Updated November 2026
CDL Driver Salary in Charleston, South Carolina (November 2026)
CDL drivers in Charleston, South Carolina earn $2,578 per week on average through November 2026. The median is $2,006, drawn from active job postings rather than survey self-reports. Based on 1,461 active CDL postings in Lanefinder's index. 31% of postings include a sign-on bonus, averaging $1,957. Charleston is home to the Port of Charleston — a top-tier East Coast container gateway — with I-95 / I-26 corridors serving BMW in Spartanburg, Volvo assembly nearby, and dense Southeast distribution.
What changed in November 2026
No major rank changes this month — the top carriers have held their positions since October 2026.
Charleston, South Carolina vs South Carolina: the numbers that diverge
| Charleston, South Carolina | South Carolina | Delta | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average weekly pay | $2,578 | $2,287 | +13% |
| Take-truck-home | 89% | 83% | +6 pt |
| OTR (long-haul) routes | 87% | 78% | +9 pt |
| Regional routes | 12% | 17% | -5 pt |
Source: Lanefinder index, November 2026
Among the figures above, average weekly pay is where Charleston, South Carolina differs most from South Carolina — 13% above statewide.
Charleston, South Carolina CDL salary by hiring type
Across active CDL postings in Charleston, South Carolina 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) | $2,258 | $2,087 | 698 |
| Company Driver (W2) | $1,610 | $1,600 | 421 |
| Owner Operator | $7,175 | $7,000 | 342 |
Source: Lanefinder index, November 2026
How drivers spend their time on the road in Charleston, South Carolina
12% of Charleston, South Carolina's active CDL postings are regional and 87% are OTR; local plus semi-local accounts for the rest (1%).
Guaranteed pay is on offer at 2% of Charleston, South Carolina postings; dedicated routes at 28%; take-truck-home at 89%. Pet-friendly policies appear at 70% and riders-allowed at 67%.
Driving CDL in Charleston
Charleston CDL work is dominated by Port of Charleston drayage — a top-tier East Coast container gateway. I-26 / I-526 / US-17 carry port freight inland. Hurricane season is a real operational variable on the coast. Cost of living is moderate.
Driving CDL in South Carolina
South Carolina freight is anchored by the Port of Charleston — a top-tier East Coast container gateway — with I-95 / I-26 / I-85 corridors serving the BMW assembly plant in Spartanburg and Volvo near Charleston. The Greenville-Spartanburg manufacturing corridor adds steady industrial freight. South Carolina has moderate-to-high graduated state income tax; the upstate is more affordable than the coast. Hurricane season affects the coast (June-November); inland SC is generally easier driving. The auto-supplier lanes around Spartanburg run on tight just-in-time schedules — minute-level dispatch precision matters.
Related guides
- Best trucking companies in Charleston, South Carolina
- Best owner-operator companies in Charleston, South Carolina
- CDL driver salary in South Carolina
Where this data comes from
Composite-score formula: compensation × 0.30, FMCSA safety × 0.25, benefits × 0.25, operational performance × 0.20. Compensation is anchored on pay percentile and lifted by sign-on bonus tier and guaranteed-pay availability. Operational performance is built mostly from driver-application response data in Lanefinder's platform, with fleet-scale percentile contributing a smaller portion. Updated November 2026.