How much do self-employed owner-operator truckers make?

Census code 484, "Truck Transportation", covers general and specialized freight trucking, long distance and local. Owner-operators who file as businesses are counted here.

In 2024, 900,931 US businesses with no paid employees were classified under this code. Between them they reported $102.0 billion in revenue, an average of $113,219 per firm, 95% above the $58,194 average for all businesses with no employees.

What stands out

Trucking is the outlier among these trades. Only 29.6% of businesses reported under $25,000, half the all-industry share of 60.4%, and 35.1% reached $100,000 or more, more than two and a half times the 13.3% for all nonemployers.

It also has one of the lowest sole proprietor shares, 83.5%. Trucking firms set up as partnerships or corporations averaged $220,187, a smaller multiple of the $92,027 sole proprietors averaged than in most trades here.

Illinois holds 2.0 times its national share of these firms, Texas 1.4 and Minnesota 1.4. Among states with at least 500 trucking firms, New Hampshire (0.26) and Vermont (0.29) have the lowest relative concentrations.

What a typical firm brings in

The average hides a wide spread. 14.1% of firms reported under $10,000 (all industries: 37.3%), 29.6% under $25,000 (all: 60.4%) and 45.1% under $50,000. 35.1% reached $100,000 or more (all: 13.3%). The middle firm falls in the "$50,000 to $99,999" bracket.

How much is left after costs

The IRS publishes tax-return totals for sole proprietors by industry. For "Truck transportation", which matches this trade's Census code, sole proprietors reported $114.4 billion in business receipts in tax year 2023. After netting losses against profits, they reported $11.6 billion in net business income: 10.1 cents for every dollar of receipts, or $13,823 per return, before personal income tax. 24.7% of returns showed no positive net income. This is an industry ratio for 2023 sole proprietorship returns, including businesses with paid employees. It is before personal income tax and is not a typical owner's margin; the Census figures above cover 2024 businesses with no paid employees.

How it varies by state

Texas has the most firms, at 131,527. Among the 49 states (including DC) with at least 500 firms, revenue per firm is highest in Kansas ($158,435) and lowest in New York ($84,209). The Census assigns each business to a state by its mailing address, which may not be where the work is done. These data do not explain state differences or show take-home pay.

Frequently asked questions

How much do self-employed owner-operator truckers make?

Census data for 2024 show 900,931 US businesses with no paid employees in this trade, reporting an average of $113,219 in revenue each. 29.6% took in under $25,000, against 60.4% of all businesses with no employees. Revenue is what the business takes in before costs, so it is not the owner's income.

Which state has the highest revenue per firm for self-employed owner-operator truckers?

Among the 49 states (including DC) with at least 500 firms, Kansas had the highest average revenue per firm, at $158,435, and New York the lowest, at $84,209. States are assigned by business mailing address, and these figures do not show take-home pay.

Sources and method

• Firms, receipts, legal form and receipts size: U.S. Census Bureau, Nonemployer Statistics, reference year 2024, released September 2026, NAICS 484 (methodology). Revenue per firm is total receipts divided by the number of firms. Revenue for partnerships and corporations is total receipts less sole proprietor receipts, divided by the number of those firms. State concentration compares each state's share of this trade's firms with its share of all businesses with no employees.
• Net business income per dollar: IRS, Statistics of Income, Nonfarm Sole Proprietorship Statistics, tax year 2023, Table 1, "Truck transportation". Net income less deficit divided by business receipts.
• Data are in the public domain. Minted Empire is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau or the IRS.