How Much Do Monster Truck Drivers Make In 2022?

Do those trucks with the heavy-duty suspensions enthrall you, monster truck aficionados? If so, you might have considered doing this professionally at some point.

A monster truck driver’s annual salary typically ranges from $10,000 to $280,000, depending on a variety of factors. Continue reading for information about driving a monster truck for a living.

How To Become A Monster Truck Driver

You enjoy watching monster truck shows, and your salary appears to be reasonable. This does not necessarily imply that you will be permitted to perform at the upcoming gathering. Even to drive a monster truck, you’ll need education and experience.

To begin with, you need to be aware that the commercial motor vehicle sector includes the monster truck business. You must therefore obtain a commercial driver’s license or CDL. Visit your local DMV, pass the CDL exam, and receive your CDL so you can start your training.

You might have different motivations for wanting to operate a monster truck. You probably intend to pursue a career in this field. As a result, you will undoubtedly need to be very involved in the monster truck community.

People can develop into monster-struck driving professionals in a variety of ways. For any employer who asked, many people offered their services. Some performers even debuted before they were old enough to get a CDL.

The monster truck you want might not exist yet. That’s okay because you can still gain some experience driving. Other motorsports like motocross, demolition derby, mud racing, and figure-eight racing might apply in this situation. More recently, professional training has been made available at Monster Jam University in Paxton, Illinois, USA.

You might feel prepared and secure enough to start operating a monster truck after gaining new driving experience. You’ll need to buy your own truck, of course. You have two options for achieving this: purchasing or creating your own vehicle.

One of the most crucial steps is to familiarize yourself with the regulations. Points are awarded to drivers for pulling off various daring stunts. The actions of stopping, reversing, and turning over, however, can result in a loss of points.

A Monster Jam Driver’s Salary Is Unknown.

Monster truck drivers can make an average annual salary of between $10,000 and $280,000. A number of different factors affect the sum. The drivers competing in Monster Jam events are paid using a contract labor system rather than cash prizes.

Because of this, a driver’s pay is determined by his or her reputation, level of experience, affiliation with a team, and employer.

Drivers with less experience will naturally be paid less than more seasoned drivers with many years of experience. The amount you earn will be proportional to how long you have worked in the field and how many performances you have given.

Popularity is another important consideration, as smaller teams tend to have drivers who are less well-known and newer to the sport. The players on more well-known teams are seasoned professionals with many years of experience.

Therefore, if you’re starting out in a smaller team, your salary will reflect that, and as you move up the ladder and gain experience, you’ll either move to a new, more popular team or see an increase in the popularity of your current team, at which point your salary will rise in line with that.

The biggest influence on a monster truck driver’s potential earnings in the industry is the fans. The industry, team, or company can significantly alter salaries with the right marketing strategies.

Regarding travel expenses for performances, the organization they work for pays for those.

Therefore, if you decide to take part in inside gigs and merchandising, it will also affect your salary as a monster truck driver.

The amount that businesses pay their top drivers and most well-known athletes in sponsorships is typically kept a secret. Sponsorships won’t come your way until you’ve established a reputation and experience.

What Is The Average Pay Per Show For Monster Truck Drivers?

Although it has already been mentioned that the average salaries of monster truck drivers vary widely depending on a variety of factors, new drivers can typically expect to earn between $2,000 and $6,000 for each show they drive in.

As they acquire more knowledge and recognition, this rate rises. It’s best to look up monster truck rallies and fairs and start competing in them for this.

Cost Of A Monster Truck

A ready-to-use monster truck will cost about $250,000. The reason for this is the cost of the monster truck’s parts. The average price to paint a monster truck is $3,500. An engine costs roughly $40,000, a body design $50,000, tires can cost anywhere between $2,000 and $3,000 each, and so on. Additionally, the cost of maintenance is based on how much your monster truck cost.

Monster trucks are not made in the same factories as regular cars. Typically, they are either rebuilt versions of existing trucks or custom-built ones.

So, depending on how old, how big, and how well-made it is, the price of a used monster truck can range from $20,000 to $70,000.

Costs Involved In Building A Monster Truck

It can cost between $100,000 and $300,000 to DIY your own monster truck. The type and quality of the parts you purchase have a significant impact on this.

The parts for your truck must all be purchased separately. Costs are associated with each.

Truck Body

Your first major purchase will be a truck body, which can range in price from $20,000 to $50,000. You’ll find it much simpler and less expensive if you obtain donor bodies from pickup trucks that have been stripped of their interiors and fitted with monster truck equipment. It’s a good idea to purchase a used vehicle that can accommodate a large engine and is in good condition.

Frame

Make the frame for your car as your next step. In order to avoid difficulty, it is preferable to assess whether you have the necessary metalworking experience. If you don’t, it’s better to get in touch with businesses to have these parts made for you.

Tires

Next, you should search for tires. Tires like flotation tires are needed for monster trucks. Even when driving through loose dirt, these tires, which are very wide and heavy, maintain their grip.

You will need to spend a total of about $12,000 to buy all of these tires for your truck because they can range in price from $3,000 to $6,000 each.

