Updated May 2026
CDL Driver Salary in Greenville, South Carolina (May 2026)
Greenville, South Carolina CDL drivers average $2,574 per week, median $2,000, as of May 2026. Pay varies meaningfully by hiring type — the breakdown by W2, owner-op, and 1099 is below. Based on 1,592 active CDL postings in Lanefinder's index. 31% of postings include a sign-on bonus, averaging $2,081. Greenville anchors the Upstate South Carolina manufacturing corridor on I-85, with BMW's largest US plant nearby, Michelin North America headquarters, and a dense cluster of Tier-1 automotive suppliers generating heavy parts loads.
What changed in May 2026
We just started tracking monthly changes for this view. Check back next month to see how rankings have shifted.
Greenville, South Carolina vs South Carolina: the numbers that diverge
| Greenville, South Carolina | South Carolina | Delta | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average weekly pay | $2,574 | $2,267 | +14% |
| Take-truck-home | 88% | 83% | +5 pt |
| OTR (long-haul) routes | 85% | 78% | +7 pt |
Source: Lanefinder index, May 2026
Greenville, South Carolina's biggest divergence from South Carolina is on average weekly pay, 14% above the state baseline.
How CDL pay breaks down in Greenville, South Carolina
Across active CDL postings in Greenville, South Carolina 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) | $2,071 | $2,000 | 730 |
| Company Driver (W2) | $1,585 | $1,530 | 488 |
| Owner Operator | $7,086 | $7,000 | 374 |
Source: Lanefinder index, May 2026
Lane mix and benefits across Greenville, South Carolina
Of active CDL postings in Greenville, South Carolina this month, 13% are regional and 85% are OTR (long-haul). Local and semi-local routes account for the remaining 2%.
Guaranteed pay is on offer at 2% of Greenville, South Carolina postings; dedicated routes at 27%; take-truck-home at 88%. Pet-friendly policies appear at 70% and riders-allowed at 68%.
Driving CDL in South Carolina
South Carolina freight is anchored by the Port of Charleston — a top-tier East Coast container gateway — with I-95 / I-26 / I-85 corridors serving the BMW assembly plant in Spartanburg and Volvo near Charleston. The Greenville-Spartanburg manufacturing corridor adds steady industrial freight. South Carolina has moderate-to-high graduated state income tax; the upstate is more affordable than the coast. Hurricane season affects the coast (June-November); inland SC is generally easier driving. The auto-supplier lanes around Spartanburg run on tight just-in-time schedules — minute-level dispatch precision matters.
Related guides
- Best trucking companies in Greenville, South Carolina
- Best owner-operator companies in Greenville, South Carolina
- CDL driver salary in South Carolina
The methodology behind the 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 May 2026.