CDL Truck Driver Salary & Job Outlook
Real numbers for all 50 states. Route type pay comparisons. Endorsement boosts. No recruiter spin — just the data you need to make career decisions.
Truck driving pays the bills for over 2 million Americans. But "how much do truck drivers make?" isn't a simple question — it depends on your state, your route type, your endorsements, and how long you've been at it. This guide cuts through the noise with BLS-adjusted data for all 50 states plus DC, broken down by experience level, route type, and endorsement premium.
We also factor in cost of living, because a $62K salary in New York doesn't feel like $62K. Scroll down for the COL-adjusted rankings — they tell a different story than the raw numbers.
CDL Driver Salary by State
Click any column header to sort. Data is based on BLS 2024 figures adjusted for 2025-2026. Entry-level is roughly 70-75% of average; experienced is 120-130%.
| State | Avg Annual | Avg Hourly | Entry-Level | Experienced | Growth % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | $65,100 | $31.30 | $46,900 | $83,100 | 6% |
| New York | $62,300 | $29.95 | $44,900 | $79,600 | 4% |
| Washington DC | $61,400 | $29.52 | $44,200 | $78,400 | 3% |
| Massachusetts | $61,300 | $29.47 | $44,100 | $78,300 | 3% |
| Connecticut | $60,200 | $28.95 | $43,400 | $76,900 | 3% |
| New Jersey | $59,400 | $28.56 | $42,800 | $75,900 | 3% |
| Alaska | $58,200 | $27.98 | $41,900 | $74,200 | 4% |
| California | $57,500 | $27.64 | $41,400 | $73,400 | 6% |
| Rhode Island | $57,400 | $27.60 | $41,300 | $73,300 | 3% |
| Maryland | $57,200 | $27.50 | $41,200 | $73,000 | 4% |
| Oregon | $56,800 | $27.31 | $40,900 | $72,500 | 6% |
| Hawaii | $56,300 | $27.07 | $40,500 | $71,900 | 3% |
| New Hampshire | $56,100 | $26.97 | $40,400 | $71,600 | 4% |
| Minnesota | $55,800 | $26.83 | $40,200 | $71,300 | 5% |
| Illinois | $55,600 | $26.73 | $40,000 | $71,000 | 4% |
| Colorado | $55,100 | $26.49 | $39,700 | $70,400 | 7% |
| Wyoming | $54,700 | $26.30 | $39,400 | $69,800 | 6% |
| Delaware | $54,600 | $26.25 | $39,300 | $69,800 | 4% |
| Nevada | $53,900 | $25.91 | $38,800 | $68,800 | 6% |
| Pennsylvania | $53,400 | $25.67 | $38,400 | $68,200 | 4% |
| Arizona | $52,800 | $25.38 | $38,100 | $67,400 | 7% |
| Virginia | $52,800 | $25.38 | $38,100 | $67,400 | 5% |
| North Dakota | $52,700 | $25.34 | $38,000 | $67,300 | 8% |
| Texas | $52,400 | $25.19 | $37,700 | $66,900 | 8% |
| Vermont | $51,900 | $24.95 | $37,400 | $66,300 | 3% |
| Wisconsin | $51,500 | $24.76 | $37,100 | $65,800 | 4% |
| Michigan | $51,200 | $24.62 | $36,900 | $65,400 | 4% |
| Ohio | $50,900 | $24.47 | $36,700 | $65,000 | 5% |
| Utah | $50,700 | $24.38 | $36,500 | $64,800 | 8% |
| Indiana | $50,500 | $24.28 | $36,400 | $64,500 | 5% |
| North Carolina | $50,300 | $24.18 | $36,200 | $64,300 | 7% |
| Georgia | $50,100 | $24.09 | $36,100 | $64,000 | 6% |
| Maine | $49,800 | $23.94 | $35,900 | $63,600 | 3% |
| Florida | $49,700 | $23.89 | $35,800 | $63,500 | 8% |
| Missouri | $49,600 | $23.85 | $35,700 | $63,400 | 5% |
| Nebraska | $49,400 | $23.75 | $35,600 | $63,100 | 5% |
| Iowa | $49,300 | $23.70 | $35,500 | $63,000 | 5% |
| Tennessee | $49,200 | $23.65 | $35,400 | $62,800 | 6% |
| Montana | $49,100 | $23.61 | $35,400 | $62,800 | 6% |
| Idaho | $48,900 | $23.51 | $35,200 | $62,500 | 8% |
| Alabama | $48,500 | $23.32 | $34,900 | $62,000 | 5% |
| South Carolina | $48,300 | $23.22 | $34,800 | $61,700 | 6% |
| Kentucky | $48,200 | $23.17 | $34,700 | $61,600 | 4% |
| Louisiana | $47,900 | $23.03 | $34,500 | $61,200 | 3% |
| Kansas | $47,800 | $22.98 | $34,400 | $61,100 | 5% |
| New Mexico | $47,500 | $22.84 | $34,200 | $60,700 | 5% |
| Oklahoma | $47,200 | $22.69 | $34,000 | $60,300 | 5% |
| South Dakota | $47,100 | $22.64 | $33,900 | $60,200 | 6% |
| Arkansas | $44,100 | $21.20 | $31,800 | $56,400 | 4% |
| West Virginia | $43,100 | $20.72 | $31,000 | $55,000 | 3% |
| Mississippi | $42,100 | $20.24 | $30,300 | $53,800 | 3% |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), adjusted for 2025-2026 projections. Job growth rates from BLS Employment Projections program.
OTR vs Local vs Regional vs Specialized
Where you drive matters almost as much as what you drive. Here's the real breakdown — not what the recruiting brochure says.
