Updated May 2026
CDL Driver Salary in Federal Way, Washington (May 2026)
Through May 2026, Federal Way, Washington CDL drivers earn $3,093 per week on average. The median is $2,150; the distribution by hiring type and the active-posting count both follow. Based on 1,048 active CDL postings in Lanefinder's index. 31% of postings include a sign-on bonus, averaging $2,047. Washington freight flows through the Port of Seattle and Port of Tacoma — a major West Coast container complex — with I-5 north-south and I-90 east-west carrying forest-products, agricultural exports from the Yakima Valley, and technology freight.
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 Federal Way, Washington compares to Washington
| Federal Way, Washington | Washington | Delta | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average weekly pay | $3,093 | $2,728 | +13% |
| OTR (long-haul) routes | 86% | 81% | +5 pt |
Source: Lanefinder index, May 2026
Among the figures above, average weekly pay is where Federal Way, Washington differs most from Washington — 13% above statewide.
Federal Way, Washington CDL salary by hiring type
Across active CDL postings in Federal Way, Washington 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) | $2,271 | $2,100 | 453 |
| Company Driver (W2) | $1,612 | $1,527 | 316 |
| Owner Operator | $7,387 | $7,500 | 279 |
Source: Lanefinder index, May 2026
What Federal Way, Washington drivers actually run
Of active CDL postings in Federal Way, Washington this month, 10% are regional and 86% are OTR (long-haul). Local and semi-local routes account for the remaining 4%.
Guaranteed pay is on offer at 1% of Federal Way, Washington postings; dedicated routes at 27%; take-truck-home at 87%. Pet-friendly policies appear at 71% and riders-allowed at 68%.
Driving CDL in Washington
Washington freight flows through the Port of Seattle and Port of Tacoma — a major West Coast container complex — with I-5 north-south and I-90 east-west carrying forest-products freight, agricultural exports from the Yakima Valley (apples, hops, wine grapes), and technology-sector loads. Mountain passes on I-90 (Snoqualmie, Stevens) are aggressive winter operational variables; chain laws apply liberally from November through April. Cost of living is high in the Puget Sound metros. Washington has no state income tax — meaningful comp pull for drivers based here.
Related guides
- Best trucking companies in Federal Way, Washington
- Best owner-operator companies in Federal Way, Washington
- CDL driver salary in Washington
Where this data comes from
Pay carriers in the same market against each other (30% of the score). Add a five-dimension FMCSA safety percentile from SAFER (25%). Score benefits based on whether the carrier hires W2 drivers or contractors (25%). Layer on employer responsiveness and fleet scale (20%). The weights are fixed and public. Updated May 2026.