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Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers Salary in Illinois: Cost of Living Adjusted (2025)

Last updated: 2025 BLS data · Page refreshed:

What does a Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers salary really buy you in Illinois?

Illinois is near the US average cost of living

Data: BLS OEWS 2025 + BEA Regional Price Parities 2022 • Updated 2026-05-19

Nominal Salary
$60,320
Median annual (2025)
-1.3%
Real Purchasing Power
$59,545
COL-adjusted (RPP=101.3)

Illinois Cost of Living Index

Illinois's Regional Price Parity (RPP) is 101.3, meaning prices are 1.3% higher the national average. A Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers earning $60,320 in Illinois has the equivalent purchasing power of $59,545 in an average-cost US state.

IL: 101.3
Cheapest (~85) US Avg (100) Priciest (~115)

Salary Breakdown: Nominal vs. COL-Adjusted

Every dollar goes further in low-cost states. Here is how each salary percentile compares after adjusting for Illinois's cost of living.

Percentile Nominal Salary COL-Adjusted Difference
10th Percentile (P10) $39,710 $39,200 $-509
25th Percentile (P25) $48,550 $47,926 $-623
Median (P50) $60,320 $59,545 $-774
75th Percentile (P75) $75,600 $74,629 $-970
90th Percentile (P90) $86,300 $85,192 $-1,107
Key Insight

Illinois's cost of living is close to the national average, so $60,320 keeps most of its value at $59,545 in real terms. Location choice here is more about career opportunities than cost arbitrage.

What the Cost-of-Living Data Says

Illinois Sits Near the National Cost Benchmark

RPP 101.3

With an RPP of 101.3, Illinois is within a few percent of the national cost-of-living baseline. Salary adjustment for Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers is therefore minor — what you earn is close to what you'd keep in real purchasing power.

Minor COL Adjustment for This Salary

-1.3%

After adjusting for Illinois's cost of living, $60,320 nominal nets out to $59,546 in real purchasing power — a small 1.3% loss. The state's cost profile is close enough to average that COL alone shouldn't drive location decisions for this Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers.

Above-Median Adjusted Pay

#25 / 51

Illinois sits at #25 of 51 states for Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers COL-adjusted salary — comfortably above the national midpoint.

Best States for Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers (After Cost of Living)

Where does Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.

1. Alaska
$68,725
RPP 102.0
$68,669
RPP 88.7
$66,693
RPP 88.0
4. Iowa
$65,690
RPP 88.4
5. Indiana
$65,675
RPP 91.8
6. Wyoming
$65,625
RPP 91.9
7. Kansas
$65,466
RPP 90.0
8. Ohio
$65,355
RPP 91.5
9. Montana
$65,193
RPP 90.3
10. Nebraska
$65,022
RPP 89.8

Illinois ranks #25 out of 51 states for Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers after cost-of-living adjustment.

How much do you actually take home? See Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers take-home pay in Illinois after taxes →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the real salary for a Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers in Illinois after cost of living?

A Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers in Illinois earns a median salary of $60,320 per year. After adjusting for Illinois's cost of living (RPP=101.3), the real purchasing power is $59,545 — a -1.3% difference.

Is Illinois expensive to live in?

Illinois's cost of living is 1.3% higher than the national average according to the BEA Regional Price Parities (2022). The RPP index for Illinois is 101.3 (US average = 100).

What are Regional Price Parities (RPP)?

Regional Price Parities (RPPs) are price indexes published by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) that measure differences in price levels across states. They are expressed as a percentage of the national average (US = 100). Higher RPP means higher cost of living.

How is the cost-of-living adjusted salary calculated?

The adjusted salary is calculated as: Nominal Salary x (100 / RPP). For a Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers in Illinois: $60,320 x (100 / 101.3) = $59,545. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.

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