CDL Truck Driver
State-by-state licensing requirements, salary data, and career ROI
What Is a CDL Truck Driver?
CDL Truck Drivers operate commercial vehicles — tractor-trailers, tankers, flatbeds, and other heavy trucks — to transport goods across local routes or long-haul interstate highways. Getting a Commercial Driver's License requires passing written knowledge tests and a skills test (pre-trip inspection, basic controls, and road driving). Federal ELDT rules now require completing an approved training program before testing.
The Landscape
While all 51 states consistently require a CDL license and a valid DOT medical certificate, the financial landscape for truck drivers varies dramatically across the nation. You’ll find a significant pay disparity, with median salaries ranging from Alaska's high of $64,890 down to New Mexico's low of $48,360, highlighting that location is a major factor in earning potential.
Regional patterns reveal that the highest-paying states are often concentrated in the West Coast (like Washington at $63,760 and Oregon at $61,180) and the Northeast corridor (New Jersey at $64,720, Massachusetts at $60,630). These areas typically come with a higher cost of living and complex logistics, driving up wages to attract and retain drivers. Alaska, topping the list, is a unique outlier due to its remote nature and specialized transportation challenges, which command premium pay despite its smaller job market of 3,240 employed drivers.
Conversely, the Southern and Southeast regions, including states like New Mexico, Louisiana, and Arkansas, consistently show the lowest median salaries, often falling well below the national median of $57,440. This trend often correlates with a lower cost of living in these areas, but it's a critical consideration for your overall take-home pay. A key state-to-state difference to note is the age requirement: most states allow intrastate driving at 18 but mandate 21 for interstate commerce, a crucial distinction when planning your career trajectory.
CDL Truck Driver by State
Click any state for detailed requirements, salary percentiles, and ROI analysis.
| State | License Required | Median Salary | vs. National | Time to Complete |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Yes | $50,120 | -12.7% | 3-8 weeks |
| Alaska | Yes | $64,890 | +13.0% | 3-8 weeks (training programs vary) |
| Arizona | Yes | $53,690 | -6.5% | 3-8 weeks (training programs may vary) |
| Arkansas | Yes | $49,520 | -13.8% | Varies (e.g., 4-5 weeks for training, plus permit and testing time) |
| California | Yes | $59,950 | +4.4% | 3-8 weeks (minimum 14 days for CLP, plus training and testing time) |
| Colorado | Yes | $60,260 | +4.9% | 2-8 weeks |
| Connecticut | Yes | $58,700 | +2.2% | 3-8 weeks (for CLP and CDL issuance) |
| Delaware | Yes | $58,510 | +1.9% | 3-8 weeks |
| District of Columbia | Yes | $63,610 | +10.7% | Varies (permit held for 30 days minimum) |
| Florida | Yes | $50,000 | -13.0% | 4-8 weeks |
| Georgia | Yes | $56,570 | -1.5% | 3-8 weeks (minimum 14 days for CLP) |
| Hawaii | Yes | $59,320 | +3.3% | 4-8 weeks |
| Idaho | Yes | $53,260 | -7.3% | 3-8 weeks (CLP processing, ELDT, and testing) |
| Illinois | Yes | $59,790 | +4.1% | 3-8 weeks (training) + application processing |
| Indiana | Yes | $60,090 | +4.6% | 3-8 weeks (after CLP held for 14 days) |
| Iowa | Yes | $55,080 | -4.1% | Varies (minimum 14 days for CLP, plus ELDT and testing time) |
| Kansas | Yes | $56,940 | -0.9% | 3-8 weeks |
| Kentucky | Yes | $55,590 | -3.2% | Varies (e.g., 4 weeks for training programs) |
| Louisiana | Yes | $48,770 | -15.1% | 6-8 weeks |
| Maine | Yes | $51,930 | -9.6% | 6-8 weeks for training, plus permit holding period |
| Maryland | Yes | $57,180 | -0.5% | 8-10 weeks (for Class A training) |
| Massachusetts | Yes | $60,630 | +5.6% | 3-4 months |
| Michigan | Yes | $55,140 | -4.0% | 3-8 weeks (training programs vary) |
| Minnesota | Yes | $61,090 | +6.4% | 3-8 weeks |
| Mississippi | Yes | $50,700 | -11.7% | 3 weeks to 6 months |
| Missouri | Yes | $50,540 | -12.0% | Varies (minimum 14 days for CLP, ELDT required) |
| Montana | Yes | $59,060 | +2.8% | 3-8 weeks |
| Nebraska | Yes | $57,940 | +0.9% | approximately 5 weeks |
| Nevada | Yes | $60,900 | +6.0% | 3-8 weeks (CLP for 14 days minimum) |
| New Hampshire | Yes | $58,620 | +2.1% | Varies (ELDT required before skills test) |
| New Jersey | Yes | $64,720 | +12.7% | 1-4 months |
| New Mexico | Yes | $48,360 | -15.8% | 4-8 weeks |
| New York | Yes | $60,520 | +5.4% | Varies (permit valid for 1 year) |
| North Carolina | Yes | $49,580 | -13.7% | 4-8 weeks |
| North Dakota | Yes | $58,970 | +2.7% | 3-8 weeks |
| Ohio | Yes | $58,080 | +1.1% | Varies (ELDT, CLP, and skills test) |
| Oklahoma | Yes | $51,920 | -9.6% | 3-8 weeks |
| Oregon | Yes | $61,180 | +6.5% | several weeks |
| Pennsylvania | Yes | $58,540 | +1.9% | 5-11 weeks |
| Rhode Island | Yes | $59,710 | +4.0% | 2-4 weeks |
| South Carolina | Yes | $51,810 | -9.8% | 3-8 weeks |
| South Dakota | Yes | $56,880 | -1.0% | 2-8 weeks |
| Tennessee | Yes | $55,610 | -3.2% | 3-8 weeks |
| Texas | Yes | $53,070 | -7.6% | 3-6 months |
| Utah | Yes | $59,580 | +3.7% | 4-6 weeks (license mailed) |
| Vermont | Yes | $56,360 | -1.9% | 6 weeks |
| Virginia | Yes | $54,500 | -5.1% | 3-8 weeks (for training, permit, and testing) |
| Washington | Yes | $63,760 | +11.0% | Varies (minimum 14 days for CLP, plus training and testing time) |
| West Virginia | Yes | $49,040 | -14.6% | 4-8 weeks |
| Wisconsin | Yes | $57,380 | -0.1% | 3-8 weeks |
| Wyoming | Yes | $60,270 | +4.9% | 4-8 weeks |
Highest-Paying States for CDL Truck Drivers
| # | State | Median Salary | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alaska | $64,890 | 3,240 |
| 2 | New Jersey | $64,720 | 49,450 |
| 3 | Washington | $63,760 | 40,700 |
| 4 | District of Columbia | $63,610 | 830 |
| 5 | Oregon | $61,180 | 24,720 |
| 6 | Minnesota | $61,090 | 38,530 |
| 7 | Nevada | $60,900 | 17,430 |
| 8 | Massachusetts | $60,630 | 32,170 |
| 9 | New York | $60,520 | 61,410 |
| 10 | Wyoming | $60,270 | 6,530 |
Find a Training Program
Compare cdl truck driver programs at trade schools across the country — ranked by graduate earnings, ROI, and AI resilience.