Transportation0% remote-eligible+4.8% YoY growth

Truck Driver (CDL) Salary
by City (2026)

Transport goods across local, regional, or national routes using heavy commercial vehicles. National median: $52K/year. See how your city compares.

National median

$52K

Top 10% earn

$88K

Entry level

$42K

Salary growth

+4.8%/yr

Truck Driver (CDL) salary by city

Sorted by median salary

City	Entry	Median	Senior	COL	Tax
San Francisco, CA	$57K	$70K	$92K	224	9.3%
San Jose, CA	$55K	$69K	$90K	210	9.3%
Oakland, CA	$54K	$67K	$87K	185	9.3%
New York City, NY	$54K	$67K	$87K	187	6.85%
Washington, DC	$54K	$67K	$87K	152	8.5%
Cambridge, MA	$54K	$66K	$87K	185	5%
Pearl City, HI	$54K	$66K	$87K	185	11%
Bellevue, WA	$52K	$65K	$84K	175	None ✓
Irvine, CA	$52K	$64K	$84K	172	9.3%
Yonkers, NY	$51K	$63K	$82K	165	6.85%
Jersey City, NJ	$51K	$63K	$83K	162	10.75%
Bethesda, MD	$51K	$63K	$82K	165	5.75%
Los Angeles, CA	$50K	$62K	$82K	163	9.3%
Kirkland, WA	$50K	$62K	$81K	162	None ✓
Boston, MA	$50K	$62K	$82K	162	5%
Arlington, VA	$50K	$62K	$82K	148	5.75%
Newark, NJ	$50K	$62K	$82K	155	10.75%
Stamford, CT	$50K	$62K	$81K	158	6.99%
San Diego, CA	$50K	$61K	$80K	148	9.3%
Long Beach, CA	$50K	$61K	$80K	155	9.3%
Seattle, WA	$50K	$61K	$80K	150	None ✓
Hilo, HI	$49K	$61K	$80K	155	11%
Anaheim, CA	$48K	$60K	$78K	148	9.3%
Santa Ana, CA	$49K	$60K	$79K	150	9.3%
Rockville, MD	$48K	$60K	$78K	148	5.75%
Honolulu, HI	$48K	$60K	$78K	192	11%
Anchorage, AK	$48K	$60K	$78K	128	None ✓
Alexandria, VA	$48K	$59K	$78K	145	5.75%
Elizabeth, NJ	$48K	$59K	$78K	145	10.75%
Sacramento, CA	$47K	$58K	$76K	128	9.3%
Chula Vista, CA	$47K	$58K	$76K	138	9.3%
Paterson, NJ	$47K	$58K	$76K	140	10.75%
Edison, NJ	$47K	$58K	$76K	138	10.75%
Fairbanks, AK	$47K	$58K	$76K	138	None ✓
Chicago, IL	$46K	$57K	$75K	107	4.95%
Worcester, MA	$46K	$57K	$75K	120	5%
Philadelphia, PA	$46K	$57K	$75K	110	3.07%
Portland, OR	$46K	$57K	$75K	130	9.9%
Baltimore, MD	$46K	$57K	$75K	115	5.75%
Tacoma, WA	$45K	$56K	$73K	128	None ✓
Denver, CO	$45K	$56K	$73K	118	4.55%
Houston, TX	$44K	$55K	$71K	91	None ✓
Dallas, TX	$44K	$55K	$71K	96	None ✓
Frisco, TX	$44K	$55K	$71K	118	None ✓
Riverside, CA	$44K	$55K	$71K	118	9.3%
Miami, FL	$44K	$55K	$71K	123	None ✓
Naperville, IL	$44K	$55K	$71K	118	4.95%
Vancouver, WA	$44K	$55K	$71K	118	None ✓
Atlanta, GA	$44K	$55K	$71K	99	5.75%
Lowell, MA	$44K	$55K	$71K	118	5%
Minneapolis, MN	$44K	$55K	$71K	106	6.8%
Gresham, OR	$44K	$55K	$71K	118	9.9%
Bridgeport, CT	$44K	$55K	$71K	118	6.99%
