What are the main factors that influence a CDL's salary?

The primary factors are: 1) Experience Level, 2) Geographic Location, 3) Education/Skills, 4) Company Size & Industry

What industry pays the highest salary for CDL?

The Biotechnology industry offers the highest average compensation for CDL roles, with salaries approximately 20% above the market median.

How does experience change A CDL's salary?

A CDL's salary grows with experience: a Product Inspector I (0-1 years)earns $44,936, a Product Inspector II (1-3 years)earns $50,228, a CDL (3-5 years)earns $59,203, a Product Inspector IV (5-7 years)earns $60,957, a Product Quality Supervisor (7+ years)earns $75,785,

What are the highest paying states for a CDL?

CDL salary varies significantly by state. The top 3 highest paying states for CDL roles are District of Columbia $66,318, California $66,066, Massachusetts $65,186. These tech hubs typically pay 10-15% above the national average.

How much do different types of CDL roles make?

Salaries for CDL level roles vary by specialization: hazmat cdl driver: $55,990; CDL Instructor: $54,015; CDL Driver: $53,309; CDL Operator: $53,010; cdl class a: $52,747.

CDL Salary in Delaware

How much does a CDL make in Delaware?

As of July 01, 2026, the average salary for a CDL in Delaware is $60,658 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $29.

However, a CDL's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

Top Earners (90th percentile): $73,992
Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $54,166 to $67,637
Entry-Level (10th percentile): $48,256

Compensation Planning

Develop a Job Description

Pay Equity

2026 Compensation Trend

AI Onboarding

Recruit with AI

Salary Salary + Bonus Benefits

View as table

CDL Salaries by Percentile

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$67,637	$5,636	$1,301	$33
Average	$60,658	$5,055	$1,166	$29
25th Percentile	$54,166	$4,514	$1,042	$26

You may get higher pay by adjusting the following factors:

Change Search Criteria

Check out CDL Job Openings in Delaware

CDL

Barr-Nunn Transportation - New Castle, DE

Company Driver CDL

LiveTrucking - Delaware City, DE

Class CDL Utility Driver Req

Denali Water Solutions LLC - Wyoming, DE

CDL

J.B. Hunt Transport - Dagsboro, DE

Search More CDL Jobs in Delaware

Key Factors That Influence CDL Salaries

A CDL's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects CDL Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a CDL's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $44,936
Early Career (1-2 years): $50,228
Mid-Level (2-4 years): $59,203
Senior-Level (5-8 years): $60,957
Expert (over 8 years): $75,785

Levels	Salary
Product I... Level CDL	$44,936
Product I... Level CDL	$50,228
CDL Level CDL	$59,203
Product I... Level CDL	$60,957
Product Q... Level CDL	$75,785

View as Graph

What Am I Worth?

How Do CDL Salaries Vary from State to State?

Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract CDLs. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

District of Columbia: $66,318.
California: $66,066.
Massachusetts: $65,186.

District of Columbia $66,318 California $66,066 Massachusetts $65,186 Washington $64,946 New Jersey $64,922 Alaska $64,838 Connecticut $64,012 New York $63,676

Hawaii $62,604 Rhode Island $62,101 Maryland $61,760 Minnesota $61,292 Colorado $61,113 Illinois $61,053 Oregon $60,825 Delaware $60,658

New Hampshire $60,552 Virginia $60,316 Pennsylvania $59,627 Nevada $59,280 North Dakota $59,166 Michigan $58,986 Wisconsin $58,921 Vermont $58,789

Texas $58,423 Maine $58,399 Arizona $58,364 Ohio $58,322 Georgia $57,771 Indiana $57,495 Wyoming $57,441 Utah $57,357

Iowa $57,321 Kansas $57,034 Louisiana $56,950 North Carolina $56,920 Missouri $56,908 Florida $56,674 Montana $56,549 Nebraska $56,429

Kentucky $56,363 South Carolina $56,123 Tennessee $55,974 Idaho $55,914 New Mexico $55,477 Oklahoma $55,381 Alabama $55,027 South Dakota $54,434

