The average salary for a Truck Driver in Tampa is 55,551 $ per year on a 40-hour full-time equivalent, or 4,629 $ gross per month and 26.71 $ gross per hour. The reported full-time salary range is 33,143 $ to 97,778 $. The analysis is based on 35 salary reports from workers and employers in Tampa. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 03/21/2026 | Entry-level City Driver | 36.0 h | 44,000 $ | 48,889 $ | 4,074 $ | 23.50 $ | I was hired as an entry-level city driver in 2026 and work roughly 36 hours per week doing timed deliveries in the metro area. |
| 01/08/2026 | Long-haul Senior Driver | 44.0 h | 95,000 $ | 86,364 $ | 7,197 $ | 41.52 $ | In early 2026 I worked long-haul interstate freight with high-paying lanes and consistent bonuses, averaging about 44 hours a week. |
| 12/15/2025 | Veteran Senior Driver | 40.0 h | 85,000 $ | 85,000 $ | 7,083 $ | 40.87 $ | I have many years of experience and by late 2025 was driving high-paying dedicated lanes for national clients, full-time with consistent schedules. |
| 09/19/2025 | Part-time Dedicated Service Driver | 32.0 h | 38,000 $ | 47,500 $ | 3,958 $ | 22.84 $ | I work a dedicated route part-time for a private company, averaging 32 hours per week and receiving a better hourly rate than ad-hoc part-time work. |
| 06/30/2025 | Senior Regional Driver | 42.0 h | 80,000 $ | 76,190 $ | 6,349 $ | 36.63 $ | By mid-2025 I had seniority and took higher-paying regional lanes, averaging about 42 hours a week with some overtime. |
| 03/14/2025 | Night-Shift Local Driver | 40.0 h | 58,000 $ | 58,000 $ | 4,833 $ | 27.88 $ | In 2025 I drove night shifts hauling refrigerated goods. The shift premium and consistent hours led to a higher local driver pay. |
| 11/03/2024 | Union Freight Driver | 40.0 h | 63,000 $ | 63,000 $ | 5,250 $ | 30.29 $ | I worked for a large unionized carrier in late 2024 as a full-time driver with strong benefits and negotiated wages. |
| 07/27/2024 | CDL Instructor / Lead Driver | 40.0 h | 69,000 $ | 69,000 $ | 5,750 $ | 33.17 $ | I teach new drivers and also handle lead driving duties at a training-focused operation. My role in 2024 was full-time with a training/leadership component. |
| 04/30/2024 | Part-time Relief Driver | 20.0 h | 23,500 $ | 47,000 $ | 3,917 $ | 22.60 $ | In 2024 I worked only relief shifts and averaged about 20 hours weekly; this was supplemental income while I trained for endorsements. |
| 02/11/2024 | Owner-Operator (self-employed) | 45.0 h | 110,000 $ | 97,778 $ | 8,148 $ | 47.01 $ | In 2024 my owner-operator business did well with steady contracts and premium freight; I worked up to 45 hours/week handling logistics and client relationships. |
| 10/02/2023 | Part-time Relief Driver | 18.0 h | 20,500 $ | 45,556 $ | 3,796 $ | 21.90 $ | I pick up relief shifts and average about 18 hours a week. This was my reported annual income for late 2023 while I do other gig work. |
| 07/12/2023 | Dispatcher / Lead Driver | 45.0 h | 78,000 $ | 69,333 $ | 5,778 $ | 33.33 $ | By 2023 I was doing dispatch and lead driving duties, which required more hours and administrative responsibilities in addition to driving. |
| 05/18/2023 | Experienced Long-haul Driver | 42.0 h | 75,000 $ | 71,429 $ | 5,952 $ | 34.34 $ | In mid-2023 I was working long-haul routes with premium pay for extended hours and hazardous route pay on occasion. |
| 01/26/2023 | Entry-level Truck Driver | 40.0 h | 42,000 $ | 42,000 $ | 3,500 $ | 20.19 $ | I was a new hire in early 2023 doing local and short regional runs. I'm full-time and still building experience and my pay reflects the entry-level starting rate. |
| 11/29/2022 | Owner-Operator (down year) | 44.0 h | 72,000 $ | 65,455 $ | 5,455 $ | 31.47 $ | I run my own truck but 2022 was a tougher year with variable loads and higher costs, so earnings were lower than previous good years despite long hours. |
| 08/09/2022 | Small Business Delivery Driver | 38.0 h | 52,000 $ | 54,737 $ | 4,561 $ | 26.32 $ | I work full-time for a small logistics company in 2022. The pay reflects local cost of living and steady demand for last-mile deliveries. |
| 03/22/2022 | Senior Truck Driver / Lead | 44.0 h | 68,000 $ | 61,818 $ | 5,152 $ | 29.72 $ | By 2022 I was a senior/lead driver overseeing a small fleet and training new hires. My role was managerial and I worked about 44 hours weekly. |
| 12/15/2021 | Owner-Operator (self-employed) | 45.0 h | 85,000 $ | 75,556 $ | 6,296 $ | 36.32 $ | In 2021 I operated my own truck and ran long-haul contracts. I worked long weeks around 45 hours and managed all business operations myself. |
