CDL Truck Driver Salary (2025) — National Average Pay
Here is what cdl truck drivers earn across the United States, broken down by experience level, union status, and state. All figures reflect base pay before overtime, bonuses, or benefits.
CDL Truck Driver Pay by Experience Level
Your pay as a cdl truck driver depends heavily on where you are in your career. Apprentices start at the lower end, but wages climb quickly as you gain experience and credentials.
| Experience Level | Hourly Rate | Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Apprentice | $14.52/hr | $30,200/yr |
| Journeyman | $24.20/hr | $50,300/yr |
| Master | $31.46/hr | $65,400/yr |
| Foreman | $33.88/hr | $70,500/yr |
Apprentice
Hourly
$14.52
Annual
$30,200
Journeyman
Hourly
$24.20
Annual
$50,300
Master
Hourly
$31.46
Annual
$65,400
Foreman
Hourly
$33.88
Annual
$70,500
Union vs. Non-Union Pay
Union cdl truck drivers consistently out-earn their non-union peers. The gap widens further when you factor in pension contributions, healthcare, and other benefits that most union contracts include.
Union vs. Non-Union Pay
Average hourly rate for cdl truck drivers
Union cdl truck drivers earn $6.54/hr more (27.9% premium)
CDL Truck Driver Salary by Specialty
Not all cdl truck driver roles pay the same. Here’s how estimated pay varies by specialization, based on the national median.
| Specialty | Est. Hourly | Est. Annual | vs. Median |
|---|---|---|---|
Ice Road/Specialized Hauler CDL Class A, Specialized Training | $33.88/hr | $70,400 | +40% |
Owner-Operator CDL Class A, MC/DOT Authority | $31.46/hr | $65,400 | +30% |
Tanker/Hazmat Driver CDL Class A, Hazmat Endorsement, Tanker Endorsement, TWIC Card | $27.83/hr | $57,800 | +15% |
Auto Hauler CDL Class A | $26.62/hr | $55,300 | +10% |
Flatbed Driver CDL Class A | $26.14/hr | $54,300 | +8% |
Over-the-Road (OTR) Driver CDL Class A | $25.41/hr | $52,800 | +5% |
Local Delivery Driver CDL Class A or B | $21.78/hr | $45,300 | -10% |
Ice Road/Specialized Hauler
+40%$33.88/hr
$70,400/yr
Owner-Operator
+30%$31.46/hr
$65,400/yr
Tanker/Hazmat Driver
+15%$27.83/hr
$57,800/yr
Auto Hauler
+10%$26.62/hr
$55,300/yr
Flatbed Driver
+8%$26.14/hr
$54,300/yr
Over-the-Road (OTR) Driver
+5%$25.41/hr
$52,800/yr
Local Delivery Driver
-10%$21.78/hr
$45,300/yr
CDL Truck Driver Salary by State
CDL Truck Driver pay varies significantly by state. Cost of living, union presence, and local demand all play a role. Click any state to see the full breakdown.
| # | State | Median Hourly | Median Annual | Jobs | Growth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alaska | $33.75/hr | $70,200 | 6,031 | +4.5% |
| 2 | New York | $31.75/hr | $66,000 | 110,561 | +4.0% |
| 3 | Hawaii | $30.98/hr | $64,400 | 8,041 | +4.0% |
| 4 | California | $30.52/hr | $63,500 | 201,020 | +5.0% |
| 5 | Washington | $30.04/hr | $62,500 | 50,255 | +5.5% |
| 6 | Massachusetts | $30.02/hr | $62,400 | 44,224 | +4.5% |
| 7 | Illinois | $28.56/hr | $59,400 | 84,428 | +3.5% |
| 8 | Connecticut | $27.83/hr | $57,900 | 22,112 | +4.0% |
| 9 | New Jersey | $27.83/hr | $57,900 | 56,286 | +4.0% |
| 10 | Maryland | $26.62/hr | $55,400 | 34,173 | +4.5% |
| 11 | Colorado | $26.14/hr | $54,400 | 38,194 | +5.5% |
