Trucking Jobs: Illinois vs Indiana
Side-by-side comparison of salaries, cost of living, taxes, job availability, freight routes, and CDL requirements for truck drivers.
Higher Pay
Illinois
Lower COL
Indiana
More Jobs
Illinois
Lower Tax
Comparable
Salary Comparison
Illinois wins| Metric | Illinois | Indiana |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $66,000 | $62,000 |
| Salary Range | $52,000 - $80,000 | $49,000 - $74,000 |
| Minimum | $52,000 | $49,000 |
| Maximum | $80,000 | $74,000 |
Cost of Living & Taxes
Indiana wins| Metric | Illinois | Indiana |
|---|---|---|
| COL Index (100 = national avg) | 97 | 89 |
| State Income Tax | 4.95% flat | 3.05% flat |
Job Availability
Illinois wins| Metric | Illinois | Indiana |
|---|---|---|
| Job Availability Rating | Very High | High |
| Est. Annual CDL Openings | 15,600 | 9,800 |
Top Trucking Companies
Illinois
- 1Schneider
- 2Werner Enterprises
- 3Coyote Logistics (UPS)
- 4Echo Global Logistics
- 5Hub Group
Indiana
- 1FedEx
- 2Schneider
- 3Celadon Group
- 4USA Truck
- 5Heartland Express
Key Freight Routes
Illinois
- I-80/I-55 (Joliet intermodal corridor)
- I-94 (Chicago–WI)
- I-57 (Chicago–southern IL)
- I-74 (Quad Cities)
Indiana
- I-70 (Indianapolis–OH/IL)
- I-65 (Gary–Indianapolis–Louisville)
- I-69 (Fort Wayne–Indianapolis)
- I-74 (Indianapolis–Cincinnati)
CDL Requirements
Illinois
Min Age: 18 (intrastate), 21 (interstate)
18 for intrastate, 21 for interstate. Illinois Secretary of State requires a separate CDL facility visit for skills testing.
Indiana
Min Age: 18 (intrastate), 21 (interstate)
18 for intrastate, 21 for interstate. Indiana BMV processes CDL applications; skills test at approved locations.
Weather & Driving Conditions
Illinois
Weather
Cold winters with heavy snow, hot humid summers. Lake-effect snow near Chicago.
Driving Challenges
Chicago metro congestion, intermodal yard traffic around Joliet, winter ice on I-80, tollway costs.
Indiana
Weather
Cold winters with snow and ice, warm humid summers. Lake-effect snow in northwest near Gary.
Driving Challenges
I-465 Indianapolis beltway congestion, winter ice on I-70, Gary steel district traffic, construction on I-69.
Overall Comparison Summary
Higher Pay
IL
Lower COL
IN
More Jobs
IL
Lower Tax
Tie
Illinois leads in 2 of 4 categories. However, the best state for you depends on your specific situation—freight specialization, family location, and career goals all matter.
Frequently Asked Questions: Illinois vs Indiana
Do truck drivers earn more in Illinois or Indiana?
Illinois averages $52K–$80K vs Indiana's $49K–$74K. However, Illinois charges 4.95% flat income tax and has a higher cost of living (97 vs 89). Indiana's 3.05% flat tax and lower costs mean take-home pay can be comparable despite lower gross wages. Many drivers live in Indiana and work Chicago-area routes.
Which state has better logistics infrastructure?
Illinois wins on infrastructure—Chicago is the #1 US intermodal hub with the Joliet corridor handling massive rail-to-truck transfers. Indiana's advantage is the I-70/I-65/I-69 crossroads at Indianapolis, which serves as a central distribution point. Both states benefit from being in the Midwest freight heartland.
Is traffic worse for truckers in Illinois or Indiana?
Chicago metro traffic is significantly worse than any Indiana city. The I-290/I-90/I-94 interchange and I-80/I-55 Joliet corridor are consistently ranked among the worst truck bottlenecks in the US. Indianapolis has congestion on I-465 but is manageable compared to Chicago's gridlock.
Explore Each State
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