Updated May 2026
CDL Driver Salary in Jacksonville, Florida (May 2026)
CDL drivers in Jacksonville, Florida earn $2,820 per week on average through May 2026. The median is $2,050, drawn from active job postings rather than survey self-reports. Based on 1,412 active CDL postings in Lanefinder's index. 30% of postings include a sign-on bonus, averaging $2,092. Jacksonville is Florida's primary freight gateway on I-95 / I-10, with JAXPORT handling containers, vehicle imports, and bulk cargo, and the city's central Florida location making it a Southeast regional distribution point.
What changed in May 2026
We just started tracking monthly changes for this view. Check back next month to see how rankings have shifted.
How Jacksonville, Florida compares to Florida
| Jacksonville, Florida | Florida | Delta | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average weekly pay | $2,820 | $2,349 | +20% |
| OTR (long-haul) routes | 87% | 81% | +6 pt |
Source: Lanefinder index, May 2026
Among the figures above, average weekly pay is where Jacksonville, Florida differs most from Florida — 20% above statewide.
What CDL drivers are earning across Jacksonville, Florida
Across active CDL postings in Jacksonville, Florida 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) | $2,203 | $2,000 | 664 |
| Company Driver (W2) | $1,629 | $1,600 | 397 |
| Owner Operator | $7,238 | $7,125 | 351 |
Source: Lanefinder index, May 2026
Lane mix and benefits across Jacksonville, Florida
11% of Jacksonville, Florida's active CDL postings are regional and 87% are OTR; local plus semi-local accounts for the rest (2%).
Guaranteed pay is on offer at 1% of Jacksonville, Florida postings; dedicated routes at 28%; take-truck-home at 88%. Pet-friendly policies appear at 69% and riders-allowed at 67%.
Driving CDL in Florida
Florida CDL work splits cleanly between coastal port-and-tourism freight (Miami, Jacksonville, Tampa, Port Everglades) and Central Florida last-mile distribution. The hurricane season — June through November — drives both stress and opportunity: insurance rates climb, freight rates spike around storm-recovery windows, and shutdown days are a real income variable. Florida has no state income tax. The traffic on I-95 and I-4 is consistently in the top tier of US congestion, so HOS planning around peak commute windows matters more here than in most states. Reefer and produce work pays well; OTR pulling out of the state is steady year-round.
Related guides
- Best trucking companies in Jacksonville, Florida
- Best owner-operator companies in Jacksonville, Florida
- CDL driver salary in Florida
How we compile these rankings
Pay carriers in the same market against each other (30% of the score). Add a five-dimension FMCSA safety percentile from SAFER (25%). Score benefits based on whether the carrier hires W2 drivers or contractors (25%). Layer on employer responsiveness and fleet scale (20%). The weights are fixed and public. Updated May 2026.