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Best states for a cdl class a driver
- Rank 1 - 10
- 11 - 20
- 21 - 30
- 31 - 40
- 41 - 51
Are you thinking of becoming a cdl class a driver and really want to work at Knight Transportation? Turns out, your chances to become a cdl class a driver are better in some states than others.This way, if you are newly entering the job market, or you are looking to change jobs, you know which places are the best for cdl class a driver jobs.
We figured that the best places for cdl class a driver jobs has three things everyone would agree on. There would be high annual wages, good career prospects (no matter what phase of the career you are in), and a lot of job opportunities.We found that North Dakota is the best state for cdl class a driver jobs, whereas Nevada is the worst.
10 best states for cdl class a drivers in 2025
1. North Dakota
Total cdl class a driver jobs: 5,609 Average annual salary: $66,015 Lowest 10 percent earn: $47,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $91,000 Location Quotient: 3.43
2. Kansas
Total cdl class a driver jobs: 13,188 Average annual salary: $59,881 Lowest 10 percent earn: $42,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $85,000 Location Quotient: 2.48
3. Wyoming
Total cdl class a driver jobs: 1,155 Average annual salary: $62,725 Lowest 10 percent earn: $44,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $88,000 Location Quotient: 1.1
4. Nebraska
Total cdl class a driver jobs: 7,956 Average annual salary: $59,602 Lowest 10 percent earn: $42,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $84,000 Location Quotient: 2.03
5. Pennsylvania
Total cdl class a driver jobs: 19,713 Average annual salary: $62,663 Lowest 10 percent earn: $43,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $90,000 Location Quotient: 0.96
6. Vermont
Total cdl class a driver jobs: 601 Average annual salary: $63,735 Lowest 10 percent earn: $45,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $90,000 Location Quotient: 0.45
7. New Hampshire
Total cdl class a driver jobs: 819 Average annual salary: $64,466 Lowest 10 percent earn: $45,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $91,000 Location Quotient: 0.27
8. Rhode Island
Total cdl class a driver jobs: 693 Average annual salary: $64,127 Lowest 10 percent earn: $44,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $92,000 Location Quotient: 0.32
9. Ohio
Total cdl class a driver jobs: 22,194 Average annual salary: $59,034 Lowest 10 percent earn: $41,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $84,000 Location Quotient: 1.23
10. Illinois
Total cdl class a driver jobs: 24,316 Average annual salary: $61,943 Lowest 10 percent earn: $43,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $88,000 Location Quotient: 1.16
Cdl class a driver jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a cdl class a driver
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a cdl class a driver
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | North Dakota | $66,015 | $47,000 | 755,393 | 5,609 |
| 2 | Kansas | $59,881 | $42,000 | 2,913,123 | 13,188 |
| 3 | Wyoming | $62,725 | $44,000 | 579,315 | 1,155 |
| 4 | Nebraska | $59,602 | $42,000 | 1,920,076 | 7,956 |
| 5 | Pennsylvania | $62,663 | $43,000 | 12,805,537 | 19,713 |
| 6 | Vermont | $63,735 | $45,000 | 623,657 | 601 |
| 7 | New Hampshire | $64,466 | $45,000 | 1,342,795 | 819 |
| 8 | Rhode Island | $64,127 | $44,000 | 1,059,639 | 693 |
| 9 | Ohio | $59,034 | $41,000 | 11,658,609 | 22,194 |
| 10 | Illinois | $61,943 | $43,000 | 12,802,023 | 24,316 |
| 11 | Delaware | $63,448 | $43,000 | 961,939 | 1,799 |
| 12 | Iowa | $58,329 | $41,000 | 3,145,711 | 11,326 |
| 13 | Connecticut | $65,357 | $45,000 | 3,588,184 | 1,928 |
| 14 | New Jersey | $65,468 | $45,000 | 9,005,644 | 3,919 |
