Where heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers keep the most after rent
20 large metros ranked by how much of a median truck driver's take-home pay goes to a one-bedroom at HUD Fair Market Rent. BLS occupation code 53-3032; national median $58,640.
Detroit comes out on top. Median pay of $59,120 against a $1,167 one-bedroom leaves $2,973 a month after rent. At the bottom is New York, where rent takes 60% of take-home pay. The highest-paying metro, Seattle ($71,240), ranks 12 of 20 once rent is counted.
1-bedroom rent as a share of take-home pay
Full table
| # | Metro | Median pay | vs. U.S. | 1BR rent | Hours of work | 1BR share | Left / mo | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Detroit | $59,120 | +1% | $1,167 | 41.0 h | 28% | $2,973 | 25,780 |
| 2 | Houston | $56,840 | −3% | $1,261 | 46.1 h | 32% | $2,727 | 49,750 |
| 3 | Minneapolis–St. Paul | $64,200 | +9% | $1,427 | 46.2 h | 32% | $3,053 | 20,430 |
| 4 | Phoenix | $59,770 | +2% | $1,493 | 51.9 h | 36% | $2,691 | 30,480 |
| 5 | Dallas–Fort Worth | $59,530 | +2% | $1,536 | 53.7 h | 37% | $2,632 | 55,670 |
| 6 | Philadelphia | $59,370 | +1% | $1,558 | 54.6 h | 37% | $2,599 | 32,220 |
| 7 | Baltimore | $59,460 | +1% | $1,625 | 56.8 h | 39% | $2,538 | 15,580 |
| 8 | Atlanta | $59,100 | +1% | $1,619 | 57.0 h | 39% | $2,520 | 41,830 |
| 9 | Riverside–San Bernardino | $60,580 | +3% | $1,705 | 58.5 h | 40% | $2,533 | 40,230 |
| 10 | Chicago | $62,300 | +6% | $1,780 | 59.4 h | 41% | $2,573 | 62,210 |
| 11 | Denver | $63,900 | +9% | $1,831 | 59.6 h | 41% | $2,629 | 14,320 |
| 12 | Seattle | $71,240 | +21% | $2,180 | 63.6 h | 44% | $2,732 | 21,230 |
| 13 | Tampa | $50,560 | −14% | $1,648 | 67.8 h | 46% | $1,919 | 15,840 |
| 14 | San Francisco | $66,450 | +13% | $2,290 | 71.7 h | 49% | $2,341 | 16,450 |
| 15 | Washington, DC | $59,820 | +2% | $2,204 | 76.6 h | 53% | $1,983 | 20,430 |
| 16 | San Diego | $59,780 | +2% | $2,335 | 81.2 h | 56% | $1,849 | 10,440 |
| 17 | Boston | $64,010 | +9% | $2,518 | 81.8 h | 56% | $1,950 | 20,090 |
| 18 | Los Angeles | $60,340 | +3% | $2,402 | 82.8 h | 57% | $1,820 | 61,270 |
| 19 | Miami | $51,580 | −12% | $2,121 | 85.5 h | 58% | $1,514 | 29,060 |
| 20 | New York | $65,040 | +11% | $2,729 | 87.3 h | 60% | $1,808 | 65,100 |
Sources & method
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 — metropolitan areas — vintage: May 2025 estimates. File:
oesm25ma.zip, retrieved 2026-10-06. - U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 — national — vintage: May 2025 estimates. File:
oesm25nat.zip, retrieved 2026-10-06. - U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD USER), Fair Market Rents, FY2027 — vintage: FY2027 (effective Oct 1, 2026). File:
FY27_FMRs.xlsx, retrieved 2026-10-05. - Internal Revenue Service, Rev. Proc. 2025-32 (tax year 2026 brackets, $16,100 standard deduction) and SSA's $184,500 wage base, used for the take-home estimate.
Take-home = annual wage − 2026 federal income tax (single filer, standard deduction) − Social Security and Medicare. State and local income taxes are not deducted. Wages are May 2025 estimates; rents are HUD Fair Market Rents FY2027 (effective Oct 1, 2026). Full details on the methodology page. Page data last rebuilt 2026-10-06.