New Haven, CT	$45K	$55K	$72K	122	6.99%
Hartford, CT	$44K	$55K	$71K	118	6.99%
Manchester, NH	$44K	$55K	$71K	118	None ✓
Nashua, NH	$44K	$55K	$72K	120	None ✓
Burlington, VT	$44K	$55K	$71K	118	6.6%
Providence, RI	$44K	$55K	$71K	118	5.99%
Hialeah, FL	$44K	$54K	$71K	115	None ✓
Pembroke Pines, FL	$43K	$54K	$70K	112	None ✓
Hollywood, FL	$44K	$54K	$71K	115	None ✓
Fort Collins, CO	$43K	$54K	$70K	112	4.55%
Lakewood, CO	$44K	$54K	$71K	115	4.55%
Cary, NC	$43K	$54K	$70K	112	4.75%
Ann Arbor, MI	$44K	$54K	$71K	115	4.25%
Frederick, MD	$44K	$54K	$71K	115	5.75%
Portland, ME	$44K	$54K	$71K	115	7.15%
Concord, NH	$44K	$54K	$71K	115	None ✓
Warwick, RI	$44K	$54K	$71K	115	5.99%
Austin, TX	$43K	$53K	$69K	110	None ✓
Fort Worth, TX	$43K	$53K	$69K	93	None ✓
Plano, TX	$43K	$53K	$69K	105	None ✓
Irving, TX	$43K	$53K	$69K	97	None ✓
Round Rock, TX	$43K	$53K	$69K	108	None ✓
Fort Lauderdale, FL	$43K	$53K	$69K	118	None ✓
Gilbert, AZ	$43K	$53K	$69K	108	2.5%
Tempe, AZ	$43K	$53K	$69K	108	2.5%
Aurora, CO	$43K	$53K	$69K	112	4.55%
Thornton, CO	$43K	$53K	$69K	108	4.55%
St. Paul, MN	$43K	$53K	$69K	104	6.8%
Eugene, OR	$43K	$53K	$70K	110	9.9%
Reno, NV	$43K	$53K	$69K	108	None ✓
Salt Lake City, UT	$43K	$53K	$69K	105	4.85%
Boise, ID	$43K	$53K	$69K	108	5.8%
Wilmington, DE	$43K	$53K	$69K	108	6.6%
Arlington, TX	$42K	$52K	$68K	94	None ✓
Garland, TX	$42K	$52K	$68K	91	None ✓
McKinney, TX	$42K	$52K	$68K	108	None ✓
Carrollton, TX	$42K	$52K	$68K	102	None ✓
Stockton, CA	$42K	$52K	$68K	105	9.3%
Tampa, FL	$42K	$52K	$68K	102	None ✓
Phoenix, AZ	$42K	$52K	$68K	100	2.5%
Scottsdale, AZ	$42K	$52K	$68K	118	2.5%
Savannah, GA	$42K	$52K	$68K	92	5.75%
Springfield, MA	$42K	$52K	$68K	105	5%
Charlotte, NC	$42K	$52K	$68K	100	4.75%
Raleigh, NC	$42K	$52K	$68K	102	4.75%
Virginia Beach, VA	$42K	$52K	$68K	98	5.75%
Nashville, TN	$42K	$52K	$68K	102	None ✓
Detroit, MI	$42K	$52K	$68K	82	4.25%
Salem, OR	$42K	$52K	$68K	105	9.9%
Las Vegas, NV	$42K	$52K	$68K	102	None ✓
Henderson, NV	$42K	$52K	$68K	105	None ✓
Meridian, ID	$42K	$52K	$68K	105	5.8%
Missoula, MT	$42K	$52K	$68K	102	6.75%
San Antonio, TX	$41K	$51K	$67K	87	None ✓
Denton, TX	$42K	$51K	$67K	100	None ✓
Bakersfield, CA	$41K	$51K	$66K	95	9.3%
San Bernardino, CA	$42K	$51K	$67K	100	9.3%
Albany, NY	$41K	$51K	$67K	98	6.85%
Jacksonville, FL	$41K	$51K	$67K	93	None ✓
Orlando, FL	$41K	$51K	$67K	100	None ✓
Port St. Lucie, FL	$41K	$51K	$67K	98	None ✓
Cape Coral, FL	$42K	$51K	$67K	100	None ✓
Aurora, IL	$41K	$51K	$66K	95	4.95%
