The average salary for a Truck Driver in Albuquerque is 43,674 $ per year on a 40-hour full-time equivalent, or 3,640 $ gross per month and 21.00 $ gross per hour. The reported full-time salary range is 30,200 $ to 60,444 $. The analysis is based on 33 salary reports from workers and employers in Albuquerque. Part-time salaries are proportionally converted to 40 weekly hours so the values are comparable.
| Date | Job title | Weekly hours | Reported gross/year | Normalized to 40h/year | Gross/month 40h | Gross/hour 40h | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 06/09/2026 | High-Cube Trailer Driver (Senior) | 40.0 h | 56,700 $ | 56,700 $ | 4,725 $ | 27.26 $ | I operate high-cube trailers on regional lanes and have senior-level experience. I'm full-time and often assist with scheduling for the small team I work with. |
| 03/05/2026 | Local Contractor Driver | 40.0 h | 53,000 $ | 53,000 $ | 4,417 $ | 25.48 $ | I contract locally for several retail customers. I'm effectively self-employed and report gross income here; my schedule is steady and I manage small logistical planning. |
| 12/05/2025 | Part-Time Relief Shuttle Driver | 18.5 h | 17,900 $ | 38,703 $ | 3,225 $ | 18.61 $ | I fill in on shuttle routes part-time, averaging about 18.5 hours weekly. The position is intentionally limited so I can pursue another job during the day. |
| 11/11/2025 | Hazmat Lead Driver | 40.0 h | 59,800 $ | 59,800 $ | 4,983 $ | 28.75 $ | I lead hazmat runs for a regional carrier and train others on handling requirements. I'm full-time and the role comes with added responsibility and higher pay. |
| 08/22/2025 | Part-Time Urban Delivery Driver | 30.0 h | 25,500 $ | 34,000 $ | 2,833 $ | 16.35 $ | I work part-time doing dense urban deliveries to retail stores. I average around 30 hours weekly and the pay includes mileage and some delivery premiums. |
| 06/07/2025 | Dedicated Shuttle Driver (Mid-level) | 40.0 h | 47,200 $ | 47,200 $ | 3,933 $ | 22.69 $ | I run a dedicated shuttle contract for a logistics client. I'm full-time, have stable hours, and handle daily manifests and light loading duties. |
| 01/15/2025 | Local Beverage Delivery Driver | 40.0 h | 42,800 $ | 42,800 $ | 3,567 $ | 20.58 $ | I deliver beverages to retail accounts locally. I'm full-time, handle returns and inventory checks, and have been in the role for three years. |
| 10/10/2024 | Regional Heavy Haul Driver | 42.0 h | 63,400 $ | 60,381 $ | 5,032 $ | 29.03 $ | I haul oversized and heavy loads on regional routes. The job requires extra permits and planning, and I work slightly above typical full-time hours due to longer set-ups. |
| 08/01/2024 | Local Beverage Tanker Driver | 40.0 h | 48,900 $ | 48,900 $ | 4,075 $ | 23.51 $ | I drive a tanker for local beverage deliveries. The job requires extra certifications and daily checks; I'm full-time and have been in the role for four years. |
| 06/29/2024 | Part-Time Relief Driver | 20.0 h | 19,800 $ | 39,600 $ | 3,300 $ | 19.04 $ | I work as a part-time relief driver filling in for others on their days off. I average about 20 hours a week and prefer the limited schedule. |
| 04/17/2024 | Short-Haul Freight Driver | 40.0 h | 44,700 $ | 44,700 $ | 3,725 $ | 21.49 $ | I operate short-haul freight routes between nearby cities. I'm full-time with predictable daytime hours and have been doing this for six years. |
| 02/02/2024 | Lead Driver / Training Mentor | 42.0 h | 54,800 $ | 52,190 $ | 4,349 $ | 25.09 $ | I'm the lead driver on my shift and mentor new drivers. I still drive regularly but also handle training documentation and scheduling adjustments for the small team. |
| 09/21/2023 | Owner-Operator (Local Contract) | 45.0 h | 68,000 $ | 60,444 $ | 5,037 $ | 29.06 $ | I contract my truck locally to a few businesses. I classify myself as self-employed; the number is gross income before maintenance and fuel expenses and I work around 45 hours weekly. |
| 05/12/2023 | Dry Van Linehaul Driver (Senior) | 40.0 h | 51,200 $ | 51,200 $ | 4,267 $ | 24.62 $ | I run long linehaul routes and have over a decade of experience. I'm full-time and often act as a go-to for complex loads but don't hold a formal management title. |
| 01/28/2023 | Regional Refrigerated (Reefer) Driver | 40.0 h | 46,200 $ | 46,200 $ | 3,850 $ | 22.21 $ | I haul refrigerated goods regionally and have specialized training. I'm full-time and get paid more due to temperature-controlled cargo and time-sensitive deliveries. |
