Updated November 2026
CDL Driver Salary in Baltimore, Maryland (November 2026)
Baltimore, Maryland's CDL drivers earn $2,588 per week on average, $2,050 median, as of November 2026. Based on 1,387 active CDL postings in Lanefinder's index. 29% of postings include a sign-on bonus, averaging $1,900. Baltimore is a major east-coast container port (Port of Baltimore), specialising in roll-on/roll-off vehicle freight. I-95 and I-695 form the regional freight beltway connecting mid-Atlantic manufacturing and DC-metro distribution.
What changed in November 2026
- average weekly pay fell by 4.3% ($2,703 → $2,588).
- median weekly pay fell by 2.4% ($2,100 → $2,050).
- average sign-on bonus rose by 1.6% ($1,870 → $1,900).
Baltimore, Maryland vs Maryland: the numbers that diverge
| Baltimore, Maryland | Maryland | Delta | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average weekly pay | $2,588 | $2,326 | +11% |
| OTR (long-haul) routes | 84% | 77% | +7 pt |
| Regional routes | 12% | 17% | -5 pt |
Source: Lanefinder index, November 2026
The largest gap is on average weekly pay: Baltimore, Maryland sits 11% above the Maryland baseline.
Baltimore, Maryland CDL salary by hiring type
Across active CDL postings in Baltimore, Maryland this month, pay varies meaningfully by hiring type. The breakdown below shows the average and median weekly pay for each.
| Hiring type | Avg/wk | Median/wk | Active postings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Independent Contractor (1099) | $2,267 | $2,100 | 653 |
| Company Driver (W2) | $1,588 | $1,550 | 402 |
| Owner Operator | $7,185 | $7,000 | 332 |
Source: Lanefinder index, November 2026
How drivers spend their time on the road in Baltimore, Maryland
12% of Baltimore, Maryland's active CDL postings are regional and 84% are OTR; local plus semi-local accounts for the rest (4%).
Across Baltimore, Maryland CDL postings: 2% with guaranteed pay, 29% dedicated, 86% take-truck-home, 67% pet-friendly, 65% riders-allowed.
Driving CDL in Baltimore
Baltimore CDL work is dominated by Port of Baltimore drayage (a major East Coast container and auto-import port, whose channel reopened within months of the 2024 Key Bridge collapse). I-95 / I-695 (Beltway) are consistently congested — the Beltway is a recurring top-100 truck bottleneck. Cost of living is moderate to high depending on county. Atlantic nor'easters affect winter operations.
Driving CDL in Maryland
Maryland freight flows through the Port of Baltimore — a major East Coast container and auto-import port (the 2024 Key Bridge collapse closed the channel for about two months; the replacement bridge is due around 2030) — and along the I-95 / I-70 / I-695 (Baltimore Beltway) corridor connecting mid-Atlantic manufacturing and DC-metro distribution. The Beltway is a recurring truck bottleneck. Cost of living is high and state income tax is moderate-to-high depending on county add-ons. Eastern Shore freight (poultry processing especially) is a distinct regional segment. The Bay Bridge wind restrictions and weight rules complicate Eastern Shore route timing.
Related guides
- Best trucking companies in Baltimore, Maryland
- Best owner-operator companies in Baltimore, Maryland
- CDL driver salary in Maryland
Where this data comes from
Lanefinder's ranking algorithm weights compensation at 30%, FMCSA SAFER safety at 25%, benefits at 25%, and operational performance at 20%. Compensation reflects pay percentile plus sign-on bonus, guaranteed pay, and settlement-frequency adjustments. Benefits scoring is hiring-type-aware. Operational performance comes mostly from how carriers handle real driver applications. Updated November 2026.