Updated September 2026
CDL Driver Salary in Billings, Montana (September 2026)
In Billings, Montana as of September 2026, the typical CDL driver brings home $3,031 per week (median $2,250). Based on 1,016 active CDL postings in Lanefinder's index. 32% of postings include a sign-on bonus, averaging $2,069. Billings is Montana's largest city and primary freight hub on I-90 / I-94 in the Yellowstone River valley, with Bakken oil-field service loads, agricultural shipments of wheat and cattle, and regional distribution for eastern Montana.
What changed in September 2026
We just started tracking monthly changes for this view. Check back next month to see how rankings have shifted.
Billings, Montana CDL salary by hiring type
Across active CDL postings in Billings, Montana 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) | $2,399 | $2,200 | 467 |
| Owner Operator | $7,243 | $7,500 | 275 |
| Company Driver (W2) | $1,629 | $1,600 | 274 |
Source: Lanefinder index, September 2026
Lane mix and benefits across Billings, Montana
Of active CDL postings in Billings, Montana this month, 8% are regional and 91% are OTR (long-haul). Local and semi-local routes account for the remaining 1%.
Guaranteed pay is on offer at 2% of Billings, Montana postings; dedicated routes at 28%; take-truck-home at 88%. Pet-friendly policies appear at 71% and riders-allowed at 69%.
Billings, Montana vs Montana: the numbers that diverge
Among the figures above, average weekly pay is where Billings, Montana differs most from Montana — 8% above statewide.
Driving CDL in Montana
Montana freight runs the Northern Tier I-90 / I-94 corridors — long, lightly-trafficked, often beautiful, and operationally serious. Wheat and cattle freight dominate outbound; coal from the Powder River Basin generates significant rail-to-truck transfers. Oil-field service in the eastern Bakken corner of the state adds energy-sector loads. Winter is severe and long. Cost of living is moderate, with the Bozeman and Missoula corridors notably more expensive than the rest of the state. Montana has a moderate graduated state income tax. Distances are real: "long-haul" here means a different scale than the Northeast.
Related guides
- Best trucking companies in Billings, Montana
- Best owner-operator companies in Billings, Montana
- CDL driver salary in Montana
How we compile these rankings
Pay carriers in the same market against each other (30% of the score). Add a five-dimension FMCSA safety percentile from SAFER (25%). Score benefits based on whether the carrier hires W2 drivers or contractors (25%). Layer on employer responsiveness and fleet scale (20%). The weights are fixed and public. Updated September 2026.