Updated May 2026
CDL Driver Salary in Elizabeth, New Jersey (May 2026)
Elizabeth, New Jersey, May 2026: CDL drivers average $2,651/week (median $2,000). Based on 1,395 active CDL postings in Lanefinder's index. 31% of postings include a sign-on bonus, averaging $2,074. New Jersey is the primary Northeast freight gateway through Port Newark / Elizabeth — the busiest container port on the East Coast — with the NJ Turnpike (I-95) and dense intermodal facilities serving the New York metro market.
What changed in May 2026
We just started tracking monthly changes for this view. Check back next month to see how rankings have shifted.
Where Elizabeth, New Jersey differs from the New Jersey baseline
| Elizabeth, New Jersey | New Jersey | Delta | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average weekly pay | $2,651 | $2,392 | +11% |
| Take-truck-home | 83% | 78% | +5 pt |
| Pet-friendly fleets | 67% | 62% | +5 pt |
| OTR (long-haul) routes | 82% | 74% | +8 pt |
Source: Lanefinder index, May 2026
The largest gap is on average weekly pay: Elizabeth, New Jersey sits 11% above the New Jersey baseline.
How CDL pay breaks down in Elizabeth, New Jersey
Across active CDL postings in Elizabeth, New Jersey 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) | $2,226 | $2,042 | 628 |
| Company Driver (W2) | $1,582 | $1,517 | 434 |
| Owner Operator | $7,267 | $7,500 | 333 |
Source: Lanefinder index, May 2026
How drivers spend their time on the road in Elizabeth, New Jersey
11% of Elizabeth, New Jersey's active CDL postings are regional and 82% are OTR; local plus semi-local accounts for the rest (7%).
Across Elizabeth, New Jersey CDL postings: 1% with guaranteed pay, 30% dedicated, 83% take-truck-home, 67% pet-friendly, 64% riders-allowed.
Driving CDL in New Jersey
New Jersey is the primary Northeast freight gateway through Port Newark-Elizabeth — the busiest container port on the East Coast — with the NJ Turnpike (I-95) and dense intermodal facilities feeding the New York metro market. Drayage out of the port is the largest single CDL segment. Cost of living is high; New Jersey state income tax is high and graduated (peaks above 10%). Bridge tolls and truck-route restrictions on the Garden State Parkway (no trucks allowed) and certain Hudson crossings add planning overhead. NJ Turnpike traffic is consistently in the worst US tier.
Related guides
- Best trucking companies in Elizabeth, New Jersey
- Best owner-operator companies in Elizabeth, New Jersey
- CDL driver salary in New Jersey
The methodology behind the rankings
Lanefinder's ranking algorithm weights compensation at 30%, FMCSA SAFER safety at 25%, benefits at 25%, and operational performance at 20%. Compensation reflects pay percentile plus sign-on bonus, guaranteed pay, and settlement-frequency adjustments. Benefits scoring is hiring-type-aware. Operational performance comes mostly from how carriers handle real driver applications. Updated May 2026.