| 12 | Oregon | $26.14/hr | $54,400 | 26,133 | +5.0% |
| 13 | Nevada | $25.91/hr | $53,900 | 20,102 | +6.5% |
| 14 | Minnesota | $25.41/hr | $52,900 | 36,184 | +4.5% |
| 15 | Pennsylvania | $25.41/hr | $52,900 | 80,408 | +4.0% |
| 16 | Rhode Island | $25.41/hr | $52,900 | 6,031 | +4.0% |
| 17 | Delaware | $24.68/hr | $51,300 | 6,031 | +4.5% |
| 18 | New Hampshire | $24.68/hr | $51,300 | 8,041 | +4.5% |
| 19 | Virginia | $24.68/hr | $51,300 | 50,255 | +4.5% |
| 20 | North Dakota | $24.49/hr | $50,900 | 6,031 | +5.0% |
| 21 | Arizona | $23.72/hr | $49,300 | 46,235 | +6.0% |
| 22 | Michigan | $23.72/hr | $49,300 | 60,306 | +3.5% |
| 23 | Texas | $23.72/hr | $49,300 | 170,867 | +6.0% |
| 24 | Vermont | $23.72/hr | $49,300 | 4,020 | +4.0% |
| 25 | Wyoming | $23.26/hr | $48,400 | 4,020 | +4.5% |
| 26 | Wisconsin | $23.23/hr | $48,300 | 36,184 | +4.0% |
| 27 | Florida | $22.99/hr | $47,800 | 130,663 | +7.0% |
| 28 | Maine | $22.99/hr | $47,800 | 8,041 | +4.0% |
| 29 | Ohio | $22.99/hr | $47,800 | 76,388 | +3.5% |
| 30 | Utah | $22.99/hr | $47,800 | 20,102 | +6.5% |
| 31 | Indiana | $22.51/hr | $46,800 | 44,224 | +4.5% |
| 32 | Missouri | $22.51/hr | $46,800 | 40,204 | +4.0% |
| 33 | Georgia | $22.26/hr | $46,300 | 64,326 | +5.5% |
| 34 | Louisiana | $22.26/hr | $46,300 | 32,163 | +4.0% |
| 35 | North Carolina | $22.26/hr | $46,300 | 60,306 | +5.5% |
| 36 | Idaho | $21.78/hr | $45,300 | 12,061 | +6.0% |
| 37 | Iowa | $21.78/hr | $45,300 | 20,102 | +4.0% |
| 38 | Montana | $21.78/hr | $45,300 | 6,031 | +5.0% |
| 39 | Nebraska | $21.78/hr | $45,300 | 12,061 | +4.0% |
| 40 | Tennessee | $21.78/hr | $45,300 | 44,224 | +5.0% |
| 41 | Kansas | $21.54/hr | $44,800 | 18,092 | +3.5% |
| 42 | New Mexico | $21.30/hr | $44,300 | 10,051 | +4.0% |
| 43 | Kentucky | $21.05/hr | $43,800 | 28,143 | +3.5% |
| 44 | South Carolina | $20.81/hr | $43,300 | 30,153 | +5.5% |
| 45 | Alabama | $20.57/hr | $42,800 | 30,153 | +3.0% |
| 46 | Oklahoma | $20.57/hr | $42,800 | 24,122 | +4.0% |
| 47 | South Dakota | $20.57/hr | $42,800 | 6,031 | +4.5% |
| 48 | Arkansas | $19.34/hr | $40,200 | 18,092 | +2.5% |
| 49 | West Virginia | $19.34/hr | $40,200 | 10,051 | +2.0% |
| 50 | Mississippi | $18.36/hr | $38,200 | 16,082 | +2.0% |
Alaska
6,031 jobs
$33.75/hr
$70,200/yr
New York
110,561 jobs
$31.75/hr
$66,000/yr
Hawaii
8,041 jobs
$30.98/hr
$64,400/yr
California
201,020 jobs
$30.52/hr
$63,500/yr
Washington
50,255 jobs
$30.04/hr
$62,500/yr
Massachusetts
44,224 jobs
$30.02/hr
$62,400/yr
Illinois
84,428 jobs
$28.56/hr
$59,400/yr
Connecticut
22,112 jobs
$27.83/hr
$57,900/yr
New Jersey
56,286 jobs
$27.83/hr
$57,900/yr
Maryland
34,173 jobs
$26.62/hr
$55,400/yr
Colorado
38,194 jobs
$26.14/hr
$54,400/yr
Oregon
26,133 jobs
$26.14/hr
$54,400/yr
Nevada
20,102 jobs
$25.91/hr
$53,900/yr
Minnesota
36,184 jobs
$25.41/hr
$52,900/yr
Pennsylvania
80,408 jobs
$25.41/hr
$52,900/yr
Rhode Island
6,031 jobs
$25.41/hr
$52,900/yr
Delaware
6,031 jobs
$24.68/hr
$51,300/yr
New Hampshire
8,041 jobs
$24.68/hr
$51,300/yr
Virginia
50,255 jobs
$24.68/hr
$51,300/yr
North Dakota
6,031 jobs
$24.49/hr
$50,900/yr
Arizona
46,235 jobs
$23.72/hr
$49,300/yr
Michigan
60,306 jobs
$23.72/hr
$49,300/yr
Texas
170,867 jobs
$23.72/hr
$49,300/yr
Vermont
4,020 jobs
