employee drivers in the industry: 52,120
15. Support Activities for Water Transportation
    Transporting the supplies necessary for operating dry docks or cleaning and repairing vessels.
    Median annual wage for drivers: $62,890
    Employee drivers in the industry: 3,890
16. Coal Mining
    Transporting coal around and away from excavation sites.
    Median annual wage for drivers: $62,940
    Employee drivers in the industry: 1,150
17. Electric Power Generation, Transmission, and Distribution
    Transporting equipment or raw materials such as coal, petroleum, or gas.
    Median annual wage for drivers: $63,230
    Employee drivers in the industry: 330
18. Rail Transportation
    Haul large shipping containers unloaded from freight trains to be driven to the next destination along the supply chain.
    Median annual wage for drivers: $63,280
    Employee drivers in the industry: 1,670
19. Deep Sea, Coastal, and Great Lakes Water Transportation
    Containers that arrive by water via shipping companies are loaded onto trucks or trains to be hauled to their next destination.
    Median annual wage for drivers: $74,030
    Employee drivers in the industry: 280

Source: Kion546 News Channel