Updated November 2026
CDL Driver Salary in Elizabeth, New Jersey (November 2026)
Elizabeth, New Jersey, November 2026: CDL drivers average $2,612/week (median $2,000). Based on 1,396 active CDL postings in Lanefinder's index. 32% of postings include a sign-on bonus, averaging $1,983. 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 November 2026
- average sign-on bonus rose by 1.5% ($1,953 → $1,983).
Where Elizabeth, New Jersey differs from the New Jersey baseline
| Elizabeth, New Jersey | New Jersey | Delta | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average weekly pay | $2,612 | $2,323 | +12% |
| Take-truck-home | 83% | 78% | +5 pt |
| Pet-friendly fleets | 66% | 61% | +5 pt |
| OTR (long-haul) routes | 82% | 74% | +8 pt |
Source: Lanefinder index, November 2026
The largest gap is on average weekly pay: Elizabeth, New Jersey sits 12% 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) | $2,295 | $2,100 | 646 |
| Company Driver (W2) | $1,597 | $1,550 | 429 |
| Owner Operator | $7,264 | $7,500 | 321 |
Source: Lanefinder index, November 2026
How drivers spend their time on the road in Elizabeth, New Jersey
12% of Elizabeth, New Jersey's active CDL postings are regional and 82% are OTR; local plus semi-local accounts for the rest (6%).
Across Elizabeth, New Jersey CDL postings: 2% with guaranteed pay, 31% dedicated, 83% take-truck-home, 66% 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 a major CDL segment. Cost of living is high; New Jersey state income tax is high and graduated (peaks above 10%). Bridge and tunnel tolls, truck-route restrictions on the Garden State Parkway (trucks over 10,000 lb are barred north of Exit 105), and limits on certain Hudson crossings add planning overhead. Traffic around Fort Lee and the George Washington Bridge (I-95) is among the worst in the country.
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 November 2026.