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Best states for a cdl driver
- Rank 1 - 10
- 11 - 20
- 21 - 30
- 31 - 40
- 41 - 51
Do you want to become a cdl driver at Schneider, and you wonder what that means or entails? We have the full list of best states for cdl drivers that you can check out, before you begin your journey. 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 driver jobs.
To do that, we looked at the most recent data we have available for the following criteria -- average annual wages, and availability of jobs for cdl drivers.We found that the Northeast is best for cdl drivers, and the Midwest is the worst. Washington, DC is the best city in the country for cdl driver jobs, where as North Dakota is the best state in the country.
10 best states for cdl drivers in 2026
1. North Dakota
Total cdl driver jobs: 5,697 Average annual salary: $67,750 Lowest 10 percent earn: $44,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $102,000 Location Quotient: 3.54
2. Oklahoma
Total cdl driver jobs: 12,115 Average annual salary: $67,855 Lowest 10 percent earn: $44,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $102,000 Location Quotient: 2.27
3. Kansas
Total cdl driver jobs: 13,392 Average annual salary: $67,477 Lowest 10 percent earn: $44,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $102,000 Location Quotient: 2.56
4. Wyoming
Total cdl driver jobs: 1,169 Average annual salary: $73,856 Lowest 10 percent earn: $47,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $115,000 Location Quotient: 1.13
5. Nebraska
Total cdl driver jobs: 8,132 Average annual salary: $66,636 Lowest 10 percent earn: $43,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $101,000 Location Quotient: 2.11
6. Kentucky
Total cdl driver jobs: 12,522 Average annual salary: $65,012 Lowest 10 percent earn: $43,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $98,000 Location Quotient: 1.96
7. South Dakota
Total cdl driver jobs: 5,485 Average annual salary: $64,319 Lowest 10 percent earn: $42,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $98,000 Location Quotient: 2.96
8. Missouri
Total cdl driver jobs: 19,465 Average annual salary: $66,014 Lowest 10 percent earn: $43,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $99,000 Location Quotient: 1.92
9. Arkansas
Total cdl driver jobs: 11,685 Average annual salary: $64,128 Lowest 10 percent earn: $42,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $96,000 Location Quotient: 2.58
10. Nevada
Total cdl driver jobs: 1,455 Average annual salary: $69,353 Lowest 10 percent earn: $44,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $108,000 Location Quotient: 0.4
Cdl driver jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a cdl driver
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a cdl driver
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | North Dakota | $67,750 | $44,000 | 755,393 | 5,697 |
| 2 | Oklahoma | $67,855 | $44,000 | 3,930,864 | 12,115 |
| 3 | Kansas | $67,477 | $44,000 | 2,913,123 | 13,392 |
| 4 | Wyoming | $73,856 | $47,000 | 579,315 | 1,169 |
| 5 | Nebraska | $66,636 | $43,000 | 1,920,076 | 8,132 |
| 6 | Kentucky | $65,012 | $43,000 | 4,454,189 | 12,522 |
| 7 | South Dakota | $64,319 | $42,000 | 869,666 | 5,485 |
| 8 | Missouri | $66,014 | $43,000 | 6,113,532 | 19,465 |
| 9 | Arkansas | $64,128 | $42,000 | 3,004,279 | 11,685 |
| 10 | Nevada | $69,353 | $44,000 | 2,998,039 | 1,455 |
| 11 | Tennessee | $64,436 | $42,000 | 6,715,984 | 15,106 |
| 12 | New Mexico | $65,105 | $42,000 | 2,088,070 | 4,892 |
| 13 | Utah | $67,164 | $42,000 | 3,101,833 | 4,190 |
| 14 | Indiana | $64,558 | $42,000 | 6,666,818 | 14,591 |
| 15 | Wisconsin | $64,571 | $42,000 | 5,795,483 | 12,554 |
