Updated July 2026
CDL Driver Salary in Georgia (July 2026)
Georgia CDL drivers earn $2,196 per week on average (median $1,800) as of July 2026. Based on 2,121 active CDL postings in Lanefinder's index. 30% of postings include a sign-on bonus, averaging $1,993. Georgia freight is anchored by the Port of Savannah — a top-tier US container gateway — and the Atlanta intermodal crossroads at I-75 / I-85 / I-20, making it the dominant Southeast distribution hub.
What changed in July 2026
We just started tracking monthly changes for this view. Check back next month to see how rankings have shifted.
What CDL drivers are earning across Georgia
Across active CDL postings in Georgia 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) | $2,004 | $1,900 | 928 |
| Company Driver (W2) | $1,507 | $1,450 | 776 |
| Owner Operator | $6,881 | $7,000 | 417 |
Source: Lanefinder index, July 2026
What Georgia drivers actually run
The route mix in Georgia this month tilts OTR: 17% regional, 77% OTR, 4% local, 1% semi-local — drawn from active postings, not historical surveys.
Guaranteed pay is on offer at 3% of Georgia postings; dedicated routes at 28%; take-truck-home at 83%. Pet-friendly policies appear at 65% and riders-allowed at 62%.
Driving CDL in Georgia
Georgia anchors the Southeast freight network through the Port of Savannah (a top-tier East Coast container gateway) and the Atlanta intermodal crossroads at I-75 / I-85 / I-20. Atlanta traffic is consistently top-tier US congestion — drivers based here either learn the off-peak windows or take a real income hit. Outside the metro, Georgia is one of the easier driving states: flat, mostly forgiving weather, no real mountain work. Reefer pulling poultry out of north-central Georgia is a steady regional segment. State income tax is moderate; cost of living statewide is below the national average. The Port of Savannah lanes are a steady driver-pay segment.
Related guides
- Best trucking companies in Georgia
- Best owner-operator companies in Georgia
- CDL driver salary in the United States
How we compile these rankings
Compensation (30%): pay percentile + sign-on bonus + guaranteed pay + settlement frequency. FMCSA safety (25%): weighted percentile across vehicle maintenance, unsafe driving, hours-of-service, driver fitness, and controlled substances. Benefits (25%): hiring-type-aware. Operational (20%): driver-application responsiveness, modulated by fleet scale. Updated July 2026.