| 11/03/2022 | Night Shift Freight Driver (Part-time) | 27.5 h | 21,500 $ | 31,273 $ | 2,606 $ | 15.03 $ | I took a part-time night role moving freight between distribution centers to supplement family income. I average about 27.5 hours weekly and am not in charge of other drivers. |
| 08/14/2022 | Regional Refrigerated Driver (Senior) | 40.0 h | 50,600 $ | 50,600 $ | 4,217 $ | 24.33 $ | I haul refrigerated goods across the region and have seniority, which improved my pay. I'm full-time and responsible for temperature-sensitive deliveries. |
| 06/16/2022 | Local CDL B Driver | 40.0 h | 38,800 $ | 38,800 $ | 3,233 $ | 18.65 $ | I run local deliveries requiring a CDL B and work full-time with predictable daytime shifts. I handle heavy lifts but don't supervise others. |
| 11/02/2021 | Local School Transportation Driver | 38.0 h | 36,400 $ | 38,316 $ | 3,193 $ | 18.42 $ | I transport students on local routes and work full-time during the school year with predictable hours. My position requires careful, safety-first driving. |
| 09/27/2021 | Delivery Driver - Medical Supplies | 40.0 h | 40,300 $ | 40,300 $ | 3,358 $ | 19.38 $ | I deliver medical supplies locally and am full-time. The role requires careful handling and paperwork; I've been in the position for four years. |
| 04/19/2021 | Interstate Freight Driver (Senior) | 42.0 h | 53,200 $ | 50,667 $ | 4,222 $ | 24.36 $ | I've been driving interstate freight for over eight years. I work slightly above typical full-time hours and occasionally take on leadership during large hauls. |
| 11/05/2020 | Regional Dedicated Route Driver | 40.0 h | 42,800 $ | 42,800 $ | 3,567 $ | 20.58 $ | I run a dedicated regional route for a mid-size carrier. I'm full-time, have set lanes and regular schedules, and sometimes mentor new hires informally. |
| 06/11/2020 | Part-Time Overnight Truck Driver | 28.0 h | 22,800 $ | 32,571 $ | 2,714 $ | 15.66 $ | I work overnight part-time moving loads between warehouses. The night differential helps, but hours are intentionally limited to about 28 per week. |
| 01/22/2020 | Local Food Service Driver | 38.0 h | 34,900 $ | 36,737 $ | 3,061 $ | 17.66 $ | I deliver food-service supplies to restaurants and work full-time with fairly fixed daytime hours. I don't manage staff but I handle delivery schedules. |
| 06/04/2019 | Regional Logistics Driver | 40.0 h | 44,600 $ | 44,600 $ | 3,717 $ | 21.44 $ | I handle regional logistics runs for a small fleet; I'm full-time and sometimes help plan routes, but I'm not a supervisor. |
| 02/14/2019 | Regional Hazmat Driver | 40.0 h | 49,500 $ | 49,500 $ | 4,125 $ | 23.80 $ | I transport regulated materials regionally and hold hazmat endorsements. I'm full-time, trained in compliance, and get paid a premium for endorsements. |
| 03/18/2018 | Local Shuttle Driver (Part-time) | 22.0 h | 18,300 $ | 33,273 $ | 2,773 $ | 16.00 $ | I drive local shuttle and pickups part-time to supplement income. I average around 22 hours a week and handle cross-dock moves; I'm not a manager. |
| 01/12/2018 | Dry Van Local Driver (Entry) | 36.0 h | 31,800 $ | 35,333 $ | 2,944 $ | 16.99 $ | I was hired as an entry-level dry van local driver and work full-time with a 36-hour schedule. I do frequent loading and unloading and am still building experience. |
| 12/03/2017 | Flatbed Driver (Experienced) | 40.0 h | 45,200 $ | 45,200 $ | 3,767 $ | 21.73 $ | I load and secure freight on flatbeds and have five years of experience. I'm full-time and safety- and training-focused, but I don't have direct reports. |
| 08/01/2017 | Short-Haul Courier Driver (Part-time) | 23.0 h | 20,100 $ | 34,957 $ | 2,913 $ | 16.81 $ | I deliver time-sensitive parcels on short-city routes part-time, averaging about 23 hours weekly. The schedule fits around another job. |
| 05/09/2017 | Regional CDL A Driver | 40.0 h | 37,500 $ | 37,500 $ | 3,125 $ | 18.03 $ | I've been a regional driver for three years and work full-time on a multi-state route with weekly home time. I handle my own paperwork but don't manage others. |
| 11/20/2016 | Part-Time Package Truck Driver | 25.0 h | 20,500 $ | 32,800 $ | 2,733 $ | 15.77 $ | I work part-time doing short route package deliveries while attending school. I average about 25 hours per week and do not have managerial responsibilities. |
