How much does a tank car, truck, and ship loader make?
The median tank car, truck, and ship loader in the United States earns $58,870 per year, about $28.30 an hour. That is the midpoint of the profession: half of all tank car, truck, and ship loaders earn more, and half earn less.
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. SOC code 53-7121.
Tank car, truck, and ship loader salary range
Pay for tank car, truck, and ship loaders spans a wide band. The lowest paid 10 percent earn under $39,460 a year, while the highest paid 10 percent take home more than $83,160. The average (mean) wage of $59,970 runs a bit higher than the median, which is normal for jobs where a group of top earners pulls the average up.
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $39,460 | $18.97 | Lowest paid |
| 25th percentile | $46,300 | $22.26 | |
| Median (50th) | $58,870 | $28.30 | Midpoint |
| 75th percentile | $70,060 | $33.69 | |
| 90th percentile | $83,160 | $39.98 | Highest paid |
Figures are national wage estimates for tank car, truck, and ship loaders (SOC 53-7121), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025.
Tank car, truck, and ship loader salary by state
Where you work changes the paycheck. Tank car, truck, and ship loaders earn the most in Maryland at $81,320 a year, and the least in Arkansas at $33,800. The table below lists every state with published data, ranked by median annual salary.
| State | Median annual | Employed |
|---|---|---|
| Maryland | $81,320 | 110 |
| South Carolina | $80,700 | 90 |
| Montana | $80,070 | 80 |
| Minnesota | $76,620 | N/A |
| Alabama | $75,450 | 240 |
| Oregon | $74,040 | N/A |
| Massachusetts | $71,750 | 140 |
| New Hampshire | $70,030 | 40 |
| California | $68,600 | 110 |
| New Jersey | $64,890 | 120 |
| North Dakota | $61,210 | 310 |
| Texas | $61,170 | 1,620 |
| Louisiana | $58,900 | 500 |
| Michigan | $57,900 | 200 |
| Missouri | $57,750 | 180 |
| Ohio | $57,700 | 820 |
| Wisconsin | $57,250 | 170 |
| West Virginia | $54,750 | 90 |
| Utah | $53,370 | N/A |
| Kentucky | $53,160 | 130 |
| Iowa | $51,450 | 180 |
| Colorado | $51,200 | 80 |
| Georgia | $51,160 | 50 |
| New York | $48,220 | 110 |
| Pennsylvania | $48,120 | 90 |
| New Mexico | $48,010 | 80 |
| Nebraska | $46,300 | N/A |
| Florida | $45,540 | 430 |
| Hawaii | $45,240 | N/A |
| North Carolina | $44,910 | 240 |
| Indiana | $44,310 | 250 |
| Idaho | $41,700 | 80 |
| Virginia | $41,190 | 60 |
| Oklahoma | $35,360 | 170 |
| Arkansas | $33,800 | 150 |
State median wages for tank car, truck, and ship loaders (SOC 53-7121), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS state files, May 2025. States where the BLS does not publish a median are not shown.
Job outlook for tank car, truck, and ship loaders
The BLS projects employment of tank car, truck, and ship loaders to grow 2.8% from 2025 to 2035. That is about as fast as the 3.5% average for all occupations. That works out to roughly 12,800 jobs in 2025 moving toward 13,200 by 2035.
Across the decade, the BLS expects about 1,300 openings a year for tank car, truck, and ship loaders. Most come from the need to replace workers who move to other jobs or leave the workforce, on top of any new positions from growth.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program, 2025-35 (Table 1.2, Occupational projections and worker characteristics).
How to become a tank car, truck, and ship loader
The typical entry-level education for tank car, truck, and ship loaders is no formal educational credential, according to the BLS. New hires typically complete short-term on-the-job training to reach full competency.
A four-year college degree is usually not required to start, which makes this one of the jobs you can enter without a bachelor's degree. See more high paying jobs without a degree .
Education, training, and experience data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program.
What affects how much a tank car, truck, and ship loader earns
Route type, employer, endorsements, and hours behind the wheel drive pay. Long-haul, specialized freight, and union employers tend to sit at the top of the range, while local and entry-level roles start lower.
Location is one of the clearest factors. The gap between the top paying state (Maryland, $81,320) and the lowest (Arkansas, $33,800) shows how much geography alone can move the number, before experience or specialization.
About 10,700 people work as tank car, truck, and ship loaders in the United States. At $58,870 a year, the job pays above the $50,980 median for all U.S. jobs.
Tank car, truck, and ship loader salary FAQ
How much does a tank car, truck, and ship loader make an hour?
The median hourly wage for a tank car, truck, and ship loader is $28.30. The middle half of tank car, truck, and ship loaders earn between $22.26 and $33.69 per hour.
What is the highest tank car, truck, and ship loader salary?
The highest paid 10 percent of tank car, truck, and ship loaders earn more than $83,160 per year. Top earners usually have the most experience and work in the best paying regions and industries.
How much does a tank car, truck, and ship loader make a year?
The median annual salary for a tank car, truck, and ship loader is $58,870. The average (mean) wage of $59,970 runs a bit higher than the median, which is normal for jobs where a group of top earners pulls the average up.
Is being a tank car, truck, and ship loader a well paid job?
At $58,870 a year, a tank car, truck, and ship loader earns above the $50,980 median for all U.S. jobs. About 10,700 people work as tank car, truck, and ship loaders in the United States.
Which state pays tank car, truck, and ship loaders the most?
Maryland has the highest median salary for tank car, truck, and ship loaders at $81,320 a year. South Carolina ($80,700) and Montana ($80,070) follow. State medians come from the BLS OEWS state files, May 2025.
Is being a tank car, truck, and ship loader a good career?
Employment of tank car, truck, and ship loaders is projected to grow 2.8% from 2025 to 2035, about as fast as the 3.5% average for all occupations. The BLS projects about 1,300 openings each year, from growth and from workers leaving the occupation.
Do you need a degree to become a tank car, truck, and ship loader?
No. The BLS lists the typical entry-level education for tank car, truck, and ship loaders as no formal educational credential, so a four-year degree is usually not required to start.
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