Updated May 2026
CDL Driver Salary in Jacksonville, North Carolina (May 2026)
Active CDL job postings in Jacksonville, North Carolina pay $2,690/week on average (median $2,000) through May 2026. Based on 1,409 active CDL postings in Lanefinder's index. 31% of postings include a sign-on bonus, averaging $2,103. North Carolina freight moves on I-85 through the Charlotte-to-Raleigh-Durham manufacturing corridor and I-95 north-south, with Port of Wilmington handling containerized exports and a large furniture and textiles production base.
What changed in May 2026
We just started tracking monthly changes for this view. Check back next month to see how rankings have shifted.
Where Jacksonville, North Carolina differs from the North Carolina baseline
| Jacksonville, North Carolina | North Carolina | Delta | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average weekly pay | $2,690 | $2,219 | +21% |
| Take-truck-home | 89% | 82% | +7 pt |
| Pet-friendly fleets | 72% | 65% | +7 pt |
| Riders-allowed policies | 70% | 63% | +7 pt |
| OTR (long-haul) routes | 88% | 76% | +12 pt |
| Regional routes | 11% | 17% | -6 pt |
Source: Lanefinder index, May 2026
The largest gap is on average weekly pay: Jacksonville, North Carolina sits 21% above the North Carolina baseline.
Jacksonville, North Carolina CDL salary by hiring type
Across active CDL postings in Jacksonville, North 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) | $2,222 | $2,000 | 640 |
| Company Driver (W2) | $1,605 | $1,575 | 415 |
| Owner Operator | $7,182 | $7,000 | 354 |
Source: Lanefinder index, May 2026
How drivers spend their time on the road in Jacksonville, North Carolina
Of active CDL postings in Jacksonville, North Carolina this month, 11% are regional and 88% are OTR (long-haul). Local and semi-local routes account for the remaining 1%.
Across Jacksonville, North Carolina CDL postings: 2% with guaranteed pay, 27% dedicated, 89% take-truck-home, 72% pet-friendly, 70% riders-allowed.
Driving CDL in North Carolina
North Carolina CDL work spans a broad mix — port-and-container out of Wilmington and Morehead City, manufacturing in the Triangle (Raleigh-Durham), distribution and textile freight around Charlotte, and tobacco / agricultural loads from the eastern half of the state. The driver-experience profile is generally favorable: moderate winters, no significant mountain work outside the western tip, and a cost of living well below the national average even in the metro areas. State income tax is flat and moderate. I-85 between Greensboro and Charlotte is one of the busier Southeast freight lanes; weekday congestion through Greensboro is a planning variable. NC is one of the better states for a new CDL driver to build experience without immediately running mountains or severe weather.
Related guides
- Best trucking companies in Jacksonville, North Carolina
- Best owner-operator companies in Jacksonville, North Carolina
- CDL driver salary in North Carolina
Where this data comes from
Compensation, FMCSA safety, benefits, and operational performance — weighted 30, 25, 25, and 20 percent respectively. Compensation extends beyond headline pay to include sign-on bonus tier and settlement cadence. Benefits scoring differs by hiring type because the perks that matter to a W2 driver and a contractor are not the same. Updated May 2026.