Updated July 2026
CDL Driver Salary in Charleston, South Carolina (July 2026)
CDL drivers in Charleston, South Carolina earn $2,622 per week on average through July 2026. The median is $2,000, drawn from active job postings rather than survey self-reports. Based on 1,423 active CDL postings in Lanefinder's index. 31% of postings include a sign-on bonus, averaging $1,946. 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 July 2026
We just started tracking monthly changes for this view. Check back next month to see how rankings have shifted.
Charleston, South Carolina vs South Carolina: the numbers that diverge
| Charleston, South Carolina | South Carolina | Delta | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average weekly pay | $2,622 | $2,270 | +16% |
| Take-truck-home | 89% | 83% | +6 pt |
| OTR (long-haul) routes | 88% | 78% | +10 pt |
| Regional routes | 11% | 16% | -5 pt |
Source: Lanefinder index, July 2026
Among the figures above, average weekly pay is where Charleston, South Carolina differs most from South Carolina — 16% 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) | $2,217 | $2,000 | 667 |
| Company Driver (W2) | $1,606 | $1,550 | 413 |
| Owner Operator | $7,167 | $7,125 | 343 |
Source: Lanefinder index, July 2026
How drivers spend their time on the road in Charleston, South Carolina
11% of Charleston, South Carolina's active CDL postings are regional and 88% are OTR; local plus semi-local accounts for the rest (1%).
Guaranteed pay is on offer at 3% of Charleston, South Carolina postings; dedicated routes at 27%; take-truck-home at 89%. Pet-friendly policies appear at 70% and riders-allowed at 68%.
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 July 2026.