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How Much do Truck Drivers Make Per Mile? – Learn to Calculate Trucking Rates

Truck Driver Academy / Blog  / How Much do Truck Drivers Make Per Mile? – Learn to Calculate Trucking Rates

How Much do Truck Drivers Make Per Mile? – Learn to Calculate Trucking Rates

If you’re looking to start a career as a trucker, you may have heard some things about the type of salary you could make – some fact and some fiction. We’re here to give you a better idea of how much truckers actually make per mile and the overall salary you can expect.

Trucking rates per mile in 2020 vary greatly and can depend on a variety of factors, but there are three important things that should be considered: 1) the type of job you have 2) where you live and the routes you drive and 3) how much experience you have. So, how much do truck drivers make per mile? Read on to find out more.

Company Driver vs. Owner-Operator

One of the most important factors when calculating truck driver pay per mile is the type of job you have. While there are many different types of drivers that may have varying levels of duties and responsibilities, for the sake of keeping things simple, we will only discuss the two main types – a company driver and an owner-operator.

A company driver is someone who is hired by a company to drive the truck that is owned by the company. This means that the driver is responsible for driving the route and doing the proper inspections before and after the trip, but they aren’t responsible to pay for repairs, oil changes, etc.

An owner-operator, on the other hand, owns the truck and is responsible for repairs. They also have more authority to choose their routes and schedule. So, while they take on more responsibility, they also have the opportunity to make a higher salary and more per mile.

According to Glassdoor, the average salary for truck drivers is around $58,000 a year (obviously other factors will play into if your salary is higher or lower than the average). However, if you own and drive your own truck, you could potentially earn between $100k and $150k or potentially more. While your earning potential is much higher as an owner-operator, just remember that it comes with a significant amount of responsibility including a long list of expenses, so be sure you’re prepared for all aspects of being an owner-operator before taking the plunge.

Location

Another factor that determines how much you’ll make per mile as a truck driver is where you live. As with any job, different areas have different costs of living, and salaries reflect that. So while you may make less on average in certain areas, it may still be a great salary based on the cost of living there. 

According to Zippia, the best states to work for truck drivers (based on the average salary and cost of living) are North Dakota, Wyoming, and Indiana. California, on the other hand, may have a higher average salary, but since the cost of living is also much higher, this cancels out the increase in wages. It’s important to note that the numbers considered are just averages and obviously the salaries across a state can vary widely.

Years of Experience

The last thing to consider when calculating how much you should expect to make as a truck driver is your years of experience. As in other professions, you can continue to increase the amount you make as you gain more experience.

Based on the type of job you plan to get, where you live, and how much experience you have, you should now have a pretty good idea of how much you’ll make per mile as a truck driver. If you’re ready to take the next step in your trucking career, check out our truck driving school in Baldwin Park.