As of January 01, 2026, the average annual salary for CDL Instructor in the US is $54,006, equivalent to $26 per hour, $1,039 weekly, or $4,501 monthly. These figures, sourced from Salary.com’s real-time job posting scans, highlight competitive earning potential for CDL Instructor in cities like Santa Clara, San Jose, and Fremont.

Annually Salaries for CDL Instructor in the US vary widely, spanning from $45,423 to $69,578. Most professionals fall between the 25th percentile ($49,514) and 75th percentile ($62,157), while top earners (90th percentile) make $69,578 per year. This $12,643 pay gap underscores opportunities for salary growth through certifications, specialized skills like Planning or Cash Handling, or targeting high-paying regions like District of Columbia or California.

Location and experience significantly influence earnings. For example, District of Columbia CDL Instructor often earn 10.7% above national averages due to demand from Fortune 44 companies and industry startups. Professionals are advised to focus on high-growth sectors like to offset market challenges.

Based on HR-reported data: a national average with a geographic differential
CDL Instructor Salaries by Percentile
Percentile Salary Location Last Updated
10th Percentile CDL Instructor Salary $45,423 US January 01, 2026
25th Percentile CDL Instructor Salary $49,514 US January 01, 2026
50th Percentile CDL Instructor Salary $54,006 US January 01, 2026
75th Percentile CDL Instructor Salary $62,157 US January 01, 2026
90th Percentile CDL Instructor Salary $69,578 US January 01, 2026
25% $49,514 10% $45,423 90% $69,578 75% $62,157 $54,006 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click
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What is a CDL Instructor ?

Commercial driver's license training (or CDL training) is a specialized instructional program or course designed to prepare a student to obtain a commercial driver's license (CDL), which is required for a career as a truck driver in the United States. During training, students are taught the necessary knowledge and skills to pass a series of tests to obtain their CDL. Such a program generally begins with classroom instruction geared towards passing the written exams for a CDL permit, a learner's permit that allows a student to practice driving skills on public roads with a CDL licensed driver ...

Source: Wikipedia (as of 04/18/2019). Read more from Wikipedia

See user submitted job responsibilities for CDL Instructor.

Job Openings for CDL Instructor

Career Path for this job

  1. This Job:

    CDL Instructor

    3 - 5 years experience
    Bachelor's Degree

  2. Up a level:

    Traffic Manager

    5 + years experience
    Bachelor's Degree

Understand the total compensation opportunity for a CDL Instructor, base salary plus other pay elements

Average Base Salary

Core compensation

 
 
 
49514
62157
54006

Average Total Cash Compensation

Includes base and annual incentives

 
 
 
55353
78482
66669
These charts show the average base salary (core compensation), as well as the average total cash compensation for the job of CDL Instructor in the United States. The base salary for CDL Instructor ranges from $49,514 to $62,157 with the average base salary of $54,006. The total cash compensation, which includes base, and annual incentives, can vary anywhere from $55,353 to $78,482 with the average total cash compensation of $66,669.

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49514
62157

 

Skills associated with CDL Instructor: Classroom

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