Updated May 2026
CDL Driver Salary in Boston, Massachusetts (May 2026)
Boston, Massachusetts's CDL drivers earn $3,006 per week on average, $2,150 median, as of May 2026. Based on 1,162 active CDL postings in Lanefinder's index. 30% of postings include a sign-on bonus, averaging $2,082. Boston freight runs on the I-90 / I-93 / I-95 metro grid, with the Port of Boston handling bulk and break-bulk cargo and a major biotech and pharmaceutical manufacturing cluster requiring cold-chain and hazmat lanes.
What changed in May 2026
We just started tracking monthly changes for this view. Check back next month to see how rankings have shifted.
How CDL pay breaks down in Boston, Massachusetts
Across active CDL postings in Boston, Massachusetts 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) | $2,250 | $2,050 | 520 |
| Company Driver (W2) | $1,591 | $1,600 | 334 |
| Owner Operator | $7,409 | $7,500 | 308 |
Source: Lanefinder index, May 2026
What Boston, Massachusetts drivers actually run
The route mix in Boston, Massachusetts this month tilts OTR: 10% regional, 87% OTR, 2% local, 1% semi-local — drawn from active postings, not historical surveys.
Guaranteed pay is on offer at 1% of Boston, Massachusetts postings; dedicated routes at 28%; take-truck-home at 86%. Pet-friendly policies appear at 70% and riders-allowed at 67%.
Where Boston, Massachusetts differs from the Massachusetts baseline
Among the figures above, average weekly pay is where Boston, Massachusetts differs most from Massachusetts — 10% above statewide.
Driving CDL in Massachusetts
Massachusetts freight runs on the I-90 / I-93 / I-95 grid through Boston, with the Port of Boston handling bulk and container cargo. A dense biotech and pharmaceutical manufacturing cluster around Cambridge / Boston / Worcester requires cold-chain and hazmat-eligible lanes. The Big Dig tunnels have truck-height and hazmat restrictions worth checking before routing. Boston congestion is consistently in the worst US tier. Cost of living is among the highest nationally. Massachusetts has a moderate flat state income tax with an added surtax on very high incomes (not relevant for most drivers).
Related guides
- Best trucking companies in Boston, Massachusetts
- Best owner-operator companies in Boston, Massachusetts
- CDL driver salary in Massachusetts
The methodology behind the rankings
Carriers are scored against carriers in their own market. The composite is 30% compensation (pay + bonus + guaranteed pay + settlement cadence), 25% FMCSA safety, 25% benefits (W2 vs owner-op scoring), and 20% operational performance (responsiveness + fleet scale). No paid placement — the weights are the same for every carrier in the index. Updated May 2026.