Trucking Jobs: Texas vs Illinois
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
Texas
More Jobs
Texas
Lower Tax
Texas
Salary Comparison
Illinois wins| Metric | Texas | Illinois |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $65,000 | $66,000 |
| Salary Range | $50,000 - $80,000 | $52,000 - $80,000 |
| Minimum | $50,000 | $52,000 |
| Maximum | $80,000 | $80,000 |
Cost of Living & Taxes
Texas wins| Metric | Texas | Illinois |
|---|---|---|
| COL Index (100 = national avg) | 92 | 97 |
| State Income Tax | None | 4.95% flat |
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 Illinois.
Job Availability
Texas wins| Metric | Texas | Illinois |
|---|---|---|
| Job Availability Rating | Very High | Very High |
| Est. Annual CDL Openings | 28,500 | 15,600 |
Top Trucking Companies
Texas
- 1Werner Enterprises
- 2Heartland Express
- 3Prime Inc
- 4USA Truck
- 5KLLM Transport
Illinois
- 1Schneider
- 2Werner Enterprises
- 3Coyote Logistics (UPS)
- 4Echo Global Logistics
- 5Hub Group
Key Freight Routes
Texas
- I-35 (Laredo–Dallas–OKC)
- I-10 (El Paso–Houston)
- I-45 (Dallas–Houston)
- I-20 (West TX–Dallas)
Illinois
- I-80/I-55 (Joliet intermodal corridor)
- I-94 (Chicago–WI)
- I-57 (Chicago–southern IL)
- I-74 (Quad Cities)
CDL Requirements
Texas
Min Age: 18 (intrastate), 21 (interstate)
18 for intrastate, 21 for interstate. Texas allows third-party CDL testing through licensed schools.
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.
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.
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.
Overall Comparison Summary
Higher Pay
IL
Lower COL
TX
More Jobs
TX
Lower Tax
TX
Texas leads in 3 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 Illinois
Which state is better for trucking, Texas or Illinois?
Texas offers no income tax, a lower cost of living (92 vs 97), more job openings (28,500 vs 15,600), and comparable or higher pay. Illinois's advantage is Chicago—the nation's #1 intermodal hub. If you specialize in intermodal or LTL, Illinois may offer better niche opportunities. For overall trucking, Texas wins.
How does the I-35 corridor in Texas compare to I-55/I-80 in Illinois?
I-35 in Texas is the NAFTA superhighway connecting Mexico through Dallas to Kansas City and beyond—it's the busiest commercial corridor in the US by truck volume. I-55/I-80 in Illinois handles massive east-west and north-south intermodal traffic through the Chicago hub. Both are high-paying, high-demand corridors.
What are the tax implications for truckers in Texas vs Illinois?
Texas has no state income tax. Illinois charges a flat 4.95%. On $65,000 gross earnings, an Illinois driver pays approximately $3,218 in state tax that a Texas driver keeps entirely. Over a 10-year career, that's $32,000+ in additional earnings for the Texas-based driver.
Explore Each State
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