How Much Does a Tanker Driver Make? (2025)
Tanker drivers are responsible for driving and operating industrial-grade vehicles, such as tankers or mixers. They follow safety and operating procedures, manage appropriate cargo documentation, and provide necessary paperwork upon the delivery of goods.
These drivers coordinate the loading and unloading and verify shipment cargo. They prepare and regularly inspect the vehicle before operation, such as checking pressure, lights, and fluid levels.
This salary guide will thoroughly discuss the overview of a tanker driver salary, as well as factors that affect their compensation, necessary steps to have a higher pay, and some related frequently asked questions.
What is the Average Tanker Driver's Salary?
As of April 7, 2025, the average tanker driver salary in the United States is $55,300 per year. The compensation usually ranges from $44,793 to $70,201, with most tanker drivers earning around $49,800 to $63,100.
2025 Average Salary for Tanker Drivers: $55,300 per year ($27 per hour)
The average tanker driver salary per month is $8,458 while the average hourly rate is $49.
| Percentile | By Hour | By Week | By Month | By Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile | $22 | $861 | $3,733 | $44,793 |
| 25th Percentile | $24 | $958 | $4,150 | $49,800 |
| 50th Percentile (Median) | $27 | $1,063 | $4,608 | $55,300 |
| 75th Percentile | $30 | $1,213 | $5,258 | $63,100 |
| 90th Percentile | $34 | $1,350 | $5,850 | $70,201 |
Tanker Driver Salaries State by State
Tanker driver salary varies from state to state due to key factors like cost of living, local economies, and industry presence.
The state with the highest average annual tanker driver salary is the District of Columbia with $61,200, followed by California with $61,000 and Massachusetts with $60,100.
Meanwhile, the state with the lowest average annual salary is Mississippi with $49,300, followed by West Virginia with $49,800 and Arkansas with $49,900.
| State | Average Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Alaska | $59,800 |
| Alabama | $50,800 |
| Arkansas | $49,900 |
| Arizona | $53,900 |
| California | $61,000 |
| Colorado | $56,400 |
| Connecticut | $59,100 |
| District of Columbia | $61,200 |
| Delaware | $56,000 |
| Florida | $52,300 |
| Georgia | $53,300 |
| Hawaii | $57,800 |
| Iowa | $52,900 |
| Idaho | $51,600 |
| Illinois | $56,300 |
| Indiana | $53,100 |
| Kansas | $52,600 |
| Kentucky | $52,000 |
| Louisiana | $52,600 |
| Massachusetts | $60,100 |
| Maryland | $57,000 |
| Maine | $53,900 |
| Michigan | $54,400 |
| Minnesota | $56,600 |
| Missouri | $52,500 |
| Mississippi | $49,300 |
| Montana | $52,200 |
| North Carolina | $52,500 |
| North Dakota | $54,600 |
| Nebraska | $52,100 |
| New Hampshire | $55,900 |
| New Jersey | $59,900 |
| New Mexico | $51,200 |
| Nevada | $54,700 |
| New York | $58,800 |
| Ohio | $53,800 |
| Oklahoma | $51,100 |
| Oregon | $56,100 |
| Pennsylvania | $55,000 |
| Rhode Island | $57,300 |
| South Carolina | $51,800 |
| South Dakota | $50,200 |
| Tennessee | $51,700 |
| Texas | $53,900 |
| Utah | $52,900 |
| Virginia | $55,700 |
| Vermont | $54,200 |
| Washington | $59,900 |
| Wisconsin | $54,400 |
| West Virginia | $49,800 |
| Wyoming | $53,000 |
What are the Best-Paying Cities for Tanker Drivers?
The hot cities that give the best salary for tanker drivers are shown in the table below. With an average annual compensation of $69,700, San Jose, California is the best-paying city. Meanwhile, Paramus, New Jersey is the lowest among the six hot cities with $63,200 per year.
| Cities | Average Pay |
|---|---|
| San Jose, California | $69,700 ($34 per hour) |
| San Francisco, California | $69,000 ($33 per hour) |
| Oakland, California | $67,500 ($32 per hour) |
| New York, New York | $64,000 ($31 per hour) |
| Queens Village, New York | $63,600 ($31 per hour) |
| Paramus, New Jersey | $63,200 ($30 per hour) |
How Does Experience Affect Tanker Driver Salaries?