Chandler, AZ	$41K	$51K	$67K	105	2.5%
Glendale, AZ	$41K	$51K	$66K	95	2.5%
Peoria, AZ	$42K	$51K	$67K	100	2.5%
Durham, NC	$41K	$51K	$67K	100	4.75%
Norfolk, VA	$41K	$51K	$66K	95	5.75%
Chesapeake, VA	$41K	$51K	$67K	98	5.75%
Richmond, VA	$41K	$51K	$67K	98	5.75%
Newport News, VA	$41K	$51K	$66K	95	5.75%
Memphis, TN	$41K	$51K	$67K	82	None ✓
Pittsburgh, PA	$41K	$51K	$67K	90	3.07%
Allentown, PA	$41K	$51K	$66K	95	3.07%
Kansas City, MO	$41K	$51K	$67K	90	5.3%
Indianapolis, IN	$41K	$51K	$67K	88	3.23%
Rochester, MN	$42K	$51K	$67K	100	6.8%
North Las Vegas, NV	$41K	$51K	$67K	98	None ✓
West Valley City, UT	$41K	$51K	$67K	98	4.85%
Provo, UT	$41K	$51K	$67K	100	4.85%
West Jordan, UT	$42K	$51K	$67K	100	4.85%
Orem, UT	$41K	$51K	$67K	98	4.85%
Charleston, SC	$41K	$51K	$67K	105	6.5%
North Charleston, SC	$41K	$51K	$66K	95	6.5%
Overland Park, KS	$42K	$51K	$67K	100	5.7%
Nampa, ID	$41K	$51K	$67K	98	5.8%
Billings, MT	$41K	$51K	$67K	98	6.75%
Lewiston, ME	$41K	$51K	$67K	98	7.15%
Dover, DE	$42K	$51K	$67K	100	6.6%
Grand Prairie, TX	$40K	$50K	$65K	90	None ✓
Midland, TX	$40K	$50K	$65K	92	None ✓
St. Petersburg, FL	$40K	$50K	$65K	105	None ✓
Tallahassee, FL	$40K	$50K	$65K	90	None ✓
Joliet, IL	$40K	$50K	$65K	90	4.95%
Mesa, AZ	$40K	$50K	$65K	98	2.5%
Athens, GA	$40K	$50K	$65K	92	5.75%
Columbus, OH	$40K	$50K	$65K	90	3.99%
Sterling Heights, MI	$40K	$50K	$65K	90	4.25%
St. Louis, MO	$40K	$50K	$65K	86	5.3%
Milwaukee, WI	$40K	$50K	$65K	90	5.3%
Madison, WI	$40K	$50K	$65K	102	5.3%
Kenosha, WI	$40K	$50K	$65K	90	5.3%
Duluth, MN	$40K	$50K	$65K	92	6.8%
Greenville, SC	$40K	$50K	$65K	92	6.5%
Cheyenne, WY	$40K	$50K	$65K	92	None ✓
Fargo, ND	$40K	$50K	$65K	90	2.5%
Pasadena, TX	$40K	$49K	$65K	88	None ✓
Mesquite, TX	$40K	$49K	$65K	88	None ✓
Beaumont, TX	$39K	$49K	$64K	85	None ✓
Odessa, TX	$39K	$49K	$64K	85	None ✓
Tyler, TX	$39K	$49K	$64K	85	None ✓
Fresno, CA	$40K	$49K	$65K	102	9.3%
Syracuse, NY	$40K	$49K	$65K	88	6.85%
Gainesville, FL	$40K	$49K	$65K	88	None ✓
Colorado Springs, CO	$40K	$49K	$65K	102	4.55%
Greensboro, NC	$40K	$49K	$65K	88	4.75%
Winston-Salem, NC	$39K	$49K	$64K	85	4.75%
Chattanooga, TN	$40K	$49K	$65K	88	None ✓
Cincinnati, OH	$39K	$49K	$64K	88	3.99%
Warren, MI	$39K	$49K	$64K	85	4.25%
Lansing, MI	$39K	$49K	$64K	85	4.25%
Independence, MO	$39K	$49K	$64K	85	5.3%
Green Bay, WI	$40K	$49K	$65K	88	5.3%
Louisville, KY	$40K	$49K	$65K	85	5%
Lexington, KY	$40K	$49K	$65K	88	5%
Huntsville, AL	$40K	$49K	$65K	88	5%
New Orleans, LA	$40K	$49K	$65K	92	6%
