How much do cdl drivers make in 2026?
Drivers holding a commercial driver licence are counted across several BLS series; the heavy and tractor-trailer series that covers most Class A work shows a national median of $58,640 a year ($28.19 an hour) in OEWS May 2025, with the bottom 10% near $40,140 and the top 10% at $79,380 (SOC 53-3032). Approaching pay through the licence is useful because the credential structure maps onto the jobs. A Class A licence covers combination vehicles and opens tractor-trailer, tanker, flatbed and linehaul work — the broadest and generally best-paid field. A Class B licence covers heavy straight trucks and leads to dump, refuse, mixer, bus and local delivery work, which is home-daily and often hourly but sits lower in the pooled distribution. Class C covers smaller vehicles carrying passengers or hazardous materials. Endorsements matter selectively: H for placarded hazardous materials, which uniquely requires a TSA security threat assessment; N for tank vehicles and X for the combination of tank and hazmat; T for doubles and triples, valuable at less-than-truckload carriers; P and S for passenger and school bus work. Since federal entry-level driver training rules took effect, new applicants must complete training with a registered provider before testing. Employment is projected to grow 4% through 2034 with roughly 237,600 openings a year. → Full cdl driver career guide, career path, credentials & placement →
Note: $58,640 blends every experience level and every setting in this occupation. For pay by level alone, see Pay by Level below.
- CDL Drivers earn a national median $58,640/yr ($28.19/hr) (BLS OEWS May 2025, SOC 53-3032); the P10 to P90 range is $40,140 to $79,380.
- Most Class A work sits in the BLS heavy and tractor-trailer series: a $58,640 median inside a $40,140 to $79,380 band.
- Class A opens combination-vehicle work across tanker, flatbed and linehaul freight; Class B leads to dump, refuse, mixer and local delivery work that is home-daily but lower paid in this distribution.
- Endorsements pay only when paired with the freight — H requires a TSA security threat assessment, N and X cover tank vehicles, and T for doubles and triples is valuable at less-than-truckload carriers.
US CDL Driver Pay Distribution · BLS OEWS May 2025
Pay by Level · BLS OEWS May 2025
How much do cdl drivers earn at each level?
BLS OEWS publishes one blended wage for the whole occupation and does not break pay out by credential or practice level. The levels below distribute the published percentile range across the credential tiers this role actually hires at.
Level medians are aligned to the BLS OEWS May 2025 percentile distribution for SOC 53-3032; GlobalCybers does not yet publish a verified placement sample for this role, so no verified median is shown.
Methodology & Sources
How the numbers on this page are built
Published (BLS): BLS OEWS May 2025, SOC 53-3032, United States national estimate. Public, methodologically rigorous, but sampled on a rolling 3-year basis and published ~10 months after collection — so it reflects wages that are already 1–2 years old by the time you read them.
Level and certification medians: distributed across the published BLS percentile range for this SOC code (P10 through P90) according to the credential tiers this occupation actually hires at. They are modeled reference points, not separately surveyed wages.
State and metro figures: modeled — the BLS national median multiplied by the GlobalCybers state wage index, and for metros by the published metro index for that state. They are estimates of local pay, not BLS state or metropolitan-area observations, and are labelled as modeled in the tables below.
No verified placement sample:GlobalCybers does not yet publish a placement median for this role, so no "verified" figure appears anywhere on this page.
Pay by Career Level
How much does a cdl driver earn at each career stage?
CDL earnings follow the class held, the endorsements paired with real freight, and driving record. Each median is anchored to the BLS OEWS distribution for SOC 53-3032.
By State
Which states pay cdl drivers the most in 2026?
State figures are modeled estimates — the BLS national median multiplied by the GlobalCybers salary-calculator state wage index — not BLS state observations. The commercial driver licence is federally framed but state-issued, so testing availability, fees and processing times differ by state driver licensing agency even though the classes and endorsements are standard. Our CDL licence hub covers the classes, the ELDT rule, testing and endorsement requirements.
6 of 51 state guides shown, ranked by median. Bar is relative to California ($67,440), the highest-paying state shown. See all role salary guides →
By Metro
Which cities pay cdl drivers the most?
Metro figures are modeled — national median times state wage index times published metro index — not BLS MSA observations. Metro effects are strongest for Class B and local Class A work, where port drayage, construction hauling and urban distribution compete for home-daily drivers and bid rates up.
BLS OEWS MSA estimates, May 2025. Nominal pay — weigh each metro against its cost of living before relocating.
Certification Impact
Which certifications raise a cdl driver’s pay the most?
Median annual pay before and after each credential, based on GlobalCybers placement data cross-referenced with BLS. License upgrades move the needle most; stackable certs add on top.
Impacts are not additive, the licensing rows share the same career ladder. Browse all 167 certifications →
Trade Comparison
How does cdl driver pay compare to related roles?
BLS OEWS national median across the closest trades. CDL Drivers sit mid-pack on median but carry one of the widest P10–P90 spreads, licensing and specialization drive the upside.
BLS OEWS May 2025. Verify cdl driver wages on BLS.gov →
Take-Home Pay
What does a cdl driver actually take home after taxes?
The medians above are gross base wage.
Estimates use 2026 federal brackets, standard deduction, and 7.65% FICA. Actual take-home varies with filing status, deductions, and local tax.
FAQ
CDL Driver Salary, Frequently Asked Questions
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