| 06/07/2021 | Mid-level Regional Driver | 40.0 h | 55,000 $ | 55,000 $ | 4,583 $ | 26.44 $ | I had been driving regionally for a few years by mid-2021. I'm full-time and handle longer regional routes with occasional overnight stays. |
| 02/03/2021 | Medical Supply Driver | 40.0 h | 47,000 $ | 47,000 $ | 3,917 $ | 22.60 $ | I deliver medical supplies to clinics and have been full-time since early 2021. The role requires careful handling and consistent punctuality. |
| 11/30/2020 | Seasonal Part-time Driver | 25.0 h | 28,000 $ | 44,800 $ | 3,733 $ | 21.54 $ | I worked seasonally part-time delivering retail stock in late 2020, averaging 25 hours per week and getting paid a premium for holiday shifts. |
| 06/21/2020 | Rehired Driver (post-furlough) | 38.0 h | 50,000 $ | 52,632 $ | 4,386 $ | 25.30 $ | I was briefly furloughed in 2020 and rehired later that year. My 2020 reported salary reflects reduced downtime but steady full-time hours once back. |
| 02/14/2020 | Local CDL Driver | 38.0 h | 46,000 $ | 48,421 $ | 4,035 $ | 23.28 $ | In early 2020 I was a full-time local CDL driver working essential deliveries during the initial pandemic months and picked up extra shifts. |
| 12/09/2019 | Hazmat Certified Driver | 40.0 h | 54,000 $ | 54,000 $ | 4,500 $ | 25.96 $ | I had hazardous materials certification in 2019 and got paid a premium for those lanes and compliance responsibilities, full-time position. |
| 09/25/2019 | Over-the-Road Driver | 42.0 h | 60,000 $ | 57,143 $ | 4,762 $ | 27.47 $ | As an experienced OTR driver in 2019 I worked extended runs and averaged about 42 hours per week, including long-haul trips across several states. |
| 04/03/2019 | Union Local Truck Driver | 40.0 h | 48,000 $ | 48,000 $ | 4,000 $ | 23.08 $ | I worked for a large carrier under a union contract in 2019. I was a steady full-time local driver with benefits and a predictable schedule. |
| 11/18/2018 | Owner-Operator (self-employed) | 45.0 h | 70,000 $ | 62,222 $ | 5,185 $ | 29.91 $ | I'm self-employed as an owner-operator doing regional loads. In 2018 I put in long weeks of up to 45 hours and handled all my own logistics and expenses. |
| 05/06/2018 | Part-time Shuttle Driver | 30.0 h | 30,000 $ | 40,000 $ | 3,333 $ | 19.23 $ | I work part-time moving freight between warehouses. I average 30 hours a week and have been doing this since 2018 while attending school. |
| 02/16/2018 | Temporary CDL Driver | 40.0 h | 37,000 $ | 37,000 $ | 3,083 $ | 17.79 $ | I was on a temp contract in early 2018 driving for short-term projects. I worked full weeks but didn't get long-term benefits. |
| 12/20/2017 | Lead Truck Driver | 44.0 h | 46,000 $ | 41,818 $ | 3,485 $ | 20.10 $ | In 2017 I was promoted to lead driver coordinating a small team. I work longer weeks around 44 hours managing runs and mentoring junior drivers. |
| 07/11/2017 | Regional Truck Driver | 40.0 h | 38,500 $ | 38,500 $ | 3,208 $ | 18.51 $ | I've been a regional driver since early 2017. I run multi-state routes and am considered mid-level experience with overtime opportunities. |
| 03/05/2017 | Independent Contractor (1099) | 30.0 h | 33,000 $ | 44,000 $ | 3,667 $ | 21.15 $ | I did independent contractor driving in 2017, averaging 30 hours per week. I handled my own taxes and expenses which impacted net earnings. |
| 10/02/2016 | Local Truck Driver | 40.0 h | 34,000 $ | 34,000 $ | 2,833 $ | 16.35 $ | I started as an entry-level local driver in mid-2016. I'm full-time and work a standard schedule delivering goods within the region, no supervisory duties. |
| 08/29/2016 | Courier / Small Van Driver | 35.0 h | 29,000 $ | 33,143 $ | 2,762 $ | 15.93 $ | I worked for a small courier service in 2016 as a full-time driver doing local runs and warehousing tasks, averaging 35 hours weekly. |
| 07/10/2016 | Local Delivery Driver (part-time) | 20.0 h | 21,000 $ | 42,000 $ | 3,500 $ | 20.19 $ | I work part-time doing local deliveries and have been here a year. I average about 20 hours a week and get paid hourly, which totaled this annual amount for 2016 when I started. |
Tampa’s logistics scene is shaped by Port Tampa Bay, the I-4 corridor, and a fast-growing Central Florida consumer market. For truck drivers, this creates steady freight flows that range from port drayage and fuel hauling to grocery, construction materials, and last‑mile delivery. Employers in the Tampa–St. Petersburg–Clearwater metro often seek CDL‑A and CDL‑B drivers who can handle local, regional, and over‑the‑road routes, with endorsements like tanker or hazmat providing additional options.
