One of the biggest reasons why people wish to acquire a commercial driver's license (CDL) is due to the fact that it can open up doors to in-demand careers. CDL can be a valuable investment, especially for individuals who are planning to start a career in truck driving.
While many people prefer to have a job in the corporate world, local CDL jobs have become more and more crowd-pleasing. CDL truck driving jobs already became a sought-after job, especially for individuals who possess foundational skills when it comes to driving.
To help you get a good idea of the CDL jobs and careers that you can take advantage of, we listed some of the most common ones below. The list includes a mix of both CDL Class A salary and CDL Class B salary:
Salary Range: $32K - $70K per year
While some people believe that truck driving is a general term used for all truck drivers, there are actually various types of truck driving jobs. One of them is an Over the Road (OTR) driving. OTR drivers and Regional drivers are often compared to each other. However, the main difference between the two is that OTR drivers are usually responsible for long-hauls and can be out of the road for weeks. Regional drivers, on second thought, are only responsible for local and semi-local driving. Regional drivers also work normal shifts compared to OTR drivers.
Salary Range: $18K - $60K per year
While truck driving jobs pay well, they can be pretty solitary. If you prefer or more interested in a driving job where you can interact more with people, becoming a Bus Driver is a great path to choose with your CDL certification. Aside from the interaction, Bus Drivers normally work an 8-hour shift so they can go home at the end of the day.
Salary Range: As high as $250,000 per year
Ice Road Truckers are considered one of the most high-paying trucking jobs out there. However, it is also one of the most dangerous careers to venture into despite being extremely well paid. If you are into this type of career, a CDL will be able to help you achieve your goal.
Salary Range: $40K - $98K per year
Yes, you read it right! CDL can allow you to operate construction equipment, especially heavy machinery such as cranes and the likes. Heavy equipment certifications along with your CDL can help you land on one of these positions.
Salary Range: $35K - $70K per year
A tanker hauler is one of the most high-paying trucking jobs that you can take advantage of with a CDL certification. Tanker trucks are huge machines that haul liquid such as water or gasoline. Moreover, tanker hauling can be both difficult and also risky since the liquid cargo can be unstable. Therefore, it takes great driving skills in order to be qualified to drive such trucks.
Salary Range: Minimum of $1,000 a week (Guaranteed)
Just like tanker hauling, hauling hazardous materials is one way to elevate your truck driving career. Endorsing your CDL signifies you have access to a functional and profitable category of jobs. Getting your CDL endorsed for this particular skill can greatly increase the number of tanker hauls you’re eligible to do
Truck driving per mile salary may vary depending on the truck driver's overall experience. To help you have an idea regarding the per-mile rate of truck drivers, please refer to the table presented below:
Truck Driving Per Mile | |
Majority of Trucking Companies | $0.28 and $0.40 cents per mile |
Other Companies | $0.45 cents per mile |
Rookie Truck Drivers | $0.27 and $0.29 per mile |
Note: Average truck drivers are expected to travel between 2,000 - 3,000 miles per week.
Note: The average national monthly salary of truck drivers as of October 2025 is $4,236/month.
Note: The average national annual salary of truck drivers as of October 2025 is $50,830,/month.
Please refer to the table below for the top 10 highest-paying trucking jobs:
CDL Trucking Jobs | Expected Salary |
Tanker Hauler | $70,000 per year |
Oversized Load Hauler | $53,125 - $90,000 on average |
Ice Road Trucker | $250,000 for just 2 months of icy-season work |
Transport Driver | $53,000 per year on average |
Hazmat Driver | $52,000 per year (may vary depending on experience) |
Team Driver | $50,000 per year |
OTR Driver | Starting annual salary is $40-$45,000 per year |
Instructor | $51,800 per year |
Recruiter | $50,000 per year |
Owner/Operator | The average annual salary is $141,000. |
All CDL applicants are required to take a general written test. The written examination is composed of the CDL General Knowledge Test that you need to pass in order to get your CDL permit. Once you've finished the test, you will be scored immediately. If you receive a passing score, you'll be issued your CDL permit based on the class you chose. If you fail, you can retake the test. However, keep in mind that you might need to pay an additional fee to retake the exam.
Other than that, you are also required to take a CDL driving test. These tests are made to prepare you for CDL training jobs and other CDL careers stored for your once you acquire your CDL jobs permit.
Here are some of the jobs you can get with a CDL:
Other than the mentioned careers above, you can also take advantage of jobs that are available for each CDL class.
Class A CDL jobs include driving the following vehicles:
Class B CDL jobs include driving the following vehicles:
Class C CDL jobs include driving the following vehicles:
Home Depot CDL Drivers make $61,000 per year, or $29 per hour, which is 52% more than the national average of $36,000 per year for all CDL Drivers and 8% less than the national pay average for all working Americans.