| 08/12/2016 | Local Delivery Driver (Entry-level) | 40.0 h | 30,200 $ | 30,200 $ | 2,517 $ | 14.52 $ | I started here as an entry-level local driver two months after getting my CDL. I'm full-time and drive neighborhood routes; I don't supervise anyone and receive occasional overtime. |
Albuquerque sits at the crossroads of Interstate 40 and Interstate 25—known locally as the Big I—making it a natural staging point for freight moving across the Southwest. For truck drivers, the city typically offers steady opportunities tied to regional distribution, less-than-truckload (LTL) networks, grocery and beverage delivery, and last‑mile and linehaul support for e‑commerce. Demand is generally fueled by Albuquerque’s role as the state’s largest metro, its connections to Santa Fe, Las Cruces, and the Four Corners, and its reach to hubs like Denver, Phoenix, Amarillo, and El Paso.
New carriers regularly cycle through the market as freight flows shift, but replacement hiring and route growth remain common. Drivers who know New Mexico’s weight‑distance rules, ports of entry, and high‑desert driving conditions can stand out. Endorsements—especially doubles/triples, tanker, and hazmat—often open doors with LTL carriers, fuel and industrial gas haulers, and defense‑adjacent loads.
Albuquerque’s freight mix is diverse. LTL and regional truckload typically run overnight or two‑to‑three‑day lanes along I‑40 and I‑25. Foodservice and beverage distribution add daily local routes, while building materials and construction supplies create intra‑state haul needs as development ebbs and flows around the metro. The Albuquerque International Sunport supports air cargo, and BNSF Railway serves central New Mexico, helping interconnect long‑haul, air, and rail movements that often require dray or transfer trucking.
Conditions unique to central New Mexico shape day‑to‑day work. I‑40 east of town through Tijeras Canyon and toward Clines Corners can see high winds, snow, and closures in winter. Summer monsoon storms may affect schedules, and high elevation puts a premium on equipment checks and careful braking on grades. Many employers favor drivers who are comfortable with mountain driving, chains when necessary, and route planning around weather and construction.
Regulatory familiarity also helps. Carriers operating in New Mexico typically manage the state’s weight‑distance tax and port‑of‑entry checks; drivers who understand these procedures can reduce delays. Local experience backing into tight docks in older industrial areas and navigating city routes adds value for pickup-and-delivery roles.
Albuquerque hosts a wide range of trucking and logistics employers. Examples include:
Defense, aerospace, and energy‑related shipments tied to Kirtland Air Force Base and Sandia National Laboratories can add specialized driving opportunities through contractors that require background checks and, at times, hazmat or other clearances.
Truck drivers in Albuquerque can tailor a career path to fit home‑time and equipment preferences. Common options include:
Many Albuquerque carriers offer dock‑to‑driver or apprentice programs to help new CDL holders gain experience. Community colleges and private training providers in the metro typically partner with employers for placement, while experienced drivers may find advancement into trainer, lead driver, or dispatch roles. Keeping a clean MVR, maintaining endorsements, and demonstrating safe operations in mountain and high‑wind conditions generally improves prospects.
Overall, the outlook for truck drivers in Albuquerque is stable to moderately strong. The city’s strategic highway junction, mix of LTL and distribution activity, and role as New Mexico’s commercial center support ongoing hiring. Drivers who pair local route knowledge with in‑demand endorsements and reliable safety habits are well positioned to find consistent work across the metro.
The average salary for a Truck Driver in Albuquerque is 43,674 $ per year on a 40-hour basis, or 3,640 $ gross per month.
Part-time and full-time reports are normalized to a 40-hour workweek so salary reports can be compared fairly.
You can find more comparisons on the profession overview for Truck Driver and the city overview for Albuquerque. They show reported cities or jobs with their difference from the average.
Compare all cities for Truck Driver · Alle Jobs in Albuquerque vergleichen
