How much does an owner-operator make?

The Average Owner/Operator Income in the US

Have you ever wondered what the average salary of an owner/operator is in the US? Well, according to Indeed.com, the average base income for owner operators is nearly $144,000. But this can vary greatly depending on experience and other factors. Below we’ll break down the average owner/operator salary by highest-paying companies and industries as well as compare different types of owner/operator salaries.


The Highest Paying Companies for Owner/Operators

According to Glassdoor, some of the top-paying companies for owner/operators include Amazon Flex ($82.13/hr), XPO Logistics ($81.50/hr), Schneider National ($77.00/hr), FedEx Ground ($76.10/hr), and JB Hunt Transportation ($75.45/hr). It’s important to note that these wages reflect an hourly rate rather than an annual salary as they would be based on how many hours a driver works per week or month. This means that a driver could potentially make more money working fewer hours at a higher paying company versus working more hours at a lower paying one, though it may be more difficult to get those higher paying jobs due to increased competition from other drivers who are vying for them as well.

What is The Highest Paying freight for Owner Operators?


Owner-operators also have the potential to make a higher wage depending on which type of loads they specialize in carrying and how much time they spend on the road doing so. According to TruckDrivingJobsInAmerica.com, some of the highest paying industries for owner operators are flatbed trucking (average salary $170,838 annually/$82.13 hourly rate), tanker trucking (average salary $164,068 annually/$78.50 hourly rate) refrigerated trucking (average salary $160,741 annually/$77 hourly rate), and intermodal container trucking (average salary $153,927 annually/$73.57 hourly rate). These figures represent averages based on various factors such as location and experience level; there are certainly opportunities out there to earn even more depending on your individual circumstances and goals!

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It’s clear that there is great potential for owner operators to make a very good living with their driving skills and specialized knowledge of different types of loads they carry over long distances across multiple states or even countries! Salaries can vary greatly depending on experience level and type of loads carried but overall it’s safe to say that an owner operator can expect to make around $170,838 annually or about $82 per hour on average if all conditions are met properly and opportunities exist in abundance! As always, research is key when it comes to finding out how much you can realistically expect to make with any job so take some time before making any decisions about becoming an owner operator or switching companies if you already are one! Good luck out there!

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