SalaryByCity

Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers vs Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters: Salary Comparison (2024)

Side-by-side salary comparison using 2024 Bureau of Labor Statistics data.

Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers

$57,440

Median annual salary

2,070,480 employed nationally

Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters

$62,970

Median annual salary

455,940 employed nationally

Which Career Pays More?

Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters professionals earn $5,530 more per year than Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers professionals — that's 9.6% higher. At the 90th percentile, Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers earns $78,800 compared to $105,150 for Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters.

Salary Range Comparison

Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers$38,640 – $78,800
Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$40,670 – $105,150
$38,640$105,150

Detailed Salary Comparison

PercentileHeavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck DriversPlumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersDifference
10th Percentile$38,640$40,670$-2,030
25th Percentile$47,230$48,860$-1,630
Median (50th)$57,440$62,970$-5,530
75th Percentile$65,520$81,900$-16,380
90th Percentile$78,800$105,150$-26,350
Mean (Average)$58,400$69,940$-11,540

Employment Numbers

Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers

2,070,480

employed nationwide

Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters

455,940

employed nationwide

Top Paying Cities

Best Cities for Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers

CityMedian
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA$65,220

Best Cities for Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters

CityMedian
Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA$100,110
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI$98,890
Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI$97,020
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA$90,220
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA$87,160

Frequently Asked Questions

Who earns more: Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers or Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters?
Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters professionals earn more, with a median salary difference of $5,530 (9.6% higher) as of 2024 BLS data.
What is the salary range for Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers?
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers salaries range from $38,640 (10th percentile) to $78,800 (90th percentile), with a median of $57,440.
What is the salary range for Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters?
Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters salaries range from $40,670 (10th percentile) to $105,150 (90th percentile), with a median of $62,970.
How many Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers and Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters jobs are there?
There are approximately 2,070,480 Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers positions and 455,940 Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters positions nationwide according to 2024 BLS data.
Is it worth switching from Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters to Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers?
Career decisions depend on many factors beyond salary. Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers has a median salary of $57,440 while Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters earns $62,970. Consider job satisfaction, growth prospects, required education, and work-life balance.

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Data verified March 2026 · Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS