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The average salary for a CDL Class A Driver is approximately $52,203 annually or $25 per hour. Factors influencing this figure include experience, geographical location, and specific job duties. For instance, drivers with more years of experience typically earn higher salaries. Additionally, certain states and cities offer better compensation due to demand for skilled drivers.
Entry-level drivers can expect to earn less, while those with several years of experience can command salaries significantly above the average. For example, drivers with 5-10 years of experience may earn around $60,000 annually. In comparison, veterans in the field can exceed $80,000 depending on their role and responsibilities.
States such as California, Texas, and New York typically offer the highest salaries for CDL Class A Drivers. Urban areas within these states often provide additional financial incentives due to higher living costs and demand for transportation services.
Career opportunities for CDL Class A Drivers include long-haul trucking, local delivery, and specialized transportation. Each of these roles has varying pay scales, further influenced by the employer's reputation and the scope of work. Understanding these dynamics can significantly aid drivers in making informed career decisions.
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The highest-paying states for cdl class a drivers are North Dakota, New Jersey, and Connecticut. The lowest average cdl class a driver salary states are California, Texas, and South Dakota.
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | North Dakota | $66,015 | $31.74 |
| 2 | Kansas | $59,881 | $28.79 |
| 3 | Wyoming | $62,725 | $30.16 |
| 4 | Nebraska | $59,602 | $28.65 |
| 5 | Pennsylvania | $62,663 | $30.13 |
| 6 | Vermont | $63,735 | $30.64 |
| 7 | New Hampshire | $64,466 | $30.99 |
| 8 | Rhode Island | $64,127 | $30.83 |
| 9 | Ohio | $59,034 | $28.38 |
| 10 | Illinois | $61,943 | $29.78 |
| 11 | Delaware | $63,448 | $30.50 |
| 12 | Iowa | $58,329 | $28.04 |
| 13 | Connecticut | $65,357 | $31.42 |
| 14 | New Jersey | $65,468 | $31.48 |
| 15 | Indiana | $57,566 | $27.68 |
| 16 | Tennessee | $56,291 | $27.06 |
| 17 | Kentucky | $56,137 | $26.99 |
| 18 | Oregon | $61,153 | $29.40 |
| 19 | Minnesota | $59,264 | $28.49 |
| 20 | Michigan | $57,756 | $27.77 |
| 21 | Wisconsin | $57,392 | $27.59 |
| 22 | Oklahoma | $55,659 | $26.76 |
| 23 | West Virginia | $54,840 | $26.37 |
| 24 | Georgia | $57,228 | $27.51 |
| 25 | Maine | $59,466 | $28.59 |
| 26 | Massachusetts | $61,893 | $29.76 |
| 27 | Arkansas | $53,589 | $25.76 |
| 28 | North Carolina | $56,707 | $27.26 |
| 29 | Maryland | $61,349 | $29.49 |
| 30 | New York | $61,063 | $29.36 |
| 31 | Washington | $59,005 | $28.37 |
| 32 | Idaho | $55,638 | $26.75 |
| 33 | Utah | $57,055 | $27.43 |
| 34 | Mississippi | $53,875 | $25.90 |
| 35 | South Carolina | $53,678 | $25.81 |
| 36 | Alabama | $52,981 | $25.47 |
| 37 | South Dakota | $50,643 | $24.35 |
| 38 | Missouri | $52,908 | $25.44 |
| 39 | Louisiana | $52,184 | $25.09 |
| 40 | Arizona | $54,160 | $26.04 |
| 41 | Colorado | $54,264 | $26.09 |
| 42 | Alaska | $52,812 | $25.39 |
| 43 | Montana | $54,051 | $25.99 |
| 44 | Texas | $51,650 | $24.83 |
| 45 | District of Columbia | $55,777 | $26.82 |
| 46 | New Mexico | $48,726 | $23.43 |
| 47 | Virginia | $52,379 | $25.18 |
| 48 | California | $51,961 | $24.98 |
| 49 | Florida | $52,225 | $25.11 |
| 50 | Hawaii | $46,965 | $22.58 |
| 51 | Nevada | $50,038 | $24.06 |
The highest-paying cities for cdl class a drivers are Newark, NJ, Newark, DE, and Allentown, PA.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Newark, NJ | $65,581 | $31.53 |
| 2 | Newark, DE | $63,443 | $30.50 |
| 3 | Allentown, PA | $62,888 | $30.23 |
| 4 | Chicago, IL | $62,067 | $29.84 |
| 5 | Baltimore, MD | $61,438 | $29.54 |
| 6 | Portland, OR | $61,286 | $29.46 |
| 7 | New York, NY | $61,135 | $29.39 |
| 8 | Kansas City, KS | $60,147 | $28.92 |
| 9 | Cleveland, OH | $59,683 | $28.69 |
| 10 | Omaha, NE | $59,673 | $28.69 |
| 11 | Portland, ME | $59,612 | $28.66 |
| 12 | Saint Paul, MN | $59,198 | $28.46 |
| 13 | Fort Wayne, IN | $58,154 | $27.96 |
| 14 | Des Moines, IA | $58,138 | $27.95 |
| 15 | Green Bay, WI | $57,989 | $27.88 |
| 16 | Detroit, MI | $57,791 | $27.78 |
| 17 | Atlanta, GA | $57,271 | $27.53 |
| 18 | Salt Lake City, UT | $57,138 | $27.47 |
| 19 | Jacksonville, NC | $56,919 | $27.36 |
| 20 | Cleveland, TN | $56,577 | $27.20 |
A cdl class a driver's salary ranges from $36,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $75,000 at the 90th percentile.

| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $75,000 | $6,250 | $36 |
| 75th Percentile | $63,000 | $5,250 | $30 |
| Average | $52,203 | $4,350 | $25 |
| 25th Percentile | $43,000 | $3,583 | $21 |
| 10th Percentile | $36,000 | $3,000 | $17 |
The highest paying types of cdl class a drivers are truck driver-over-the-road, company driver, and truck driver class a.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Truck Driver-Over-The-Road | $69,158 | $5,763 | $33.25 | 689,630 |
| Haul Truck Driver | $60,932 | $5,078 | $29.29 | 704,286 |
| Fuel Truck Driver | $56,767 | $4,731 | $27.29 | 876,579 |
| Truck Driver | $60,326 | $5,027 | $29.00 | 827,858 |
| Mixer Driver | $52,004 | $4,334 | $25.00 | 990,295 |
| Truck Driver Class A | $63,270 | $5,272 | $30.42 | 709,900 |
Top companies hiring cdl class a drivers now:
Cdl class a driver salaries at Mid-South Management and Bob's Discount Furniture are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average cdl class a driver salary at companies like Ryder System and Old Dominion Freight Line are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mid-South Management | $83,118 | $39.96 |
| 2 | Bob's Discount Furniture | $71,338 | $34.30 |
| 3 | Ryder System | $69,847 | $33.58 |
| 4 | Old Dominion Freight Line | $69,834 | $33.57 |
| 5 | The Arc Mercer | $68,449 | $32.91 |
| 6 | Alliance Transportation Group | $66,774 | $32.10 |
| 7 | Exel Inc. | $66,335 | $31.89 |
| 8 | J Rayl Transport | $65,864 | $31.67 |
| 9 | Lily Transportation | $64,908 | $31.21 |
| 10 | Truckmovers | $64,780 | $31.14 |
| 11 | Koch Trucking | $64,224 | $30.88 |
| 12 | North American Corporation | $64,108 | $30.82 |
| 13 | Lazer Spot | $63,967 | $30.75 |
| 14 | Holland Enterprises | $63,327 | $30.45 |
| 15 | TMC Transportation | $63,119 | $30.35 |
| 16 | Holland Special Delivery | $62,776 | $30.18 |
| 17 | McLane | $60,417 | $29.05 |
| 18 | Landair Express | $60,293 | $28.99 |
| 19 | Cargo Express | $60,249 | $28.97 |
| 20 | Dedicated Logistics | $59,677 | $28.69 |
The average cdl class a driver salary varies across industries:
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Transportation | $57,733 | $27.76 |
| 2 | Retail | $54,417 | $26.16 |
| 3 | Hospitality | $53,080 | $25.52 |
| 4 | Manufacturing | $52,626 | $25.30 |
| 5 | Construction | $48,426 | $23.28 |
The average cdl class a driver salary has risen by $10,190 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average cdl class a driver earned $42,013 annually, but today, they earn $52,203 a year. That works out to a 14% change in pay for cdl class a drivers over the last decade.
Compare cdl class a driver salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Compare cdl class a driver salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $52,200 | $25.10 | +4.0% |
| 2024 | $50,100 | $24.10 | +3.5% |
| 2023 | $48,400 | $23.26 | +2.7% |
| 2022 | $47,100 | $22.62 | +2.7% |
| 2021 | $45,800 | $22.01 | +2.6% |
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Universal Logistics Holdings | Class A Cdl-Grand | Grand Island, NE | 06/29/2025 | $52,175 |
| Privacy/Disclaimer Agreement | Driver-CDL Class A-Frederick MD-INT | Frederick, MD | 06/29/2025 | $52,384 |
| Opportunities In Fleet Maintenance and Management | Garage Support-CDL Class A or B Required | Jackson, MS | 06/29/2025 | $37,566 |
| Kelly Services | CDL Class A | Elwood, KS | 06/28/2025 | $54,262 |
| Service Partners | Delivery Driver/Class A Driver/CDL | Denver, CO | 06/28/2025 | $45,914 |
| Akhire | CDL Class A Local Route | Kodiak, AK | 06/27/2025 | $50,088 |
| Harris Teeter, LLC | Driver-CDL Class A-Frederick MD | Frederick, MD | 06/26/2025 | $52,384 |
| Loffredo Fresh Foods | Local Delivery Driver-Class A CDL | Kansas City, MO | 06/26/2025 | $56,349 |
| Keurig Dr Pepper | Delivery Driver Class A CDL | Orlando, FL | 06/25/2025 | $59,292 |
| Kimble Recycling and Disposal Inc. | Company Driver-Class A/B CDL | Dover, OH | 06/25/2025 | $37,566 |
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