Updated November 2026
CDL Driver Salary in Lowell, Massachusetts (November 2026)
$2,870/week — that's the average CDL driver wage in Lowell, Massachusetts as of November 2026. Median weekly pay sits at $2,150, computed against active postings in Lanefinder's index. Based on 1,173 active CDL postings in Lanefinder's index. 31% of postings include a sign-on bonus, averaging $1,972. Massachusetts freight runs on the I-90 / I-93 / I-95 metro grid through Boston, with Port of Boston handling bulk and container cargo and the nation's largest life-sciences cluster generating cold-chain and hazmat lanes.
What changed in November 2026
No major rank changes this month — the top carriers have held their positions since October 2026.
What CDL drivers are earning across Lowell, Massachusetts
Across active CDL postings in Lowell, Massachusetts 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) | $2,369 | $2,150 | 536 |
| Company Driver (W2) | $1,600 | $1,600 | 338 |
| Owner Operator | $7,362 | $7,500 | 299 |
Source: Lanefinder index, November 2026
Lane mix and benefits across Lowell, Massachusetts
Of active CDL postings in Lowell, Massachusetts this month, 10% are regional and 87% are OTR (long-haul). Local and semi-local routes account for the remaining 3%.
Guaranteed pay is on offer at 2% of Lowell, Massachusetts postings; dedicated routes at 29%; take-truck-home at 86%. Pet-friendly policies appear at 68% and riders-allowed at 66%.
How Lowell, Massachusetts compares to Massachusetts
Lowell, Massachusetts's biggest divergence from Massachusetts is on average weekly pay, 12% above the state baseline.
Driving CDL in Massachusetts
Massachusetts freight runs on the I-90 / I-93 / I-95 grid through Boston, with the Port of Boston handling bulk and container cargo. A dense biotech and pharmaceutical manufacturing cluster around Cambridge / Boston / Worcester requires cold-chain and hazmat-eligible lanes. The Big Dig tunnels have truck-height and hazmat restrictions worth checking before routing. Boston congestion is a recurring truck bottleneck. Cost of living is among the highest nationally. Massachusetts has a moderate flat state income tax with an added surtax on very high incomes (not relevant for most drivers).
Related guides
- Best trucking companies in Lowell, Massachusetts
- Best owner-operator companies in Lowell, Massachusetts
- CDL driver salary in Massachusetts
The methodology behind the rankings
Carriers are scored against carriers in their own market. The composite is 30% compensation (pay + bonus + guaranteed pay + settlement cadence), 25% FMCSA safety, 25% benefits (W2 vs owner-op scoring), and 20% operational performance (responsiveness + fleet scale). No paid placement — the weights are the same for every carrier in the index. Updated November 2026.