Updated July 2026
CDL Driver Salary in Gulfport, Mississippi (July 2026)
CDL drivers in Gulfport, Mississippi earn $2,835 per week on average through July 2026. The median is $2,100, drawn from active job postings rather than survey self-reports. Based on 1,312 active CDL postings in Lanefinder's index. 31% of postings include a sign-on bonus, averaging $1,909. Mississippi trucking runs I-10 along the Gulf Coast and I-20 / I-55 north-south, with agricultural freight of cotton, soybeans, and catfish, and automotive assembly adding volume from the Nissan plant in Canton.
What changed in July 2026
We just started tracking monthly changes for this view. Check back next month to see how rankings have shifted.
Where Gulfport, Mississippi differs from the Mississippi baseline
| Gulfport, Mississippi | Mississippi | Delta | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average weekly pay | $2,835 | $2,326 | +22% |
| OTR (long-haul) routes | 90% | 84% | +6 pt |
| Regional routes | 9% | 14% | -5 pt |
Source: Lanefinder index, July 2026
Gulfport, Mississippi's biggest divergence from Mississippi is on average weekly pay, 22% above the state baseline.
Gulfport, Mississippi CDL salary by hiring type
Across active CDL postings in Gulfport, Mississippi 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) | $2,238 | $2,025 | 615 |
| Company Driver (W2) | $1,612 | $1,560 | 363 |
| Owner Operator | $7,259 | $7,375 | 334 |
Source: Lanefinder index, July 2026
How drivers spend their time on the road in Gulfport, Mississippi
9% of Gulfport, Mississippi's active CDL postings are regional and 90% are OTR; local plus semi-local accounts for the rest (1%).
Guaranteed pay is on offer at 2% of Gulfport, Mississippi postings; dedicated routes at 26%; take-truck-home at 89%. Pet-friendly policies appear at 72% and riders-allowed at 69%.
Driving CDL in Mississippi
Mississippi trucking runs I-10 along the Gulf Coast and I-20 / I-55 north-south. Agricultural freight (cotton, soybeans, catfish) is the dominant outbound segment. Automotive assembly at the Nissan plant in Canton (just north of Jackson) adds parts-and-finished-vehicle lanes. Cost of living is the lowest in the country, which substantially helps comp math even at modest headline pay rates. Mississippi has a moderate graduated state income tax. Gulf Coast hurricane season is the major weather variable; inland MS is generally easier driving than its Gulf coastline.
Related guides
- Best trucking companies in Gulfport, Mississippi
- Best owner-operator companies in Gulfport, Mississippi
- CDL driver salary in Mississippi
Where this data comes from
Composite-score formula: compensation × 0.30, FMCSA safety × 0.25, benefits × 0.25, operational performance × 0.20. Compensation is anchored on pay percentile and lifted by sign-on bonus tier and guaranteed-pay availability. Operational performance is built mostly from driver-application response data in Lanefinder's platform, with fleet-scale percentile contributing a smaller portion. Updated July 2026.