$23.72/hr
$49,300/yr
Wyoming
4,020 jobs
$23.26/hr
$48,400/yr
Wisconsin
36,184 jobs
$23.23/hr
$48,300/yr
Florida
130,663 jobs
$22.99/hr
$47,800/yr
Maine
8,041 jobs
$22.99/hr
$47,800/yr
Ohio
76,388 jobs
$22.99/hr
$47,800/yr
Utah
20,102 jobs
$22.99/hr
$47,800/yr
Indiana
44,224 jobs
$22.51/hr
$46,800/yr
Missouri
40,204 jobs
$22.51/hr
$46,800/yr
Georgia
64,326 jobs
$22.26/hr
$46,300/yr
Louisiana
32,163 jobs
$22.26/hr
$46,300/yr
North Carolina
60,306 jobs
$22.26/hr
$46,300/yr
Idaho
12,061 jobs
$21.78/hr
$45,300/yr
Iowa
20,102 jobs
$21.78/hr
$45,300/yr
Montana
6,031 jobs
$21.78/hr
$45,300/yr
Nebraska
12,061 jobs
$21.78/hr
$45,300/yr
Tennessee
44,224 jobs
$21.78/hr
$45,300/yr
Kansas
18,092 jobs
$21.54/hr
$44,800/yr
New Mexico
10,051 jobs
$21.30/hr
$44,300/yr
Kentucky
28,143 jobs
$21.05/hr
$43,800/yr
South Carolina
30,153 jobs
$20.81/hr
$43,300/yr
Alabama
30,153 jobs
$20.57/hr
$42,800/yr
Oklahoma
24,122 jobs
$20.57/hr
$42,800/yr
South Dakota
6,031 jobs
$20.57/hr
$42,800/yr
Arkansas
18,092 jobs
$19.34/hr
$40,200/yr
West Virginia
10,051 jobs
$19.34/hr
$40,200/yr
Mississippi
16,082 jobs
$18.36/hr
$38,200/yr
Frequently Asked Questions
CDL Truck Driver salaries in the United States vary based on experience, certifications, and whether you work union or non-union. Entry-level cdl truck drivers typically earn around 60-70% of the median wage, while experienced professionals and those with master-level credentials can earn 25-50% above the median.
Entry-level cdl truck drivers in the United States typically start at the lower end of the pay range, which reflects apprentice or helper-level positions. As you gain experience and complete your training program, your pay increases significantly within the first 2-3 years.
Yes. Union cdl truck drivers earn 15-30% more per hour on average than their non-union counterparts. When you factor in benefits like pensions, healthcare, and annuity contributions, the total compensation gap is even wider. However, union availability varies significantly by region.
The path to becoming a fully qualified cdl truck driver depends on the route you take. Apprenticeship programs typically last 3-5 years and combine on-the-job training with classroom instruction. Trade school programs can be completed in 6-24 months, though you will still need field experience to reach journeyman level.
CDL Truck Driver work offers solid pay, strong job security, and doesn't require a four-year degree. The national job outlook shows steady demand, and the ongoing skilled labor shortage means qualified cdl truck drivers have strong bargaining power. The work can be physically demanding, but many professionals find the trade rewarding and well-compensated.
Certifications can significantly boost a cdl truck driver's earning potential. Industry-recognized credentials, advanced specializations, and safety certifications all help you stand out to employers and command higher hourly rates. Master-level licenses typically result in the biggest pay increases.
Sources & Methodology
Salary data sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program. Data reflects May 2024 estimates, the most recent available. Figures represent base pay before overtime, bonuses, or benefits.