Lafayette, LA	$39K	$49K	$64K	85	6%
Cedar Rapids, IA	$39K	$49K	$64K	85	4.82%
Kansas City, KS	$39K	$49K	$64K	85	5.7%
Omaha, NE	$40K	$49K	$65K	88	5.84%
Lincoln, NE	$39K	$49K	$64K	85	5.84%
Rio Rancho, NM	$39K	$49K	$64K	85	5.9%
Great Falls, MT	$40K	$49K	$65K	88	6.75%
Casper, WY	$40K	$49K	$65K	88	None ✓
Bismarck, ND	$40K	$49K	$65K	88	2.5%
Sioux Falls, SD	$40K	$49K	$65K	88	None ✓
Rapid City, SD	$40K	$49K	$65K	88	None ✓
Fayetteville, AR	$39K	$49K	$64K	85	4.9%
Corpus Christi, TX	$39K	$48K	$63K	84	None ✓
Amarillo, TX	$39K	$48K	$63K	82	None ✓
Killeen, TX	$39K	$48K	$63K	80	None ✓
Waco, TX	$39K	$48K	$63K	82	None ✓
Abilene, TX	$38K	$48K	$62K	78	None ✓
Rochester, NY	$39K	$48K	$63K	90	6.85%
Rockford, IL	$39K	$48K	$63K	80	4.95%
Spokane, WA	$39K	$48K	$63K	95	None ✓
Pueblo, CO	$39K	$48K	$63K	82	4.55%
Columbus, GA	$39K	$48K	$63K	82	5.75%
Augusta, GA	$39K	$48K	$63K	82	5.75%
Macon, GA	$39K	$48K	$63K	80	5.75%
Fayetteville, NC	$39K	$48K	$63K	82	4.75%
Clarksville, TN	$39K	$48K	$63K	82	None ✓
Toledo, OH	$38K	$48K	$62K	78	3.99%
Akron, OH	$39K	$48K	$63K	80	3.99%
Dayton, OH	$39K	$48K	$63K	80	3.99%
Grand Rapids, MI	$39K	$48K	$63K	90	4.25%
Erie, PA	$39K	$48K	$63K	80	3.07%
Springfield, MO	$39K	$48K	$63K	80	5.3%
Fort Wayne, IN	$39K	$48K	$63K	80	3.23%
Evansville, IN	$38K	$48K	$62K	78	3.23%
South Bend, IN	$39K	$48K	$63K	82	3.23%
Bowling Green, KY	$39K	$48K	$63K	80	5%
Montgomery, AL	$39K	$48K	$63K	80	5%
Mobile, AL	$39K	$48K	$63K	82	5%
Norman, OK	$39K	$48K	$63K	80	4.75%
Broken Arrow, OK	$39K	$48K	$63K	82	4.75%
Baton Rouge, LA	$39K	$48K	$63K	88	6%
Shreveport, LA	$38K	$48K	$62K	78	6%
Des Moines, IA	$39K	$48K	$63K	88	4.82%
Davenport, IA	$39K	$48K	$63K	82	4.82%
Las Cruces, NM	$39K	$48K	$63K	80	5.9%
Jackson, MS	$38K	$48K	$62K	78	5%
Gulfport, MS	$39K	$48K	$63K	80	5%
Charleston, WV	$38K	$48K	$62K	78	6.5%
El Paso, TX	$38K	$47K	$61K	82	None ✓
Brownsville, TX	$38K	$47K	$62K	75	None ✓
Buffalo, NY	$38K	$47K	$61K	88	6.85%
Cleveland, OH	$38K	$47K	$61K	82	3.99%
Birmingham, AL	$38K	$47K	$61K	82	5%
Columbia, SC	$38K	$47K	$61K	88	6.5%
Oklahoma City, OK	$38K	$47K	$61K	82	4.75%
Wichita, KS	$38K	$47K	$61K	82	5.7%
Fort Smith, AR	$38K	$47K	$62K	75	4.9%
Huntington, WV	$38K	$47K	$62K	75	6.5%
Lubbock, TX	$37K	$46K	$60K	78	None ✓
Tucson, AZ	$37K	$46K	$60K	90	2.5%
Knoxville, TN	$37K	$46K	$60K	85	None ✓
Tulsa, OK	$37K	$46K	$60K	80	4.75%
Albuquerque, NM	$37K	$46K	$60K	88	5.9%
Little Rock, AR	$37K	$46K	$60K	82	4.9%
Laredo, TX	$36K	$44K	$58K	76	None ✓