Just like any profession, greater experience will lead to higher pay when it comes to tanker driver salary.
With less than a year of experience, an entry level position will have an average starting salary of $52,627. An intermediate level with 1 to 2 years of experience gets $53,594.
A senior level with 2 to 4 years of experience will have $56,354, while the specialist level with 5 to 8 years of experience usually gets $58,193 on average. The most experienced analyst is on the expert level with over 8 years of practice, gaining $58,422.
| Levels | Salary |
|---|---|
| Entry Level Tanker Driver | $52,627 |
| Intermediate Level Tanker Driver | $53,594 |
| Senior Level Tanker Driver | $56,354 |
| Specialist Level Tanker Driver | $58,193 |
| Expert Level Tanker Driver | $58,422 |
How to Increase Salary as a Tanker Driver?
Tanker drivers usually have a high school diploma and have attended a professional truck driving school. Also, being a tanker driver requires a Commercial Driver's License (CDL).
When all these qualifications are met, there are ways that can increase the salary of tanker drivers. Here are some of them:
Tanker Driver Advancements
- Earn endorsements: Endorsements like HazMat, which allow you to transport hazardous materials, lead to more job opportunities and more high-paying loads as it imposes higher risks.
- Gain experience: Once you become an expert in tanker driving, you can get an average salary of $58,422 per year.
- Enhance in-demand skills: Honing skills that have high demands in the job market will help you stand out. Based on Real-time Job Posting Salary Data Report, skills in vehicle inspection (5.39%) and safe driving (2.63%) are the most in-demand in 2025.
- Use available bonuses: Bonuses for fuel efficiency, safety qualifications, and meeting delivery deadlines can be offered by the carrier. If your performance allows you to avail yourself of these incentives, it means higher pay.
- Maintain a clean record: Your work reputation goes a long way in potentially increasing your salary as a tanker driver. Build and log an excellent safety track record, effective time management, and good relationships with companies and employers.
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Apply in high-paying sectors: Industries differ in compensation, so it is important that you choose the high-paying ones. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, here are the top industries for heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers with their median annual wages:
- Truck transportation: $57,830
- Wholesale trade: $52,700
- Manufacturing: $51,090
- Construction: $51,080
Tanker Driver Skills
According to Salary.com's Real-time Job Posting Salary Data Report, safe driving skills give the highest increase in salary by 13.28%, followed by skills in vehicle inspection at 10.86% and cargo transportation at 10.82%.
Other significant skills with high salary increases are shipping documentation (9.81%), service delivery (9.60%), and vehicle safety checks (9.32%).
| Skill | Demand | Salary Increase |
|---|---|---|
| Safe driving | 2.63% | +13.28% |
| Vehicle inspection | 5.39% | +10.86% |
| Cargo transportation | 0.38% | +10.82% |
| Shipping documentation | 0.48% | +9.81% |
| Service delivery | 0.38% | +9.60% |
| Vehicle safety checks | 0.98% | +9.32% |
What are the FAQs About Tanker Driver Salaries?
Here are some common questions about tanker driver salary:
Is being a tanker driver worth it?
Being a tanker driver has pros and cons. Fewer education requirements, more work-life balance and stable job, and benefits like health insurance and paid time off are some of its advantages. Meanwhile, driving challenges, risks of dangerous loads, and physical work are some of its disadvantages.
Which pays more, hazmat or tanker?
Due to more specialized skills and handling of hazardous materials like fuels and chemicals, hazmat drivers are paid more than tanker drivers.
How much do local tanker drivers make?
As of April 7, 2025, the average salary of tanker drivers is $55,300 per year in the United States. The compensation usually ranges from $44,793 to $70,201, with most tanker drivers earning around $49,800 to $63,100.
Is it hard driving a tanker?
There are more driving challenges in being a tanker driver than for regular trucks, such as surge, or when a load moves whenever the tanker truck takes turns, making the drive unstable. So, drivers have to control the pace and ensure gradual slow down and stop of the trip. Tankers can also have more dangerous loads like hazardous materials, increasing their risks.