| 15 | Indiana | $57,566 | $40,000 | 6,666,818 | 15,045 |
| 16 | Tennessee | $56,291 | $39,000 | 6,715,984 | 14,978 |
| 17 | Kentucky | $56,137 | $39,000 | 4,454,189 | 12,444 |
| 18 | Oregon | $61,153 | $43,000 | 4,142,776 | 6,716 |
| 19 | Minnesota | $59,264 | $42,000 | 5,576,606 | 14,165 |
| 20 | Michigan | $57,756 | $40,000 | 9,962,311 | 14,136 |
| 21 | Wisconsin | $57,392 | $40,000 | 5,795,483 | 12,231 |
| 22 | Oklahoma | $55,659 | $38,000 | 3,930,864 | 12,048 |
| 23 | West Virginia | $54,840 | $38,000 | 1,815,857 | 4,701 |
| 24 | Georgia | $57,228 | $39,000 | 10,429,379 | 25,696 |
| 25 | Maine | $59,466 | $41,000 | 1,335,907 | 777 |
| 26 | Massachusetts | $61,893 | $43,000 | 6,859,819 | 2,752 |
| 27 | Arkansas | $53,589 | $37,000 | 3,004,279 | 11,526 |
| 28 | North Carolina | $56,707 | $39,000 | 10,273,419 | 17,810 |
| 29 | Maryland | $61,349 | $42,000 | 6,052,177 | 6,482 |
| 30 | New York | $61,063 | $42,000 | 19,849,399 | 13,311 |
| 31 | Washington | $59,005 | $42,000 | 7,405,743 | 8,108 |
| 32 | Idaho | $55,638 | $39,000 | 1,716,943 | 4,172 |
| 33 | Utah | $57,055 | $39,000 | 3,101,833 | 4,135 |
| 34 | Mississippi | $53,875 | $37,000 | 2,984,100 | 5,200 |
| 35 | South Carolina | $53,678 | $37,000 | 5,024,369 | 12,892 |
| 36 | Alabama | $52,981 | $36,000 | 4,874,747 | 14,840 |
| 37 | South Dakota | $50,643 | $36,000 | 869,666 | 5,411 |
| 38 | Missouri | $52,908 | $37,000 | 6,113,532 | 19,174 |
| 39 | Louisiana | $52,184 | $35,000 | 4,684,333 | 10,310 |
| 40 | Arizona | $54,160 | $37,000 | 7,016,270 | 5,424 |
| 41 | Colorado | $54,264 | $37,000 | 5,607,154 | 7,012 |
| 42 | Alaska | $52,812 | $44,000 | 739,795 | 148 |
| 43 | Montana | $54,051 | $38,000 | 1,050,493 | 858 |
| 44 | Texas | $51,650 | $35,000 | 28,304,596 | 42,262 |
| 45 | District of Columbia | $55,777 | $38,000 | 693,972 | 281 |
| 46 | New Mexico | $48,726 | $33,000 | 2,088,070 | 4,884 |
| 47 | Virginia | $52,379 | $36,000 | 8,470,020 | 14,813 |
| 48 | California | $51,961 | $36,000 | 39,536,653 | 33,501 |
| 49 | Florida | $52,225 | $35,000 | 20,984,400 | 7,132 |
| 50 | Hawaii | $46,965 | $39,000 | 1,427,538 | 167 |
| 51 | Nevada | $50,038 | $34,000 | 2,998,039 | 1,651 |
Highest paying states for cdl class a drivers
| Rank | State | Avg. CDL Class A Driver Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | North Dakota | $66,015 |
| 2 | Kansas | $59,881 |
| 3 | Wyoming | $62,725 |
| 4 | Nebraska | $59,602 |
| 5 | Pennsylvania | $62,663 |
| 6 | Vermont | $63,735 |
| 7 | New Hampshire | $64,466 |
| 8 | Rhode Island | $64,127 |
| 9 | Ohio | $59,034 |
| 10 | Illinois | $61,943 |
| 11 | Delaware | $63,448 |
| 12 | Iowa | $58,329 |
| 13 | Connecticut | $65,357 |
| 14 | New Jersey | $65,468 |
| 15 | Indiana | $57,566 |
| 16 | Tennessee | $56,291 |
| 17 | Kentucky | $56,137 |
| 18 | Oregon | $61,153 |
| 19 | Minnesota | $59,264 |
| 20 | Michigan | $57,756 |
| 21 | Wisconsin | $57,392 |
| 22 | Oklahoma | $55,659 |
| 23 | West Virginia | $54,840 |
| 24 | Georgia | $57,228 |
| 25 | Maine | $59,466 |
| 26 | Massachusetts | $61,893 |
| 27 | Arkansas | $53,589 |
| 28 | North Carolina | $56,707 |
| 29 | Maryland | $61,349 |
| 30 | New York | $61,063 |
| 31 | Washington | $59,005 |
| 32 | Idaho | $55,638 |
| 33 | Utah | $57,055 |
| 34 | Mississippi | $53,875 |
| 35 | South Carolina | $53,678 |
| 36 | Alabama | $52,981 |
| 37 | South Dakota | $50,643 |
| 38 | Missouri | $52,908 |
| 39 | Louisiana | $52,184 |
| 40 | Arizona | $54,160 |
| 41 | Colorado | $54,264 |
| 42 | Alaska | $52,812 |
| 43 | Montana | $54,051 |
| 44 | Texas | $51,650 |
| 45 | District of Columbia | $55,777 |
| 46 | New Mexico | $48,726 |
| 47 | Virginia | $52,379 |
| 48 | California | $51,961 |
| 49 | Florida | $52,225 |
| 50 | Hawaii | $46,965 |
| 51 | Nevada | $50,038 |
Cdl class a driver best states FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025