How Much Do Truck Drivers Make in Ohio? OTR Compensation Unpacked

Ohio is near the center of Midwest logistics, a huge trans-east coast corridor that runs from the East Coast to the West and goes from Canada to the South. Manufacturing resources are abundant in Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati, and Toledo because the state’s great manufacturing sector puts a tremendous demand on skilled commercial CDL drivers who are adept at heavy volume and highly skilled industrial materials. If you are establishing or advancing your career in this vital corridor, a crucial question immediately comes to mind: how much do truck drivers make in Ohio?

The short answer is that the earning potential is highly competitive due to the strong industrial base and the need for specialists. For a broader perspective of how much income a truck driver makes in 2025, see “How Much Does a Truck Driver Make In 2025?”.

Truck Driver Salary in Ohio: The Baseline Figures

When you research compensation in truck driving, you begin with general statistics. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates the average wages for all heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers in Ohio to be $55,610 per year. This means that it’s an average of $26.73 for an hour.

It merely establishes the floor, but it can be inaccurate, as it combines career professionals with all types of drivers: low-mileage local and part-time workers. One OTR professional can earn much more in Ohio than a single dedicated long-haul truck driver, resulting in greater long-haul mileage and more training and expertise.

As the table shows, the actual average OTR annual income is much higher than the general average salary of a truck driver in Ohio. This jump is due to consistent mileage and the premium paid for industrial freight, which is highly prevalent across the state.

Local Truck Driver Salary in Ohio

For drivers who are rooted in major Ohio cities like Columbus or Cleveland and value daily home time, the pay structure is often hourly rather than CPM-based. This is where the local truck driver salary in Ohio gains its stability.

Local CDL positions typically earn between $20 and $35 per hour. The main benefit here is consistency: you get a predictable weekly check, which is crucial in congested areas where traffic and slow loading times can prevent you from racking up high mileage. Choosing to earn hourly means trading the high-ceiling potential of OTR pay for the security of a reliable paycheck and the high value of home time. For many Ohio drivers, the choice for a stable local salary is the defining career decision.

CDL Driver Salary in Ohio

If you are going to maximize your earnings, specialization is nonnegotiable. In Ohio, the state’s manufacturing sector pays high prices to drivers who have advanced skills in complex specialized loads.

The Flatbed Industrial Premium

The best increase in wages comes when you work with specialized Flatbed freight. In flatbed drivers transport steel, construction materials, and heavy machinery to Ohio’s factories. This is one specialized haul that requires physical labor, such as securing and tarping, and is more prone to liability.

As OTR Dry Van drivers estimated earning around $77,786, their average annual salary for experienced OTR Flatbed drivers in Ohio is a sluggish $83,859. This premium confirms that pursuing more intensive and rigorous work is the fastest way to earn a higher CDL driver salary in Ohio.

The Real-World CPM Trade-Off: Pay vs. Home Time

In the competitive Ohio freight market, the primary conflict for drivers is often between maximizing their base CPM and securing guaranteed home time. This decision is entirely defined by the size and structure of the carrier.

The Stability of the Large Carrier

Large national carriers (mega-carriers) do offer a W-2 employment model that emphasizes stability. They offer the full benefit of reliable weekly miles – mostly 2,500–3,000 miles per week – and the basic CPM range, which generally falls between $0.55 and $0.65 for experienced drivers. The main benefit here is not the base rate, but that operational scale that allows them to provide predictable home time, typically biweekly or on designated regional lanes, to help with the stress of frequent OTR schedules.

The Small Fleet High-CPM Bargain

Larger carriers, which work especially niche industrial products for Midwest-area markets, will often advertise a higher base CPM in order to attract talent but drop into the $0.65 to $0.75 range. This extra money is paid because these small operations usually require drivers to be out for three or four weekly periods, more frequent than other smaller ones, to maximize equipment use but provide long, empty miles from home. The high CPM is the transaction for cutting home time.

The Power of Effective CPM

The effective CPM, which includes accessorial pay, is a source of real income for Savvy Ohio CDL drivers. A carrier that consistently pays drivers $50-$75 per hour for detention, which ensures timely layover pay, is often more valuable than another that rates low base CPM but is not compensated for lost time and is also often better than one that overpays drivers $50-$75 for detention. This reduction in paying non-driver labor increases the overall annual income dramatically.

What Are the True Factors That Determine Truck Driver Salary in Ohio?

The progression and ultimate ceiling of your truck driver salary in Ohio depend on strategic career development and skill acquisition.

Experience and Tenure

Your driving history is the most critical asset. As a new CDL driver (0–1 year), you may start on the lower end, sometimes making $34,500 to $50,000. However, senior drivers (5+ years) with a clean record and mastery of the OTR lifestyle become essential. They command the highest CPMs and achieve total earnings easily exceeding $80,000 and up to $120,000 or more.

Endorsements are Non-Negotiable Income Multipliers

If you want to earn top money in the Ohio industrial market, specialized endorsements are mandatory.

• Hazmat (H) Endorsement: Required for transporting regulated materials like chemicals and fuel, which are abundant in Ohio's manufacturing sector. This endorsement provides a significant premium and qualifies the driver for high-rate specialized freight.
• Tanker (N) Endorsement: Essential for hauling bulk liquids or gases. This expertise generally adds an extra $3,000 to $7,000 per year to your base salary.

Pay Structure: CPM vs. Percentage

The type of pay you accept defines your financial security: CPM offers stable income based on miles driven, while percentage pay exposes your annual income to the volatility of market freight rates.

Owner-Operator Potential

For the ambitious owner-operator, gross revenue can be as high as $380,000 per year. However, after covering massive operating costs – including up to $70,000 per year for fuel and maintenance – the net take-home income for a proficient owner-operator typically settles between $70,000 and $150,000 annually, showcasing the high risk involved.

Looking Ahead to 2025 and Beyond

The long-term forecast for the average truck driver salary in Ohio remains exceptionally strong. Despite recent economic softness, the core issue of labor scarcity continues to create persistent upward pressure on wages. The CDL driver salary in Ohio is guaranteed to remain competitive because 57% of drivers are over the age of 45, ensuring that competition for the limited pool of skilled talent will only intensify through 2025 and beyond. Carriers operating in this vital Midwestern hub must invest in superior pay and benefits to secure their workforce.

If you are an experienced CDL driver seeking stable annual income and great home time, consider applying to HMD Trucking. We’re hiring CDL truck drivers in Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus and Toledo. In those cities we’re hiring Dry Van and Flatbed OTR truck drivers as well as regional truck drivers.