Truck Driver Pay in New Hampshire (2026)
Official BLS numbers for heavy and tractor-trailer drivers (SOC 53-3032) in New Hampshire, plus how Boston-orbit distribution, a high wage floor and zero tax on wages make a small market pay like a big one.
By the HaulMath editorial team · Updated $1
Key numbers at a glance
| Metric (SOC 53-3032, statewide) | BLS OEWS, May 2025 | Typical market read (hedged) |
|---|---|---|
| Mean hourly wage | $29.13 | Above the $28.71 national mean |
| Mean annual wage | $60,600 | vs. $59,710 nationally — about $900 ahead |
| Median annual wage | $60,280 | Mean and median nearly identical |
| 10th percentile (annual) | $47,370 | Highest entry floor in this series after Massachusetts |
Truck driver pay in New Hampshire: the numbers
Figures come from the Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey for heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers, May 2025 release. New Hampshire is the smallest market in this series — about 6,960 driver jobs, roughly 10.2 of every 1,000 — but a small market is not a cheap one. Annual figures assume 2,080 hours.
| Metric (SOC 53-3032, statewide) | BLS OEWS, May 2025 | Typical market read (hedged) |
|---|---|---|
| Mean hourly wage | $29.13 | Above the $28.71 national mean |
| Mean annual wage | $60,600 | vs. $59,710 nationally — about $900 ahead |
| Median annual wage | $60,280 | Mean and median nearly identical |
| 10th percentile (annual) | $47,370 | Highest entry floor in this series after Massachusetts |
| 75th percentile (annual) | $65,140 | Compressed top — few premium niches |
| 90th percentile (annual) | $74,200 | Solid ceiling for a six-figure-population job pool |
| Hedged hiring range, 2026 | — | Roughly $50,000–$65,000 for experienced company drivers; verify with carriers |
The New Hampshire curve is a high floor with a flattish top: the $47,370 tenth-percentile wage means even entry jobs pay near what mid-career work pays in Mississippi or Missouri, and the median sits within $320 of the mean — a compact, experienced market where the scarce commodity is drivers, not freight. The trade-off is ceiling: $65,140 at the 75th percentile is compressed, because the specialized long-haul niches that inflate top deciles elsewhere are rare here. BLS does not track CPM; New England regional roles commonly advertise roughly $0.60–$0.80/mile, and hourly structures are common in distribution work — confirm with carriers.
How miles and freight shape pay in New Hampshire
New Hampshire freight is Boston freight with a New Hampshire address. Warehousing and distribution cluster along the southern tier — around Salem, Nashua, Manchester and the I-93 corridor, plus the I-95 coastal strip and Portsmouth's port — largely serving the greater Boston metro just over the line, where land is cheaper and taxes are lighter. The work that follows is regional by design: day-cab and relay routes into Massachusetts, grocery and retail replenishment, building materials, and the winter constant of heating fuel and propane delivery that New England demands. Forest products and paper round out the northern half, where the corridors thin to I-93, I-89 and US-3 and the runs get long and rural.
Structurally this is a local-and-regional market: home-nightly distribution jobs, New England relays (out 1–2 nights), and port-related drayage around Portsmouth. True OTR seats exist but usually belong to carriers headquartered out of state, which is one reason the wage ceiling compresses. Winters shape earnings — ski-country resupply north and snow-belt retail surges create seasonal peaks, while ice weeks slow everything. Owner-operators domiciled in New Hampshire get the best of both worlds: no tax on wages, no state sales tax, and access to the dense New England freight market — run lanes through the load profit calculator, price Boston congestion honestly, and confirm the fuel surcharge keeps pace with New England diesel, which typically runs above the national average. Compare states on the truck driver pay by state hub.
The tax angle in New Hampshire
New Hampshire levies no income tax on wages — the state's only individual income tax, on interest and dividends, is in its final phase-out. That means a $60,600 mean wage arrives with no state withholding, worth roughly $2,400–$3,600 a year versus a 4–6% tax state, and neighboring Massachusetts drivers have noticed: living in New Hampshire while running Bay State freight is a classic New England arbitrage. Owner-operators get the same no-wage-tax advantage through the business and should still apply the federal trucking tax deductions. Verify details with the New Hampshire Department of Revenue Administration.
FAQ
How much do truck drivers make in New Hampshire?
Per BLS OEWS (May 2025), heavy and tractor-trailer drivers in New Hampshire earn a mean of $29.13/hour or $60,600/year, with a median of $60,280 and a 10th–90th percentile spread of $47,370–$74,200.
Does New Hampshire tax truck driver pay?
No — New Hampshire levies no state income tax on wages (its interest-and-dividends tax is being phased out). Drivers keep the full gross less federal tax.
What freight moves in New Hampshire?
Distribution serving greater Boston — many New Hampshire warehouses feed the Massachusetts metro — plus building materials, heating fuel and forest products, and through-traffic on I-95, I-93 and I-89.
Is New Hampshire pay above the national average for CDL drivers?
Yes — the $60,600 mean is about $900 above the national $59,710, and the $47,370 entry floor is one of the highest 10th-percentile wages in this state series.
Is OTR or local work more common in New Hampshire?
Regional and local work dominate: day routes into Massachusetts, New England relays and distribution around Manchester and the I-93 corridor. True coast-to-coast OTR jobs usually sit with carriers based elsewhere.
What per-mile pay can a company driver expect in New Hampshire?
BLS does not track CPM. Company regional positions in New England commonly advertise roughly $0.60–$0.80 per mile; confirm current offers with the carrier.