Updated November 2026
CDL Driver Salary in Malden, Massachusetts (November 2026)
Active CDL job postings in Malden, Massachusetts pay $2,872/week on average (median $2,150) through November 2026. Based on 1,158 active CDL postings in Lanefinder's index. 31% of postings include a sign-on bonus, averaging $1,969. 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.
Where Malden, Massachusetts differs from the Massachusetts baseline
| Malden, Massachusetts | Massachusetts | Delta | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average weekly pay | $2,872 | $2,572 | +12% |
| OTR (long-haul) routes | 88% | 83% | +5 pt |
Source: Lanefinder index, November 2026
Among the figures above, average weekly pay is where Malden, Massachusetts differs most from Massachusetts — 12% above statewide.
Malden, Massachusetts CDL salary by hiring type
Across active CDL postings in Malden, 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) | $2,357 | $2,150 | 534 |
| Company Driver (W2) | $1,606 | $1,600 | 330 |
| Owner Operator | $7,360 | $7,500 | 294 |
Source: Lanefinder index, November 2026
What Malden, Massachusetts drivers actually run
Of active CDL postings in Malden, Massachusetts this month, 10% are regional and 88% are OTR (long-haul). Local and semi-local routes account for the remaining 2%.
Guaranteed pay is on offer at 2% of Malden, Massachusetts postings; dedicated routes at 29%; take-truck-home at 86%. Pet-friendly policies appear at 68% and riders-allowed at 66%.
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 Malden, Massachusetts
- Best owner-operator companies in Malden, Massachusetts
- CDL driver salary in Massachusetts
Where this data comes from
Rankings combine four signals: compensation (30%) including pay percentile, sign-on bonuses, guaranteed pay, and settlement frequency; FMCSA safety (25%); benefits (25%) scored differently for W2 vs owner-operator carriers; and operational performance (20%) measuring employer responsiveness and fleet scale. Recomputed monthly from real active job postings. Updated November 2026.