| 16 | Illinois | $66,496 | $43,000 | 12,802,023 | 23,511 |
| 17 | Mississippi | $63,731 | $42,000 | 2,984,100 | 4,835 |
| 18 | Georgia | $64,358 | $42,000 | 10,429,379 | 25,496 |
| 19 | Iowa | $63,505 | $41,000 | 3,145,711 | 11,508 |
| 20 | Louisiana | $63,386 | $42,000 | 4,684,333 | 10,509 |
| 21 | Delaware | $65,585 | $43,000 | 961,939 | 1,822 |
| 22 | West Virginia | $62,783 | $41,000 | 1,815,857 | 4,758 |
| 23 | North Carolina | $63,359 | $42,000 | 10,273,419 | 17,397 |
| 24 | District of Columbia | $72,370 | $48,000 | 693,972 | 260 |
| 25 | Alabama | $62,306 | $41,000 | 4,874,747 | 15,051 |
| 26 | Montana | $65,576 | $41,000 | 1,050,493 | 821 |
| 27 | Ohio | $62,548 | $41,000 | 11,658,609 | 21,445 |
| 28 | Vermont | $64,496 | $42,000 | 623,657 | 603 |
| 29 | Rhode Island | $63,907 | $42,000 | 1,059,639 | 705 |
| 30 | Michigan | $62,419 | $41,000 | 9,962,311 | 13,627 |
| 31 | Arizona | $64,021 | $41,000 | 7,016,270 | 4,779 |
| 32 | Idaho | $61,982 | $38,000 | 1,716,943 | 4,215 |
| 33 | Connecticut | $64,227 | $42,000 | 3,588,184 | 2,020 |
| 34 | Colorado | $63,940 | $41,000 | 5,607,154 | 7,096 |
| 35 | New Hampshire | $63,734 | $42,000 | 1,342,795 | 818 |
| 36 | Pennsylvania | $62,678 | $41,000 | 12,805,537 | 18,296 |
| 37 | Maryland | $64,356 | $42,000 | 6,052,177 | 6,363 |
| 38 | Minnesota | $63,374 | $41,000 | 5,576,606 | 14,471 |
| 39 | South Carolina | $61,578 | $41,000 | 5,024,369 | 13,060 |
| 40 | Texas | $62,320 | $41,000 | 28,304,596 | 41,396 |
| 41 | Virginia | $62,409 | $41,000 | 8,470,020 | 14,334 |
| 42 | New York | $63,051 | $41,000 | 19,849,399 | 13,381 |
| 43 | New Jersey | $63,220 | $41,000 | 9,005,644 | 4,062 |
| 44 | Massachusetts | $62,640 | $41,000 | 6,859,819 | 2,721 |
| 45 | Alaska | $57,187 | $43,000 | 739,795 | 151 |
| 46 | Washington | $60,488 | $38,000 | 7,405,743 | 8,211 |
| 47 | Oregon | $58,789 | $37,000 | 4,142,776 | 6,844 |
| 48 | Maine | $60,395 | $39,000 | 1,335,907 | 777 |
| 49 | California | $59,751 | $38,000 | 39,536,653 | 30,118 |
| 50 | Hawaii | $54,637 | $41,000 | 1,427,538 | 181 |
| 51 | Florida | $56,087 | $37,000 | 20,984,400 | 6,478 |
Highest paying states for cdl drivers
| Rank | State | Avg. CDL Driver Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | North Dakota | $67,750 |
| 2 | Oklahoma | $67,855 |
| 3 | Kansas | $67,477 |
| 4 | Wyoming | $73,856 |
| 5 | Nebraska | $66,636 |
| 6 | Kentucky | $65,012 |
| 7 | South Dakota | $64,319 |
| 8 | Missouri | $66,014 |
| 9 | Arkansas | $64,128 |
| 10 | Nevada | $69,353 |
| 11 | Tennessee | $64,436 |
| 12 | New Mexico | $65,105 |
| 13 | Utah | $67,164 |
| 14 | Indiana | $64,558 |
| 15 | Wisconsin | $64,571 |
| 16 | Illinois | $66,496 |
| 17 | Mississippi | $63,731 |
| 18 | Georgia | $64,358 |
| 19 | Iowa | $63,505 |
| 20 | Louisiana | $63,386 |
| 21 | Delaware | $65,585 |
| 22 | West Virginia | $62,783 |
| 23 | North Carolina | $63,359 |
| 24 | District of Columbia | $72,370 |
| 25 | Alabama | $62,306 |
| 26 | Montana | $65,576 |
| 27 | Ohio | $62,548 |
| 28 | Vermont | $64,496 |
| 29 | Rhode Island | $63,907 |
| 30 | Michigan | $62,419 |
| 31 | Arizona | $64,021 |
| 32 | Idaho | $61,982 |
| 33 | Connecticut | $64,227 |
| 34 | Colorado | $63,940 |
| 35 | New Hampshire | $63,734 |
| 36 | Pennsylvania | $62,678 |
| 37 | Maryland | $64,356 |
| 38 | Minnesota | $63,374 |
| 39 | South Carolina | $61,578 |
| 40 | Texas | $62,320 |
| 41 | Virginia | $62,409 |
| 42 | New York | $63,051 |
| 43 | New Jersey | $63,220 |
| 44 | Massachusetts | $62,640 |
| 45 | Alaska | $57,187 |
| 46 | Washington | $60,488 |
| 47 | Oregon | $58,789 |
| 48 | Maine | $60,395 |
| 49 | California | $59,751 |
| 50 | Hawaii | $54,637 |
| 51 | Florida | $56,087 |
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Updated January 8, 2025