Trucking Jobs: Texas vs Oklahoma
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
Oklahoma
More Jobs
Texas
Lower Tax
Texas
Salary Comparison
Texas wins| Metric | Texas | Oklahoma |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $65,000 | $58,000 |
| Salary Range | $50,000 - $80,000 | $46,000 - $70,000 |
| Minimum | $50,000 | $46,000 |
| Maximum | $80,000 | $70,000 |
Cost of Living & Taxes
Oklahoma wins| Metric | Texas | Oklahoma |
|---|---|---|
| COL Index (100 = national avg) | 92 | 86 |
| State Income Tax | None | 0.25%–4.75% progressive |
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 Oklahoma.
Job Availability
Texas wins| Metric | Texas | Oklahoma |
|---|---|---|
| Job Availability Rating | Very High | Moderate |
| Est. Annual CDL Openings | 28,500 | 5,600 |
Top Trucking Companies
Texas
- 1Werner Enterprises
- 2Heartland Express
- 3Prime Inc
- 4USA Truck
- 5KLLM Transport
Oklahoma
- 1Melton Truck Lines (HQ Tulsa)
- 2Charles Machine Works
- 3Unit Corp
- 4Groendyke Transport
- 5Sharp Transport
Key Freight Routes
Texas
- I-35 (Laredo–Dallas–OKC)
- I-10 (El Paso–Houston)
- I-45 (Dallas–Houston)
- I-20 (West TX–Dallas)
Oklahoma
- I-35 (OKC–TX/KS)
- I-40 (OKC–Amarillo/Little Rock)
- I-44 (Tulsa–Missouri)
- I-69 (McAlester corridor)
CDL Requirements
Texas
Min Age: 18 (intrastate), 21 (interstate)
18 for intrastate, 21 for interstate. Texas allows third-party CDL testing through licensed schools.
Oklahoma
Min Age: 18 (intrastate), 21 (interstate)
18 for intrastate, 21 for interstate. Oklahoma DPS administers CDL 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.
Oklahoma
Weather
Tornado alley. Hot summers, cold winters with ice storms. Severe thunderstorms spring/summer.
Driving Challenges
Tornado season, ice storms on I-44, wind gusts on I-40, OKC construction zones.
Overall Comparison Summary
Higher Pay
TX
Lower COL
OK
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 Oklahoma
How does trucking pay compare between Texas and Oklahoma?
Texas pays significantly more ($50K–$80K vs $46K–$70K) and offers far more job openings (28,500 vs 5,600). Both states have relatively low costs of living, but Texas's larger economy provides more diverse freight opportunities. Oklahoma's oil/gas hauling can pay well seasonally.
Is there more oil field trucking work in Texas or Oklahoma?
Texas dominates oil field trucking with the Permian Basin, Eagle Ford Shale, and Gulf Coast refinery corridor. Oklahoma's oil activity centers on the Anadarko Basin and SCOOP/STACK plays. Texas offers higher volume, but Oklahoma's smaller market means less competition for available loads.
What are the main freight routes between Texas and Oklahoma?
I-35 is the primary corridor connecting Dallas/Fort Worth to Oklahoma City and beyond to Kansas City. I-44 (Turner Turnpike) connects Tulsa to I-35. Many Texas-based carriers run regular OKC and Tulsa routes as part of their southern corridor network.
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