Updated November 2026
CDL Driver Salary in Billings, Montana (November 2026)
In Billings, Montana as of November 2026, the typical CDL driver brings home $3,019 per week (median $2,250). Based on 1,032 active CDL postings in Lanefinder's index. 32% of postings include a sign-on bonus, averaging $2,045. 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 November 2026
- average sign-on bonus fell by 1.3% ($2,071 → $2,045).
Billings, Montana vs Montana: the numbers that diverge
Among the figures above, average weekly pay is where Billings, Montana differs most from Montana — 18% above statewide.
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) | $2,403 | $2,212 | 483 |
| Company Driver (W2) | $1,636 | $1,600 | 277 |
| Owner Operator | $7,244 | $7,500 | 272 |
Source: Lanefinder index, November 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 29%; take-truck-home at 88%. Pet-friendly policies appear at 70% and riders-allowed at 68%.
Driving CDL in Billings
Billings is Montana's largest city, sitting on I-90 east-central. Agricultural processing (sugar beets especially), oil refining, and ranching-region distribution carry most of the dispatch volume. Cost of living is below the national average. Severe winter on the Northern Tier corridor; Bozeman Pass to the west and Homestake Pass beyond it on I-90 see closures in winter storms.
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. 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 November 2026.