Ice Road Truckers Salary

Some jobs capture the imagination. Having never even considered what some people do for money, jobs like an ice road trucker seem at first far fetched, until you consider the salary. With the recent popularity of ice road truckers, lets take a moment to consider how much they earn.

The Ice Road Trucker

The ice road trucker is a trucker who works primarily during the winter months. During the winter, ponds and lakes freeze over in Canada and Alaska. Given the incredible amount of snow and freezing temperatures, roads are created on the lakes for trucks to bring in goods. With a window lasting a few months, many towns and cities will rush in supplies while the weather is cold enough. This need brings in a great demand for experienced individuals, as well as a salary that matches.

Salary at Ice Road Truckers

At the very top you have a few ice road truckers earning upwards of $100,000 a winter. This however is relatively rare and will depend on who is hiring the trucker. In addition, the increase in price often comes with increased danger as well as a higher expected level of experience in fixing and repairing trucks. In this line of work, nothing is better then having a firm head on your shoulders.

The average amount earned during a winter for ice road truckers is $40,000. The majority of ice road truckers earn between $30,000 to $50,000. Those truckers that belong to a union usually earn a bit more, while those who do not earn less. In addition, it should be reiterated that this is only for the winter months. Spanning between 3 to 4 months in length, many people earn a year’s salary at one time.

The final thing to consider when looking at the salary is risk. At significantly less risk, a trucker can earn around $70,000 working for Walmart every year. This comes out to $23,000 during the winter. If an ice road trucker could work year round, then they would make roughly $120,000. The risk is what makes the pay so good and is the primary reason why many truckers shy away from it.