Updated November 2026
CDL Driver Salary in Duluth, Minnesota (November 2026)
Duluth, Minnesota's CDL drivers earn $2,579 per week on average, $2,040 median, as of November 2026. Based on 1,312 active CDL postings in Lanefinder's index. 31% of postings include a sign-on bonus, averaging $1,961. Minnesota freight moves on the I-35 / I-94 Twin Cities metro grid and reaches the Great Lakes at Duluth, with large agricultural export volumes — soybeans, corn, and wheat — and a significant medical-device manufacturing sector.
What changed in November 2026
- average weekly pay fell by 4.5% ($2,701 → $2,579).
- median weekly pay fell by 2.3% ($2,087 → $2,040).
Where Duluth, Minnesota differs from the Minnesota baseline
| Duluth, Minnesota | Minnesota | Delta | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average weekly pay | $2,579 | $2,324 | +11% |
| OTR (long-haul) routes | 90% | 84% | +6 pt |
Source: Lanefinder index, November 2026
The largest gap is on average weekly pay: Duluth, Minnesota sits 11% above the Minnesota baseline.
What CDL drivers are earning across Duluth, Minnesota
Across active CDL postings in Duluth, Minnesota 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) | $2,305 | $2,100 | 608 |
| Company Driver (W2) | $1,604 | $1,600 | 383 |
| Owner Operator | $7,242 | $7,500 | 321 |
Source: Lanefinder index, November 2026
What Duluth, Minnesota drivers actually run
9% of Duluth, Minnesota's active CDL postings are regional and 90% are OTR; local plus semi-local accounts for the rest (1%).
Guaranteed pay is on offer at 1% of Duluth, Minnesota postings; dedicated routes at 29%; take-truck-home at 88%. Pet-friendly policies appear at 71% and riders-allowed at 69%.
Driving CDL in Minnesota
Minnesota freight moves on the I-35 / I-94 Twin Cities grid and reaches the Great Lakes at Duluth, a significant Lake Superior port. Agricultural exports — soybeans, corn, wheat — drive heavy outbound volume. A significant medical-device manufacturing sector (Medtronic and others) generates high-value freight. Winter is the dominant operational variable: sub-zero stretches affect equipment, idle-time policy, and HOS realism. Minnesota has a high graduated state income tax — among the higher rates in the country. First-time Twin Cities runs should check truck-route restrictions carefully.
Related guides
- Best trucking companies in Duluth, Minnesota
- Best owner-operator companies in Duluth, Minnesota
- CDL driver salary in Minnesota
How we compile these 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 November 2026.