Related: Cost To Replace A Tire Pressure Sensor

Engine

The engine is one of the most crucial components next. Monster trucks need much more powerful engines than a typical car. Monster trucks typically need at least 1,500 horsepower from their engines. Also necessary is the supercharging of these engines to provide more oxygen for fuel combustion.

Depending on whether you’re buying a used or brand-new engine, an engine for your monster truck may cost anywhere from $5,000 to $20,000. Don’t forget to purchase a supercharger kit along with your engine.

Shock Absorbers

Additionally, specially designed shock absorbers that are the right size and can withstand extreme impact are needed for monster trucks. It’s because monster trucks are more likely than any other vehicle to make a hard impact with the ground. From $100 to $1,000 can be spent on specialized shock absorbers for monster trucks.

Other Necessary Items

After putting everything together, there are still a few things you need to buy before you can drive your truck. Depending on which ones you choose, these items can cost anywhere between $5,000 and $10,000. Extinguishers, seat belts, specially designed seats, and remote harnesses are optional extras that improve the efficiency and comfort of your ride.

Purchasing a monster truck in good condition is a good course of action if you have contacted people who are willing to part with their vehicles for a fair price. It can be costly and complicated to build a truck, so you should be well-versed in trucks before starting. A minor error could result in losses of thousands of dollars.

But even so, building your own truck is one of the best ways to get started if you want to work in the industry as a driver. Through a close and in-depth inspection, building your truck can give you the opportunity to gain practical knowledge about the vehicle and its operation.

Given that you’ve worked with the parts before and are familiar with how they operate, repair and maintenance may come naturally to you. In addition, clean monster trucks are difficult to come by.

Are Monster Trucks Difficult To Drive?

Driving a monster truck is actually quite challenging, despite how simple it may seem. These huge, four-wheel-drive vehicles weigh more than 12,000 pounds. Additionally, they can be difficult to steer and brake due to their enormous tires. To navigate the track and avoid obstacles, the drivers also need to be able to see over the top of the truck’s cab.

A current commercial driver’s license is required before one can drive a monster truck. They must also finish a training program that shows them how to drive the truck safely. As soon as they have fulfilled these requirements, they can begin competing in events.

What Are The Monster Truck Tire Prices?

Monster truck tires will do the trick whether you want to increase your truck’s height and capability for off-roading or you simply want the biggest, baddest tires available. However, tires costing between $1500 and more than $3000 each can represent a sizable investment. What determines the price of a monster truck tire then?

The most expensive tires are typically constructed from stronger materials and feature superior tread designs that offer greater traction on a variety of surfaces. Additionally, they frequently have additional characteristics like reinforced sidewalls that can help prevent punctures. The best monster truck tires can cost upwards of $3000 each due to these factors.

On the other hand, less expensive tires might give up some performance and durability in exchange for a lower price. These tires might be constructed from less expensive materials and have simpler tread designs that make them unsuitable for a variety of terrain types. They can still deliver an acceptable level of performance for many applications, though. They are also a much more affordable choice, costing $1500 or less per tire.

Therefore, it’s crucial to take into account the weight of monster truck tires, the purpose for which you need them, and your budget when selecting monster truck tires. There is a tire that is ideal for your application and price range because there are so many options available.

What Is The Best Way To Drive A Monster Truck?

Although there are no strict requirements to become a monster truck driver, ideal candidates for a professional career have some suitable physical features, such as having a height of 62 to 75 inches, or 5 feet 2 inches to 6 feet 3 inches, and weight ranging from 120 pounds to 240 pounds.

In addition, you need a commercial driver’s license to be qualified to operate a monster truck. You must first take and pass an exam before receiving your permit, which is used to practice for a driving test that is very similar to the one required for a regular driver’s license.

You must be aware that a thorough knowledge of cars and their workings is essential to being a monster truck driver. It is a challenging component of the vehicle that must be handled by someone with the necessary training.

The next step is to begin practicing with your vehicle once you have obtained your license. In the beginning, you would need to be employed by a team if you wanted to drive a monster truck for pay. Getting hired by well-known teams like the Grave Digger is the best objective.

But entry into these elite major teams is extremely competitive and difficult for beginners. Therefore, it is best to volunteer with a monster truck driver as you begin your journey and eventually work your way up to possibly becoming an apprentice to them.

Additionally, you’ll gain practical experience working on trucks and gain a better understanding of the profession.

Before forming your own team, it is ideal to spend one to two years working as an apprentice with a team. Therefore, you should begin networking within the monster truck industry and meeting others to build your connections while you are still learning how to work with a team.

To attract sponsors and investors for your team, you must show off your fervor for the game and increased enthusiasm. In order to possibly secure funding for your team, you will need to entice them with your expertise and enthusiasm.

Conclusion

Monster truck drivers are devoted athletes who have put in a lot of practice to hone their craft. They operate enormous, four-wheel-drive vehicles weighing over 12,000 pounds. The trucks’ massive tires can make steering and braking difficult. Many drivers perform in films and television shows in addition to racing. A valid commercial driver’s license and successful completion of a training program are prerequisites for becoming a driver. Monster truck shows are not staged, claims Mahon, and the price of a monster truck tire can range from $1500 to more than $3000. The drivers are pros who have devoted a lot of time and effort to honing their abilities, and the competitions are genuine.