Updated May 2026
CDL Driver Salary in Houston, Texas (May 2026)
As of May 2026, CDL drivers in Houston, Texas are earning a weekly average of $2,614 (median $2,000). Based on 1,569 active CDL postings in Lanefinder's index. 30% of postings include a sign-on bonus, averaging $1,967. Houston is a major Gulf Coast freight hub anchored by the Port of Houston, with significant energy-sector trucking and chemical-corridor traffic along the Houston Ship Channel and I-10 / I-45 / I-69 connecting the metro to national lanes.
What changed in May 2026
We just started tracking monthly changes for this view. Check back next month to see how rankings have shifted.
Houston, Texas vs Texas: the numbers that diverge
| Houston, Texas | Texas | Delta | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average weekly pay | $2,614 | $2,223 | +18% |
| Take-truck-home | 86% | 79% | +7 pt |
| Pet-friendly fleets | 69% | 63% | +6 pt |
| Riders-allowed policies | 66% | 60% | +6 pt |
| OTR (long-haul) routes | 84% | 75% | +9 pt |
| Local routes | 2% | 7% | -5 pt |
Source: Lanefinder index, May 2026
The largest gap is on average weekly pay: Houston, Texas sits 18% above the Texas baseline.
Houston, Texas CDL salary by hiring type
Across active CDL postings in Houston, Texas 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) | $2,205 | $2,000 | 692 |
| Company Driver (W2) | $1,592 | $1,521 | 498 |
| Owner Operator | $7,057 | $7,000 | 379 |
Source: Lanefinder index, May 2026
Lane mix and benefits across Houston, Texas
12% of Houston, Texas's active CDL postings are regional and 84% are OTR; local plus semi-local accounts for the rest (4%).
Across Houston, Texas CDL postings: 2% with guaranteed pay, 27% dedicated, 86% take-truck-home, 69% pet-friendly, 66% riders-allowed.
Driving CDL in Texas
Texas is the largest CDL market in the country and the deepest mix of lane types. Cross-border work out of Laredo and El Paso, oil-field service in the Permian Basin, dedicated retail out of Dallas and Houston, and reefer pulling produce out of the Rio Grande Valley all run from different parts of the state — and they pay very differently. Texas has favorable trucking regulations and no state income tax, which is real money on the back end. The summer heat is the operational variable most newcomers underestimate; equipment, hours, and load-securing all behave differently when ambient temps hit 110°F.
Related guides
- Best trucking companies in Houston, Texas
- Best owner-operator companies in Houston, Texas
- CDL driver salary in Texas
Where this data comes from
The score is built from four buckets. Thirty percent compensation, drawn from real active job postings and modified by bonus and settlement structure. Twenty-five percent safety, from FMCSA SAFER. Twenty-five percent benefits, scored hiring-type-aware. Twenty percent operational performance, drawn from how carriers actually behave toward applicants. Updated May 2026.