Updated November 2026
CDL Driver Salary in Dearborn, Michigan (November 2026)
Dearborn, Michigan CDL drivers earn $2,399 per week on average (median $2,000) as of November 2026. Based on 1,580 active CDL postings in Lanefinder's index. 32% of postings include a sign-on bonus, averaging $1,913. Michigan is the US automotive manufacturing heartland, with Detroit and the I-94 / I-75 corridor carrying dense parts-and-assembly flows and Great Lakes ports at Detroit, Muskegon, and Sault Ste. Marie handling bulk commodities.
What changed in November 2026
- average weekly pay fell by 3.8% ($2,494 → $2,399).
Dearborn, Michigan vs Michigan: the numbers that diverge
| Dearborn, Michigan | Michigan | Delta | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average weekly pay | $2,399 | $2,109 | +14% |
| Take-truck-home | 85% | 80% | +5 pt |
| Riders-allowed policies | 66% | 61% | +5 pt |
| OTR (long-haul) routes | 82% | 72% | +10 pt |
| Local routes | 3% | 8% | -5 pt |
| Regional routes | 14% | 19% | -5 pt |
Source: Lanefinder index, November 2026
Among the figures above, average weekly pay is where Dearborn, Michigan differs most from Michigan — 14% above statewide.
Dearborn, Michigan CDL salary by hiring type
Across active CDL postings in Dearborn, Michigan 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 | $2,100 | 706 |
| Company Driver (W2) | $1,556 | $1,500 | 524 |
| Owner Operator | $7,160 | $7,075 | 350 |
Source: Lanefinder index, November 2026
What Dearborn, Michigan drivers actually run
14% of Dearborn, Michigan's active CDL postings are regional and 82% are OTR; local plus semi-local accounts for the rest (4%).
Guaranteed pay is on offer at 2% of Dearborn, Michigan postings; dedicated routes at 29%; take-truck-home at 85%. Pet-friendly policies appear at 68% and riders-allowed at 66%.
Driving CDL in Michigan
Michigan is the US automotive heartland — a huge share of CDL work in the state is tied to auto-parts inbound or finished-vehicle outbound. Detroit / Dearborn / Flint lanes have a distinctive operational rhythm that follows plant production schedules, including summer shutdown weeks when freight volume often drops. Winter is the dominant operational variable: lake-effect snow off Lake Michigan can shut down west-side runs, and the freeze-thaw cycle on I-94, I-75, and I-96 means road surfaces are rough year-round. State income tax is flat and moderate. The Upper Peninsula is genuinely remote — long stretches with no fuel stops or services — and most newer drivers shouldn't take UP loads until they've learned the territory.
Related guides
- Best trucking companies in Dearborn, Michigan
- Best owner-operator companies in Dearborn, Michigan
- CDL driver salary in Michigan
How we compile these rankings
Compensation (30%): pay percentile + sign-on bonus + guaranteed pay + settlement frequency. FMCSA safety (25%): weighted percentile across vehicle maintenance, unsafe driving, hours-of-service, driver fitness, and controlled substances. Benefits (25%): hiring-type-aware. Operational (20%): driver-application responsiveness, modulated by fleet scale. Updated November 2026.