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Truck driver pay calculator

By Fernandez · Updated October 2026

Price a hired driver, or compare driving offers, on the same basis.

mi
$
$

Weekly pay (gross)

$1,500

Yearly pay (gross)

$75,000

Cents per mile equivalent

60.0 c

Before taxes and deductions. Hourly is straight time; overtime rules depend on the job and the law that applies to it. Cents per mile uses the miles field.

Owners pay drivers from what the truck earns. Our dispatchers keep a hired driver's truck loaded at the fleet rate.

Our dispatchers find and negotiate the loads; you approve each one and sign the rate con. 4% of gross for one truck with an MC 6 months or older, no setup fee.

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How it is calculated

  • Per mile = paid miles x rate per mile.
  • Percent of gross = truck gross x driver share.
  • Hourly = hours x hourly rate (straight time).
  • Day rate = days worked x day rate.
  • Weekly pay = base + bonuses. Yearly pay = weekly pay x weeks worked.
  • Cents per mile = weekly pay / miles x 100.

Worked example

ItemEXAMPLE
Pay typePer mile
Paid miles per week2,500
Rate per mile$0.60
Weekly pay$1,500
Weeks worked50
Yearly pay$75,000

EXAMPLE offer, before taxes and deductions.

For owners hiring a driver

Driver pay comes out of what the truck earns, alongside the payment, insurance and running costs. A rule of thumb from someone else's truck can sink yours, so run the driver's pay against your real weekly gross. If the truck cannot pay the driver and its payment in a normal week, more trucks will not fix it.

Price the truck side with the semi truck payment calculator, and size a purchase with the how much truck can I afford calculator. For the cost of a dispatcher for a second truck, see our pricing page. Loan costs shape the payment; see commercial truck financing rates and how much a semi truck monthly payment runs.

Mistakes when setting driver pay

Driver pay is the biggest cost an owner adds with a second truck, and the one most often set on a guess. A pay plan that works in a strong month and fails in a slow one costs you the driver, the truck's momentum or both. Avoid these:

  • Promising pay the truck cannot earn in a slow week. Run the driver's pay against a slow week's gross, not your best one.
  • Leaving pay terms vague. Write down how miles are counted, what detention and stops pay, and when pay arrives.
  • Forgetting the costs around pay. Payroll taxes, workers compensation and insurance for a new driver can add a lot.
  • Ignoring home time. Drivers stay for steady miles and predictable home time as much as for the rate.
  • Misclassifying drivers. Whether a driver is an employee or a contractor has legal and tax consequences; get advice before you hire.

Keep a hired driver's truck loaded

Tell us about your trucks and drivers. A dispatcher calls you back.

Dispatch my fleet

YOUR NUMBERS, EXAMPLE

Payment
$1,715 /mo
Our fee
5% of gross
YOU KEEP
the rest

Questions

How do you calculate truck driver pay per mile?
Multiply the paid miles by the rate per mile. At 2,500 paid miles and 60 cents a mile, weekly pay is $1,500 before bonuses and deductions. Ask how paid miles are counted, because practical route miles and shortest route miles can differ from what the odometer shows.
What is the average truck driver pay per mile?
Pay per mile varies widely by carrier, experience, freight type and region, and published averages change often. Compare actual offers in the calculator rather than relying on an average. For owners, the right number is what keeps a good driver while the truck still covers its costs.
How do I calculate cents per mile in trucking from other pay types?
Divide weekly pay by the miles driven that week, then multiply by 100. The calculator shows this equivalent for every pay type, using the miles field. It is a handy way to compare a percentage or day-rate offer with a per-mile offer.
Is percent of gross better than pay per mile?
Percent of gross rises and falls with the rates the truck earns, so drivers share good and bad markets. Per-mile pay is steadier but does not reward higher-paying loads. Owners often choose percent of gross because it scales with revenue.
What should an owner budget beyond driver pay?
Payroll taxes and workers compensation for employees, or the paperwork for contractors, plus any benefits, bonuses and per diem. Rules depend on how the driver is classified, employee or contractor, so check with an accountant before you hire and put the pay terms in writing.
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