Because Tampa sits at the intersection of I‑4 and I‑75, drivers can reach Orlando, Lakeland/Winter Haven, and Southwest Florida efficiently. The region’s warehouses and food distribution hubs have expanded alongside e‑commerce, tourism, and population growth, which typically supports ongoing hiring for both entry‑level and experienced drivers.
Tampa’s freight mix is diverse. Port Tampa Bay handles petroleum products, bulk commodities, building materials, containers, and refrigerated cargo, all of which depend on local and regional trucking. Drayage activity to and from the port and nearby rail facilities can keep day cabs busy, while regional runs move goods across the I‑4 corridor into Polk County’s major distribution centers and beyond. Seasonal factors also matter: winter tourism and population inflows often boost grocery and beverage volumes, and Central Florida’s spring produce season—especially strawberries out of Plant City—can add refrigerated freight.
Construction and infrastructure work around the bay area have supported demand for dump, mixer, and flatbed drivers who can haul aggregates, asphalt, concrete, steel, and roofing materials to job sites. Fuel distribution from terminals near the port to stations and commercial accounts across Central Florida also requires tanker drivers with the proper endorsements. On the LTL side, multiple national carriers operate service centers in the metro, offering linehaul and city P&D work.
From a driver’s standpoint, Tampa traffic patterns and infrastructure are important considerations. Congestion on I‑4, I‑275, and major bridges can affect schedules, and port or rail appointments may require strict time management. Port access typically requires a TWIC card, and some routes make use of tolled expressways. Many employers note a preference for clean MVRs, familiarity with ELDs, and safe backing in tight urban docks.
Truck drivers in Tampa, Florida, can find opportunities with national carriers, local fleets, and shippers that run private logistics operations. Real employers active in the area include:
Drivers in Tampa can choose among local home‑daily roles, regional routes covering the I‑4/I‑75 network, and long‑haul positions that run the Southeast and beyond. Newer CDL‑A holders may start with OTR or dedicated regional accounts, while experienced drivers often target specialized work—tanker, flatbed, or port drayage—for more consistent lanes or specific schedules. Obtaining endorsements such as tanker (N), hazmat (H), or combined (X) can open doors with fuel carriers and certain LTL or dedicated fleets. A TWIC card is commonly required for port access.
Refrigerated carriers frequently move produce from Plant City and other Central Florida farms, especially during peak seasons, and foodservice distributors recruit drivers comfortable with touch‑freight and hand‑truck deliveries to restaurants and stores. LTL companies provide paths into city P&D, dock‑to‑driver programs, and linehaul runs, which can suit drivers who prefer structured routes and terminal support. Construction activity around the bay area creates opportunities for CDL‑B mixer drivers, dump operators, and flatbed drivers hauling rebar, wallboard, and lumber to job sites.
Local training and upskilling options are readily available. Many drivers in the Tampa area earn their credentials through schools such as Roadmaster Drivers School (Tampa) or programs at regional technical colleges, then build experience through OTR or dedicated accounts. From there, it’s common to move into specialized niches or secure consistent home‑daily roles. Given the region’s port activity, distribution footprint, and construction pipeline, hiring demand for safe, reliable truck drivers in Tampa is generally steady year‑round.
The average salary for a Truck Driver in Tampa is 55,551 $ per year on a 40-hour basis, or 4,629 $ 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 Tampa. They show reported cities or jobs with their difference from the average.
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