Arkansas $54,111 West Virginia $53,937 Mississippi $53,416

Top Paying Cities for CDLs

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

Lincoln: $60,384
Little Creek: $60,826
Magnolia: $60,739

Lincoln, DE $60,384 Little Creek, DE $60,826 Magnolia, DE $60,739 Milford, DE $60,538 Marydel, DE $60,637 Millsboro, DE $60,131 Millville, DE $60,224 Milton, DE $60,328

Nassau, DE $60,372 Ocean View, DE $60,214 Rehoboth Beach, DE $60,329 Seaford, DE $60,363 Selbyville, DE $60,114 Smyrna, DE $60,868 Viola, DE $60,588 Woodside, DE $60,751

Bear, DE $60,611 Newark, DE $60,588 Claymont, DE $60,712 Delaware City, DE $60,649 Hockessin, DE $60,583 Kirkwood, DE $60,637 Middletown, DE $60,661 Montchanin, DE $60,596

New Castle, DE $60,605 Odessa, DE $60,691 Port Penn, DE $60,731 Rockland, DE $60,602 Saint Georges, DE $60,641 Townsend, DE $60,735 Winterthur, DE $60,610 Lewes, DE $60,352

Wilmington, DE $60,586 Dover, DE $60,826 Dover Afb, DE $60,506 Bethany Beach, DE $60,150 Bethel, DE $60,213 Bridgeville, DE $60,355 Camden Wyoming, DE $60,655 Cheswold, DE $60,807

Clayton, DE $60,809 Dagsboro, DE $60,108 Delmar, DE $60,012 Ellendale, DE $60,194 Felton, DE $60,533 Fenwick Island, DE $60,122 Frankford, DE $60,017 Frederica, DE $60,593

Georgetown, DE $60,086 Greenwood, DE $60,364 Harbeson, DE $60,150 Harrington, DE $60,456 Hartly, DE $60,644 Houston, DE $60,370 Kenton, DE $60,812 Laurel, DE $60,050

Yorklyn, DE $60,601

CDL Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For CDL roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 43% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Biotechnology and Pharmaceuticals sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 20% above the average. In contrast, CDL positions in Transportation or Hospitality & Leisure typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view CDL as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a CDL

Industry Sector	Average Annual Salary	Average Hourly Rate	Pay vs.Avg
Biotechnology	$72,789	$35.0	20%
Pharmaceuticals	$71,576	$34.0	18%
Insurance	$69,756	$34.0	15%
Healthcare	$67,937	$33.0	12%
Internet	$67,330	$32.0	11%

CDL Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a CDL's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

Last Updated on July 01, 2026

$54,166

Average $60,658/year

$67,637

$4,514

Average $5,055/month

$5,636

$1,042

Average $1,166/week

$1,301

$26

Average $29/hour

$33

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$67,637	$5,636	$1,301	$33
Average	$60,658	$5,055	$1,166	$29
25th Percentile	$54,166	$4,514	$1,042	$26

Salaries of jobs related to CDL

Find Your Next CDL Job

Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current CDL job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.

For Employees

Get a Salary Increase

Analyze the market and your qualifications to negotiate your salary with confidence.

Search Job Openings

Search thousands of open positions to find your next opportunity.

For Employers

Adjust Employee Salary

Individualize employee pay based on unique job requirements and personal qualifications.

Price My Industry Jobs

Get the latest market price for benchmark jobs and jobs in your industry.

Cost of Living In Delaware

Cost of Living in Delaware is

1.3% Higher

than the National Average

Use Salary.com's Cost of Living Calculator to find out what income you need to maintain your standard of living in a different city and how much more or less money you need to budget for basic expenses.

Explore Cost of Living Calculator

Empower Your Team

Salary.com experts will help you thrive your workplaces.

Find Salary.com Comp Consulting

See Salary Trends in 2025

Salary.com provides salary survey data for thousands of industry Jobs.

Price Your Company Jobs and Make Pay Fair

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons are derived from both employer job postings and third-party data sources. We also provide multiple percentiles of salary information for your reference, click here to know Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial to Getting Pay Equity Right. With more online, real-time compensation data than any other website, Salary.com helps you determine your exact pay target.

Are you an HR manager or compensation specialist?

Salary.com's CompAnalyst platform offers:

Detailed skills and competency reports for specific positions
Job and employee pricing reports
Compensation data tools, salary structures, surveys and benchmarks.

Learn about