Trucking Jobs: Texas vs Georgia
Side-by-side comparison of salaries, cost of living, taxes, job availability, freight routes, and CDL requirements for truck drivers.
Higher Pay
Texas
Lower COL
Texas
More Jobs
Texas
Lower Tax
Texas
Salary Comparison
Texas wins| Metric | Texas | Georgia |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $65,000 | $61,000 |
| Salary Range | $50,000 - $80,000 | $48,000 - $73,000 |
| Minimum | $50,000 | $48,000 |
| Maximum | $80,000 | $73,000 |
Cost of Living & Taxes
Texas wins| Metric | Texas | Georgia |
|---|---|---|
| COL Index (100 = national avg) | 92 | 93 |
| State Income Tax | None | 5.49% flat (2026) |
Tax advantage: Texas has no state income tax, which can save a driver earning $65,000 approximately $2,000–$6,000 per year compared to Georgia.
Job Availability
Texas wins| Metric | Texas | Georgia |
|---|---|---|
| Job Availability Rating | Very High | Very High |
| Est. Annual CDL Openings | 28,500 | 14,200 |
Top Trucking Companies
Texas
- 1Werner Enterprises
- 2Heartland Express
- 3Prime Inc
- 4USA Truck
- 5KLLM Transport
Georgia
- 1UPS (HQ Atlanta)
- 2Home Depot (private fleet)
- 3Covenant Transport
- 4Southeastern Freight Lines
- 5Old Dominion
Key Freight Routes
Texas
- I-35 (Laredo–Dallas–OKC)
- I-10 (El Paso–Houston)
- I-45 (Dallas–Houston)
- I-20 (West TX–Dallas)
Georgia
- I-75 (Atlanta–Macon–Valdosta)
- I-85 (Atlanta–SC border)
- I-20 (Atlanta–Augusta)
- I-16 (Macon–Savannah port)
CDL Requirements
Texas
Min Age: 18 (intrastate), 21 (interstate)
18 for intrastate, 21 for interstate. Texas allows third-party CDL testing through licensed schools.
Georgia
Min Age: 18 (intrastate), 21 (interstate)
18 for intrastate, 21 for interstate. Georgia DDS handles CDL testing at specific locations.
Weather & Driving Conditions
Texas
Weather
Hot summers (100 F+), mild winters in south, ice storms possible in north TX panhandle.
Driving Challenges
Extreme heat, long distances between cities, wind gusts on I-10 west of San Antonio, construction zones on I-35.
Georgia
Weather
Hot, humid summers. Mild winters with occasional ice storms in north GA mountains.
Driving Challenges
Atlanta metro congestion (I-285/I-75/I-85 interchange), summer thunderstorms, Savannah port truck queues.
Overall Comparison Summary
Higher Pay
TX
Lower COL
TX
More Jobs
TX
Lower Tax
TX
Texas leads in 4 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: Texas vs Georgia
Which state pays truck drivers more, Texas or Georgia?
Texas averages $50K–$80K compared to Georgia's $48K–$73K. Texas also has no state income tax (Georgia charges 5.49%), making the take-home pay gap even wider. However, Texas has a slightly lower cost of living (92 vs 93), so the net lifestyle difference is substantial in Texas's favor.
Where are more trucking jobs available, Texas or Georgia?
Texas has approximately 28,500 annual openings versus Georgia's 14,200. Both states are major freight hubs, but Texas has the advantage of cross-border Mexico trade (Laredo), oil/gas hauling, and a larger geographic area requiring more drivers. Georgia's strength is Atlanta's intermodal hub and Savannah port growth.
How do freight types differ between Texas and Georgia?
Texas freight includes oil/gas equipment, cross-border Mexico loads, cattle/agriculture, wind turbine components, and petrochemicals. Georgia freight centers on automotive parts (Kia/Hyundai plants), poultry processing, carpet manufacturing (Dalton), home improvement retail distribution, and Savannah container drayage.
Explore Each State
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