CDL Truck Driver.
Los Angeles.
$71,000
median salary, 18% above the national average
$54,000 to $92,000. Updated for 2026.
The numbers.
Everything you need to negotiate with confidence.
Los Angeles is 18% more expensive than the national average. For CDL Truck Drivers, that shakes out to a median of $71,000, with the full range spanning $54,000 to $92,000. Hauling specialization creates the largest pay differences. Know the range before you walk in.
Salary range
Tap to place your salary
How Los Angeles compares
Los Angeles, CA
$71,000
Cost of living: 18% above average
National Average
$60,000
Los Angeles is $11,000 above
What you should know
The CDL Truck Driver landscape in Los Angeles is not what most salary sites will tell you. Los Angeles blends a thriving entertainment industry with a growing tech and startup ecosystem, often called Silicon Beach. The city's diverse economy spans aerospace, healthcare, fashion, and gaming. LA offers strong salaries that, while below San Francisco levels, pair with a broader lifestyle appeal and lower housing costs relative to the Bay Area. 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 Los Angeles, those numbers run higher. The cost of living here is 18% 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: california's 13.3% top state income tax rate applies to LA earners as well. There is no city income tax, but the high state rate makes take home pay lower than cities in no income tax states. When someone quotes you $71,000, ask what the total package looks like. The gap between base and total comp is where real money hides.
On negotiation: Highlight cross industry skills. LA employers value candidates who bridge entertainment and tech, so framing your experience across verticals can unlock higher offers. The range for CDL Truck Drivers in Los Angeles runs from $54,000 to $92,000. That is not a narrow window. Where you land inside it depends almost entirely on whether you negotiate and how well you prepare.
Top industries in Los Angeles
Negotiating in Los Angeles
Highlight cross industry skills. LA employers value candidates who bridge entertainment and tech, so framing your experience across verticals can unlock higher offers.