As a trucker (well as anyone really) I am interested in finding out how much I could make should I decide to move. So I have looked up some info on "Prevailing Wages." This is not the market wage, rather the Davis-Bacon wage. Basically, if you are working for the State you must get paid that much. Not just State employees but the contractors working on things for the State (such as roads)
Here in Colorado PW for dump trucks is $20.20 when wage and benefits are combined. In Wyoming it is $14.92 (exept Laramie and Natrona Counties which are lower) In Washington it varies greatly. In Tacoma (Pierce County)you are looking at $22.56 but just up the road in Seattle (King County) it is $37.94, with the same in Everett (Snohomish County) Portland and Bend Oregon come in at $23.57.
Like I said, prevailing wage isnt the market wage (which is lower) but it is a pretty good indicator of the wages in the area. If one were lucky enough to get on a year long project in Seattle you could very easily make $80,000 as an employee. Anyways, thats all for now.