Owner Operator Salary in the United States

How much does an Owner Operator make in the United States?

As of January 01, 2026, the average salary for an Owner Operator in the United States is $68,301 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $33.

However, an Owner Operator's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $82,937
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $63,857 to $75,962
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $59,811
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View as table View as graph 25% $63,857 10% $59,811 90% $82,937 75% $75,962 $68,301 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Owner Operator Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $75,962 $6,330 $1,461 $37
Average $68,301 $5,692 $1,313 $33
25th Percentile $63,857 $5,321 $1,228 $31
Check out Owner Operator Job Openings in the United States
OTR Class Owner Operator

Clean Harbors - REIDSVILLE, NC

Regional Class Owner Operator

Clean Harbors - DES MOINES, IA

OTR Owner Operator

Clean Harbors - KIMBALL, NE

Owner

Schneider - DALLAS, TX

Search More Owner Operator Jobs in the United States

Key Factors That Influence Owner Operator Salaries

An Owner Operator's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Owner Operator Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of an Owner Operator's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $66,338
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $66,656
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $67,102
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $67,963
  • Expert (over 8 years): $70,216
Levels Salary
Entry Level Owner Operator$66,338
Intermediate Level Owner Operator$66,656
Senior Level Owner Operator$67,102
Specialist Level Owner Operator$67,963
Expert Level Owner Operator$70,216
$66,338 0 yr
$66,656 < 2 yrs
$67,102 2-4 yrs
$67,963 5-8 yrs
$70,216 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

Top Paying Cities for Owner Operators

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $86,148
  • San Francisco: $85,301
  • Oakland: $83,409

What Skills Can Increase an Owner Operator's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Customer Service (Mentioned in 19.73% Job Postings): Customer service is the provision of service to customers before, during and after a purchase. The perception of success of such interactions is dependent on employees "who can adjust themselves to the personality of the guest". Customer service concerns the priority an organization assigns to customer service relative to components such as product innovation and pricing. In this sense, an organization that values good customer service may spend more money in training employees than the average organization or may proactively interview customers for feedback. From the point of view of an overall sales process engineering effort, customer service plays an important role in an organization's ability to generate income and revenue. From that perspective, customer service should be included as part of an overall approach to systematic improvement. One good customer service experience can change the entire perception a customer holds towards the organization.
  • Microsoft Outlook (Mentioned in 1.76% Job Postings): Is a personal information manager software included as part of the windows version of Microsoft Office. In addition to the e-mail function, functions such as calendar, contact management, task management, memo, and to do list are implemented.
  • Long Term Care (Mentioned in 1.6% Job Postings): Long-term care (LTC) is a variety of services which help meet both the medical and non-medical needs of people with a chronic illness or disability who cannot care for themselves for long periods. Long term care is focused on individualized and coordinated services that promote independence, maximize patients' quality of life, and meet patients' needs over a period of time. It is common for long-term care to provide custodial and non-skilled care, such as assisting with normal daily tasks like dressing, feeding, using the bathroom. Increasingly, long-term care involves providing a level of medical care that requires the expertise of skilled practitioners to address the multiple chronic conditions associated with older populations. Long-term care can be provided at home, in the community, in assisted living facilities or in nursing homes. Long-term care may be needed by people of any age, although it is a more common need for senior citizens.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Customer Service 19.73%
Microsoft Outlook 1.76%
Long Term Care 1.6%
What skills can make your compensation higher?
Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on an Owner Operator's salary.
  • Waste Management: Can increase your salary by up to 14%.
  • Coordination: Can increase your salary by up to 7%.
  • Initiative: Can increase your salary by up to 4%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Waste Management
$77,863
14%
Coordination
$73,082
7%
Initiative
$71,033
4%
Problem Solving
$71,033
4%
Time Management
$70,350
3%
Container
$69,667
2%
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How Education impacts an Owner Operator's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Owner Operators enter the field with a No Diploma degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for an Owner Operator with a No Diploma is between $58,145 and $62,470).

Owner Operator Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Owner Operator
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 5.2%
High School 77.9%
Associates 10.4%
Bachelors 5.5%
Masters 0.8%
Doctorate 0.3%
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Owner Operator Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how an Owner Operator's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

Last Updated on January 01, 2026

Salary Trends for Owner Operator

Salaries for an Owner Operator can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $65,456 in 2023 to around $64,757 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Owner Operator salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Owner Operator Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$65,456
2024
$65,260
2025
$64,757
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $65,456
2024 $65,260
2025 $64,757
2026
View More
2027
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Most common benefits for Owner Operator

Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
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Common company salaries for Owner Operator

Here are companies hiring for Owner Operator and their salaries, click below for more details.

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Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

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