Truck driver wages in Calgary

What do the wage figures mean?

Job Bank publishes wages for transport truck drivers as one occupation group (NOC 73300), whatever the job title, such as long-haul or heavy truck driver. For this group, the Calgary Region median is $30.00/hour, the same as the Alberta median and above the Canada-wide median of $26.42/hour. The range runs from $21.00/hour at the low end to $42.31/hour at the high end. Job Bank’s source is Statistics Canada’s Labour Force Survey, reference period 2023-2024.

Alberta’s 2023 Wage and Salary Survey, shown on alis, reports an overall median of $33.00/hour and an average of $32.43/hour for the same group. Drivers in the survey averaged 45.9 hours a week, for an average salary of $75,663 a year. The median starting wage was $28.00/hour and the median top wage was $36.09/hour. These survey figures don’t include overtime, benefits or bonuses.

What raises a truck driver’s pay?

alis says trucking wages depend on the type of work, the load and the vehicle, and much of it comes down to seniority with a company or years in the industry. Its profile notes that large companies often start new drivers on the “extra board”, where drivers bid for runs by seniority, and assign long-haul or highway runs once drivers have more experience.

Some people start in entry-level roles such as yard worker, dock handler, checker or clerk, and move into driving once they have the right licence and a driving job opens up. Employers may also ask for training such as WHMIS or first aid.

How do you get a Class 1 licence in Alberta?

Since 1 April 2025, the Class 1 Learning Pathway has replaced Mandatory Entry-Level Training (MELT) for new commercial truck drivers. To start, you need a full Class 5 licence, you must be at least 18, and you must meet the medical fitness standard for commercial drivers.

The pathway has four tiers. After the first two and a road test you get a Class 1 licence restricted to driving in Alberta. When you finish the Competence Building Program, the restriction is removed and you can drive between provinces.

• Entry Program: 40 hours, online or through a driver training school. You can then take the Class 1 knowledge test.
• Core Learning Program: 67 hours of in-yard and in-cab training at a licensed Class 1 school (60 hours before 1 September 2026), plus an 8-hour air brake course if you don’t already have a Q endorsement.
• Competence Building Program: 10 to 18 hours of one-on-one driving instruction (17 to 25 hours before 1 September 2026).
• Advanced driver training: optional programs for specific industries.

Where are the truck driving jobs in Calgary?

On 13 October 2026, Job Bank showed 144 transport truck driver postings in the Calgary Region, 415 across Alberta and 2,156 across Canada. Those are Job Bank listings only. alis says drivers work as employees or self-employed contractors for transportation companies, manufacturing and distribution companies, retail outlets and moving companies.

Alberta’s 2024-2026 short-term employment forecast, shown on alis, rates the occupation as “Balanced”, with 54,550 employed in the province. Job Bank reports that 82.5% of Alberta workers in this group receive at least one non-wage benefit.