Updated May 2026
CDL Driver Salary in College Station, Texas (May 2026)
Through May 2026, College Station, Texas CDL drivers earn $2,641 per week on average. The median is $2,000; the distribution by hiring type and the active-posting count both follow. Based on 1,498 active CDL postings in Lanefinder's index. 30% of postings include a sign-on bonus, averaging $2,009. Texas freight moves on I-10 / I-35 / I-20 corridors connecting Gulf Coast energy and Port of Houston to border crossings at Laredo and El Paso — two of the busiest US-Mexico commercial crossings — and large retail and manufacturing distribution inland.
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 College Station, Texas compares to Texas
| College Station, Texas | Texas | Delta | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average weekly pay | $2,641 | $2,223 | +19% |
| Take-truck-home | 88% | 79% | +9 pt |
| Riders-allowed policies | 69% | 60% | +9 pt |
| Pet-friendly fleets | 71% | 63% | +8 pt |
| OTR (long-haul) routes | 87% | 75% | +12 pt |
| Local routes | 0% | 7% | -7 pt |
Source: Lanefinder index, May 2026
The largest gap is on average weekly pay: College Station, Texas sits 19% above the Texas baseline.
How CDL pay breaks down in College Station, Texas
Across active CDL postings in College Station, Texas 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) | $2,221 | $2,000 | 672 |
| Company Driver (W2) | $1,621 | $1,600 | 462 |
| Owner Operator | $7,136 | $7,000 | 364 |
Source: Lanefinder index, May 2026
How drivers spend their time on the road in College Station, Texas
11% of College Station, Texas's active CDL postings are regional and 87% are OTR; local plus semi-local accounts for the rest (2%).
Across College Station, Texas CDL postings: 1% with guaranteed pay, 26% dedicated, 88% take-truck-home, 71% pet-friendly, 69% riders-allowed.
Driving CDL in Texas
Texas is the largest CDL market in the country and the deepest mix of lane types. Cross-border work out of Laredo and El Paso, oil-field service in the Permian Basin, dedicated retail out of Dallas and Houston, and reefer pulling produce out of the Rio Grande Valley all run from different parts of the state — and they pay very differently. Texas has favorable trucking regulations and no state income tax, which is real money on the back end. The summer heat is the operational variable most newcomers underestimate; equipment, hours, and load-securing all behave differently when ambient temps hit 110°F.
Related guides
- Best trucking companies in College Station, Texas
- Best owner-operator companies in College Station, Texas
- CDL driver salary in Texas
The methodology behind the rankings
The score is built from four buckets. Thirty percent compensation, drawn from real active job postings and modified by bonus and settlement structure. Twenty-five percent safety, from FMCSA SAFER. Twenty-five percent benefits, scored hiring-type-aware. Twenty percent operational performance, drawn from how carriers actually behave toward applicants. Updated May 2026.