COL-adjusted: where does your salary go furthest?

A $52K Truck Driver (CDL) salary in Houston (COL 91, no tax) has significantly more purchasing power than the same salary in San Francisco (COL 224, 9.3% state tax). Use our calculator to see the real numbers.

Try COL Calculator →

Truck Driver (CDL) Salary Guide (2026)

The national median salary for a Truck Driver (CDL) is $52,000 per year. Entry-level positions typically start at $42,000, while experienced professionals in the top 25% earn $68,000 or more. The highest-paid 10% of Truck Driver (CDL)s nationally earn $88,000+.

Education and requirements

CDL-A license; clean driving record. This role is 0% remote-eligible nationally, which significantly expands the geographic job market for workers in lower cost-of-living cities.

Salary growth outlook

Truck Driver (CDL) compensation is growing at 4.8% annually, well above the national average wage growth rate.

Truck Driver (CDL) salary FAQ

How much does a Truck Driver (CDL) make?

The median Truck Driver (CDL) salary in the US is $52,000 per year — about $25/hour. Most earn between $42,000 (25th percentile) and $68,000 (75th percentile).

What is the starting salary for a Truck Driver (CDL)?

Entry-level Truck Driver (CDL) positions typically start around $42,000 per year. Pay rises with experience, specialization, and location.

How much do the highest-paid Truck Driver (CDL)s earn?

The top 10% of Truck Driver (CDL)s earn $88,000 or more per year — usually senior, lead, or specialized professionals in high-cost or high-demand markets.

Which city pays Truck Driver (CDL)s the most?

San Francisco has the highest median Truck Driver (CDL) salary at $70K among the cities we track. But high-cost metros like San Francisco and New York often have lower real purchasing power once cost of living and taxes are factored in.

Are Truck Driver (CDL) salaries going up?

Yes — Truck Driver (CDL) pay is growing about 4.8% year over year, above the US average wage-growth rate.

Truck Driver (CDL) Salaryby City (2026)