Work and pay
Truck driver salary in California
This page is where truck driver salary and CDL driver pay in California are reported. It is not a job board. It does not list openings or carriers that are hiring. The figures are May 2025 Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics for wage-and-salary workers, cross-industry. They are not the Occupational Outlook Handbook total, which also counts self-employed workers, and they are not a wage you have been offered.
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Source: BLS OEWS state estimates, May 2025, file oesm25st/state_M2025_dl.xlsx, retrieved . BLS defines heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers (53-3032) as driving a tractor-trailer or a truck of at least 26,001 pounds GVW and as requiring a commercial driver’s license. Light truck drivers (53-3033) are a separate occupation. This page does not treat that second count as Class A or Class B jobs.
CDL driver pay in California
The tables below are the same May 2025 OEWS estimates. Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers are the occupation BLS ties to a commercial driver’s license. Light truck drivers are a separate occupation and are not Class A or Class B pay.
Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers in California
SOC 53-3032. Employment relative standard error 1.9%.
| Measure | Published estimate |
|---|---|
| Employment | 205,090 |
| Mean hourly wage | $29.82 |
| Mean annual wage | $62,020 |
| Median hourly wage | $28.96 |
| Median annual wage | $60,230 |
| 10th percentile annual wage | $41,830 |
| 90th percentile annual wage | $81,960 |
Light truck drivers in California
SOC 53-3033. Employment relative standard error 2.3%.
| Measure | Published estimate |
|---|---|
| Employment | 111,950 |
| Mean hourly wage | $25.63 |
| Mean annual wage | $53,310 |
| Median hourly wage | $22.50 |
| Median annual wage | $46,790 |
| 10th percentile annual wage | $36,750 |
| 90th percentile annual wage | $93,280 |
What the estimate leaves out
OEWS does not say how many of these jobs are local, regional, or over the road. It does not say which carriers are hiring, and it does not say what a new CDL holder will be paid. Ask the employer for the written route, paid miles, and home time. Read how to compare a pay offer and how to get a CDL.
Questions drivers ask
How much do truck drivers make in California?
The May 2025 OEWS median annual wage for heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers in California is $60,230. The median hourly wage is $28.96. That is a wage-and-salary estimate for occupation 53-3032. It is not a starting CDL offer and it is not an owner-operator’s revenue. Light truck drivers, occupation 53-3033, have a separate median of $46,790.
How many heavy truck drivers does BLS count in California?
The May 2025 OEWS estimate is 205,090 wage-and-salary heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers in California. That is employment, not a count of job openings.
Is the California median a starting CDL wage?
No. $60,230 is the May 2025 median annual wage for heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers in California. It is not a first-year offer and it is not every CDL job.
Does this page list CDL jobs in California?
No. It reports BLS employment and wage estimates. It does not list carriers, openings, or a company that is hiring.