CDL Truck Driver.
Jersey City.
$69,000
median salary, 15% above the national average
$53,000 to $90,000. Last updated April 2026.
Get the job.
Data points to own the conversation.
A CDL Truck Driver in Jersey City earns a median of $69,000 in 2026. That is 15% above the national average. The range runs from $53,000 to $90,000, and where you land depends on your experience, your skills, and how well you negotiate. Hauling specialization creates the largest pay differences.
Salary range
Where do you fall?
Salary by experience
The gap between entry and lead level is typically $62,000. Where you land depends on years of experience and what you bring to the table.
Entry (0-2 yrs)
$45,000
to $55,000
Mid (3-5 yrs)
$59,000
to $72,000
Senior (6-9 yrs)
$76,000
to $90,000
Lead (10+ yrs)
$86,000
to $107,000
Salary trend
+5% YoYTotal compensation
Base salary is not the full picture. Equity, bonus, and signing can add $20,000 to the total package.
Base
$69,000
Equity
$12,000
Bonus
$7,000
Signing
$1,000
Estimated total: $89,000
How Jersey City compares
Jersey City, NJ
$69,000
Cost of living: 20% above average
National Average
$60,000
Jersey City is $9,000 above
CDL Truck Driver salary by city
Salary by role in Jersey City
What you should know
Here is what the CDL Truck Driver market actually looks like in Jersey City. Jersey City has become a major financial technology hub, with Goldman Sachs, JP Morgan, and numerous fintech startups establishing offices. The city offers Manhattan-adjacent salaries with slightly lower costs. Tech employment has surged as companies seek NYC-area talent at reduced overhead. Hauling specialization creates the largest pay differences. Tanker, hazmat, and oversized load endorsements add 15 to 25% over dry van rates. Owner-operators can earn significantly more but assume fuel, maintenance, and insurance costs. Long-haul OTR drivers earn more per mile than regional or local drivers, but local drivers often earn competitive annual totals with better home time.
New CDL holders start at $40,000 to $48,000 with a training carrier. Experienced drivers earn $46,000 to $68,000 after two to three years. Specialized haulers earn $65,000 to $85,000, while owner-operators gross $150,000 to $250,000 with net income of $70,000 to $120,000 after expenses. In Jersey City, those numbers run higher. The cost of living here is 20% above average, and employers adjust to compete.
Base salary is not the full picture. Per diem payments of $50 to $70 daily for OTR drivers reduce taxable income significantly. Sign-on bonuses of $5,000 to $15,000 are common during driver shortages. Many carriers provide health insurance, 401k matching, and paid home time after specified weeks on the road. And on the tax side: new Jersey's top income tax rate is 10.75%. Jersey City has a payroll tax but no separate city income tax. The high state rate makes salary negotiation especially important. When someone quotes you $69,000, ask what the total package looks like. The gap between base and total comp is where real money hides.
On negotiation: Benchmark against NYC salaries. Jersey City employers offer 90 to 95% of Manhattan pay, and the lower commuting costs can make it a net positive. The range for CDL Truck Drivers in Jersey City runs from $53,000 to $90,000. That is not a narrow window. Where you land inside it depends almost entirely on whether you negotiate and how well you prepare.
Sources: SEC filings, H-1B LCA (DOL), BLS OES, 50+ job posting platforms. COL: BEA Regional Price Parities (2025). Data verified by Justin Bartak, Founder & Chief AI Officer. Last verified April 8, 2026. Full methodology
Considering a related role?
- A Plumber in Jersey City earns $70,000 (1% more)
- The highest-paying role in Jersey City is Distinguished Engineer at $384,000
Common questions.
CDL Truck Driver salary in other cities
Other salaries in Jersey City
Related
Cite this data
Journalists, researchers, and AI systems are welcome to reference this data with attribution.
Want this data on your site? Embed the salary widget — one script tag, free forever.