Updated May 2026
CDL Driver Salary in Gaithersburg, Maryland (May 2026)
Active CDL job postings in Gaithersburg, Maryland pay $2,815/week on average (median $2,050) through May 2026. Based on 1,372 active CDL postings in Lanefinder's index. 29% of postings include a sign-on bonus, averaging $2,009. Maryland freight flows through Port of Baltimore — a major East Coast container and auto-import port (recovering from the 2024 Key Bridge collapse) — and along the I-95 / I-70 / I-695 Beltway corridor connecting mid-Atlantic manufacturing and DC-metro distribution.
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 Gaithersburg, Maryland differs from the Maryland baseline
| Gaithersburg, Maryland | Maryland | Delta | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average weekly pay | $2,815 | $2,401 | +17% |
| Take-truck-home | 87% | 82% | +5 pt |
| OTR (long-haul) routes | 85% | 77% | +8 pt |
| Regional routes | 11% | 16% | -5 pt |
Source: Lanefinder index, May 2026
Among the figures above, average weekly pay is where Gaithersburg, Maryland differs most from Maryland — 17% above statewide.
Gaithersburg, Maryland CDL salary by hiring type
Across active CDL postings in Gaithersburg, Maryland 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) | $2,220 | $2,050 | 623 |
| Company Driver (W2) | $1,578 | $1,550 | 401 |
| Owner Operator | $7,225 | $7,250 | 348 |
Source: Lanefinder index, May 2026
How drivers spend their time on the road in Gaithersburg, Maryland
11% of Gaithersburg, Maryland's active CDL postings are regional and 85% are OTR; local plus semi-local accounts for the rest (4%).
Across Gaithersburg, Maryland CDL postings: 1% with guaranteed pay, 28% dedicated, 87% take-truck-home, 69% pet-friendly, 66% riders-allowed.
Driving CDL in Maryland
Maryland freight flows through the Port of Baltimore — a major East Coast container and auto-import port (recovering from the 2024 Key Bridge collapse) — and along the I-95 / I-70 / I-695 (Baltimore Beltway) corridor connecting mid-Atlantic manufacturing and DC-metro distribution. The Beltway is consistently top-tier in US congestion. Cost of living is high and state income tax is moderate-to-high depending on county add-ons. Eastern Shore freight (poultry processing especially) is a distinct regional segment. The Bay Bridge wind restrictions and weight rules complicate Eastern Shore route timing.
Related guides
- Best trucking companies in Gaithersburg, Maryland
- Best owner-operator companies in Gaithersburg, Maryland
- CDL driver salary in Maryland
How we compile these rankings
Compensation is the largest single weight at 30% — pay percentile, sign-on bonus, guaranteed-pay availability, and settlement cadence. FMCSA safety contributes 25%, built from five SAFER dimensions with unsafe-driving and hours-of-service weighted 2× heavier. Benefits contribute 25%, scored separately for W2 versus owner-operator and 1099 carriers. Operational performance — application responsiveness and fleet scale — contributes 20%. Updated May 2026.