As of January 01, 2026, the average annual salary for CDL Instructor in California is $59,569, equivalent to $29 per hour, $1,146 weekly, or $4,964 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 California vary widely, spanning from $50,102 to $76,744. Most professionals fall between the 25th percentile ($54,613) and 75th percentile ($68,559), while top earners (90th percentile) make $76,744 per year. This $13,946 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, California CDL Instructor often earn 10.3% higher than national averages due to demand from Fortune 44 companies. However, California currently ranks 2 nationwide for CDL Instructor job salary. 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 $50,102 CA January 01, 2026
25th Percentile CDL Instructor Salary $54,613 CA January 01, 2026
50th Percentile CDL Instructor Salary $59,569 CA January 01, 2026
75th Percentile CDL Instructor Salary $68,559 CA January 01, 2026
90th Percentile CDL Instructor Salary $76,744 CA January 01, 2026
25% $54,613 10% $50,102 90% $76,744 75% $68,559 $59,569 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

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Location Avg. Salary Date Updated
Location Coachella, CA Avg. Salary $65,810 Date Updated January 01, 2026
Location Acampo, CA Avg. Salary $67,167 Date Updated January 01, 2026
Location Acton, CA Avg. Salary $69,133 Date Updated January 01, 2026
Location Adelanto, CA Avg. Salary $65,760 Date Updated January 01, 2026
Location Adin, CA Avg. Salary $64,234 Date Updated January 01, 2026
Location Agoura Hills, CA Avg. Salary $68,229 Date Updated January 01, 2026
Location Aguanga, CA Avg. Salary $65,898 Date Updated January 01, 2026
Location Ahwahnee, CA Avg. Salary $62,563 Date Updated January 01, 2026
Location Alameda, CA Avg. Salary $76,709 Date Updated January 01, 2026
Location Alamo, CA Avg. Salary $76,533 Date Updated January 01, 2026
Job Openings for CDL Instructor in California

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

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