Over-the-Road (OTR)
$55,000 – $80,000The long haul. You're out for weeks at a time, covering thousands of miles across multiple states. Highest earning potential but you'll pay for it in time away from home.
- ✓Highest pay
- ✓See the country
- ✓Less micromanagement
- ✓Per diem tax benefits
- ✗Weeks away from home
- ✗Irregular sleep
- ✗Lonely lifestyle
- ✗Hard on relationships
Local
$45,000 – $65,000Home every night. Usually delivery, LTL, or dedicated routes within a metro area. You trade top dollar for a life outside the truck.
- ✓Home daily
- ✓Predictable schedule
- ✓Know your route
- ✓Time with family
- ✗Lower pay ceiling
- ✗More stop-and-go
- ✗Physically demanding unloads
- ✗Traffic headaches
Regional
$50,000 – $70,000The middle ground. You run a multi-state region — Midwest, Southeast, etc. — and usually get home on weekends. Good balance of pay and home time.
- ✓Decent pay
- ✓Home most weekends
- ✓Known routes
- ✓Better work-life balance
- ✗Still some nights away
- ✗Less freedom than OTR
- ✗Can get repetitive
- ✗Regional freight varies
Specialized (Heavy Haul, Oversized)
$70,000 – $100,000+The big leagues. Oversized loads, heavy equipment, superloads. You need serious skill and patience. Pay reflects that, but so does the stress.
- ✓Top of the pay scale
- ✓Specialized skill = job security
- ✓Interesting work
- ✓Pilot cars make it unique
- ✗High stress
- ✗Permit headaches
- ✗Long planning for each load
- ✗Not for beginners
Endorsement Salary Boosters
Endorsements are the fastest way to bump your pay without changing companies. Here's what each one actually adds to your bottom line.
HHazmat (Hazardous Materials)
+$5,000 – $10,000/yrModerateThe biggest earner of the endorsements. Hazmat loads pay more because fewer drivers want the risk and the background check weeds people out. TSA fingerprinting required, but it's worth it.
Requirement: Knowledge test + TSA background check + fingerprinting
NTanker
+$3,000 – $7,000/yrModerateLiquid freight moves differently than dry. Surge is real and you need to know how to handle it. Tanker drivers are in demand, especially in oil country and chemical corridors.
Requirement: Knowledge test only
TDoubles/Triples
+$2,000 – $5,000/yrEasyPulling two or three trailers. More length, more backing challenges, more skill required. LTL companies love these. The test isn't brutal but the driving sure can be.
Requirement: Knowledge test only
XHazmat + Tanker (Combo)
+$8,000 – $15,000/yrHardThe double stack. Combining Hazmat and Tanker endorsements opens up fuel hauling, chemical transport, and other high-paying gigs. Gas stations and refineries pay real money for this combo.
Requirement: Both knowledge tests + TSA background check
PPassenger
+$0 – $2,000/yrEasyBus drivers, shuttle drivers, transit. Not a huge pay booster unless you're in a union transit job. Mostly worth it if you want to drive people, not freight.
Requirement: Knowledge test + skills test in passenger vehicle
SSchool Bus
+$0 – $1,500/yrEasySimilar to Passenger but specific to school buses. Low pay boost, but the hours work well for parents — mornings and afternoons with midday free. Not a career booster, more a lifestyle choice.
Requirement: Knowledge test + skills test in school bus
Pro tip: Stack your endorsements. A driver with Hazmat + Tanker (the X combo) can earn $8,000-$15,000 more per year than a driver with neither. The tests aren't that hard — study with our free CDL practice tests and you'll pass first try.
Cost of Living Adjusted Rankings
Raw salary numbers lie. A $62K salary in New York City doesn't go as far as a $48K salary in Arkansas. This table adjusts salaries by each state's cost of living index so you can compare actual purchasing power.
COL index: 100 = national average. Higher = more expensive. Adjusted salary = Average salary ÷ (COL index ÷ 100).
Ranks 26–51:
What the Numbers Actually Mean
Location matters more than you think. The spread between the highest-paying state (Washington at $65K) and the lowest (Mississippi at $42K) is over $23,000. But after cost of living adjustments, that gap narrows significantly. Mississippi's low pay actually goes further locally than New York's high pay.
Endorsements are the easiest pay raise you'll ever get. A Hazmat endorsement can add $5-10K per year for the cost of a background check and a knowledge test. That's the best ROI in the industry. Study for it, pass it, get paid more. Done.
Year one is rough. Year two gets better. Entry-level pay sits around $35-40K nationally. But most companies bump your CPM or hourly rate after 6 months and again at 12 months. By year two, you should be at $48K+. By year three with endorsements, $60K+ is realistic.
The driver shortage is your leverage. With 60,000-80,000 open positions nationwide, you have options. Companies are offering sign-on bonuses, higher CPM, better home time, and improved benefits to attract drivers. Use that to negotiate.
CDL Salary FAQ
How much do CDL truck drivers make in 2025?
What state pays CDL drivers the most?
Do truck drivers get paid by the mile or by the hour?
How much does a first-year CDL driver make?
Is getting a Hazmat endorsement worth it?
What's the difference between OTR and local driver pay?
Which CDL endorsement pays the most?
Is the truck driver job outlook good for 2025-2026?
Does cost of living affect truck driver salary comparisons?
Can I make over $100K as a truck driver?
Ready to Start Earning?
The first step to that truck driver paycheck is passing your CDL knowledge test. Our free practice tests cover every endorsement for every state. No paywalls, no tricks.